The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-12
tcorre.pondence Associated Press.)

(Correspondence Associated PressD
Jurugua, Cuba, July 4.-The only nom
combatant who witnessed the entire
fight between the feets was the corre-
spondent OF the Associated Press, who
saw the engagement from a position al
most at the elbow of Commodore Schley
on the cruiser Brooklyn. The line,
which at all lines was supposed to be
"a half circle. inclosing the harbor en-
trance as a central point was more than
ordinarily broken up this hot morning.
The big battleships had drifted to the
east considerably and the Massachu-
setts, the New York. the New Orleans
and the Newark were not In sight, the
New York having taken Admiral Samp-
son down to Altares, eight miles west
from the blockade, to make visit to
the camp Of the American army. while
the other missing vessels were at Guam
tanamo 10 miles to the east. The ves-
sells on the blockade were the Iowa,
Indiana and Oregon. battleships; the
flagship OF Commodore Schley, the
Brooklyn, and the small yachts, Glou-
cester and Vixen. The Iowa was swing
ing mile further out than the rest OF
the squadron trying to fix her forward
12-inch turret, which was out OF repair,
while the Indiana was doing the same
thing to her forward 13-inch turret.
The absolutely available ships in the
squadron therefore were only the Ore
gon, Texas and Brooklyn, although later
both Captain Evans andCaptain Taylor
fought their ships.
On the bridge Navigator Hodgson of
the Brooklyn said sharply to the look
out: Isn't that smoke moving2" The
lockout, after a minutes inspection with
-. the long glass. dropped 1t excitedly and
fairly yelled. There's big ship COM
ing out Of the harbor. sir" Hodgson.
who is a particularly cool man. looked
once himself and then, grasping the
megaphone. shouted, After bridge
there. Tell the commodore the enemy's
fleet Is coming out"
Commodore Schley was sitting under
the awning on the quarter deck. Going
to the bridge he said, Raise the signal
to the fleet" and. turning to Captain
Cook, who stood near. he said, Clear
the ship for action" Then he went for
ward and took his place on a little plat
the coming tower.
At 10:1l the Spanish ships had all con-
centrated their shots on the Brooklyn
ard she was in perfect rain of shells,
most OF which went over her Standing
in this hail Of shells, Commodore Schley
asked young man named Ellis. who
stood near him with a stedimeter
What is the distance to the Vizcaya?'
The man took the observation.
Twenty-Five hundred yards, sir" he
said, and there was a whistle, followed
by a splash, as his head was literally
torn from his shoulders by an eight
inch shell. TOO bad" said Commodore
Schley as the body fell at his feet; anC
then with his glasses to his eyes, he
added, THE first ship is done for; she is
running ashore"
The other vessels at this time were
from six to eight miles behind. and Ad
miral Sampsons flagship, the New York
was not in sight. At 11:15 the Brooklyn
Slightly injured by the hail of Spanish
shells, stopped firing and the chase be
gan. The men came up on deck and be
gen to cheer. never needing the whistle
OF the Spanish shells. They cheered 70
Schley and Cook and for the Oregon
and the Oregon's men returned tn
cheer Up to the masthead OF the Ore
gon went a pennant. Remember tn
Maine" read the signal officer "Tel
them we have" said Schley, and ther
WAS roar as the answer went up.
The chase was in full force at 11:5'
the men out on the decks watching wit
great interest and as happy as larks
r IA a u.
hugged the shore; but Schey ordere
the Oregon to follow her and then. wit
the Brooklyn, he made a straight cours
for Cape Cruz. around which she woul
have to steer on long detour to &c
away All three ships were pumpin
along at great speed, the smoke pourin
out OF their tunnels. In an hour th
Brooklyn had gained appreciably and $
had the Oregon. and Captain Clark {
the latter ship signalled over: ''
strange ship looking like an Italian
the distance" He alluded To the fa'
that the Christobal Colon was bougf
from Italy. Schley, sitting on the eds
of the forward eight-inch turret. swim,
ing his legs and happy. said: Tell u
Oregon she can try one OF those 13-inS
railroad trains on her. There was
terrible roar as the big shell went
the Brooklyn: a moment OF suspen
and watchirs. and then n hearty che
as the bhy thing struck the water cle
nstern OF the Colon four miles ava
Another>Yas tried. which reached 6
mark. and there were more cheel
Then the Brooklyn opened her forwa
and starboard eight-inch guns. and o
eheu was seen 10 go through the Col
nj the top Of her armored belt.
AZ 1905 y. m. both the Brooklyn
the oregon were pounding away AT {