The morning news., 1898-11-18
Capt. Evans Reminiscent.

Capt Robley D. Evans of the Iowa told
some interesting Incidents of the sea fight
off Santiago before an audience in the
rooms Of the Uptown Association, Ill
Fifth avenue, few nights ago, says the
New York FINES. His manner of telling
them, incisive, witty and to the point
showed him 10 be as truly a good recon-
teur as his reputation proclaims him a
fighter.
After the Spanish battleships had got out
Of the channel there occurred what Capt
Evans called The prettiest incident of the
fight" Said he:
The Oregon was on my starboard hand
when the Coon made her dash for liberty
and Capt. Clark went by my stern after
the Spaniards I never saw such a beauti-
fui sight as she made steaming by with
the wave running half way up her stern.
Capt. Clark 5 men took the Iowa in their
excitement TO be a Spanish boat, and we
had great difficulty in keeping them from
firing into US. just as she was getting by
US the Oregon let go both her 13-inch guns
after the Colon right over my fox sic,
where 1 was, and nearly took the scalp off
of mel"
In reference to his treatment of the
Spanish officers. Capt. Evans said: Il was
glad TO show them that We Americans
were gentlemen. When the Vizcaya was
put out of action 1 was lying about 400
yards away from her, and we could see
her men falling over her Sides 1 hur-
ried out the boats to save those of whom
we could. Presently it was reported TO
me that Capt. Eu4ate was coming. He
was rowed in sitting in the stern of one
of our boats, and one of our men had his
arm about him and was supporting him.
The captain looked very much depressed.
There were dead men rolling about in the
bottom of the boat as it came over.
We lowered chair over the side of the
ship, and when we brought him up 1 had
the marines ready, presenting arms. The
old gentleman drew his sword out of the
sea bbard, brought the hilt to his lips and
kissed it ferventlys and then extended it
toward me. There wasn't man out of
the 600 on that ship who didn't know that
he was giving up something dearer to him
than his life. l don't believe a man in
New York, even down at the Five Points,
would have taken it under the circum-
stances. Well, / refused to take 1t, and
then the men let out a cheer that old
Blanco might have heard in Havana. 1t
wasn't to show their exultation, but just
to show that they appreciated that that
was the way a North American should
act.
AFTER this rather dramatic incident
occurred. We tried to keep Capt. Eulate' S
attention from his sinking ship, but he
turned to her and stretched out his arm
and called 'Adios, Vizcayar And Just
at that moment the ships magazine blew
up and she was a wreck. If that incident
had been reproduced on the stage. people
would have said it never could have hap
pened, it was too theatrical.
I got Capt. Eulate down below after
that and gave him a drink, just for luck.
Then 1 gave him the best Key Wester /
had, about 10 cents, 1 reckon. He accepted
1t very graciously, and then he reached
way down in the pocket of his coat, which
was soaking wet, and brought out a beau
tiful cigar, fine. smooth, light wrapper.
oh, the finest sort of cigar, but all water
soaked Captain said he, I left 1000
of those on board the Vizcaya.' "