The times., 1898-07-17
WHERE FOUGHT THEOREGON
Description of Sehley's Glorious
Victory Over Ceryera.
THE HERO IN TIE ST0KE-HOLE
During the Chase of the Cristobni
Colon the Brave Lads Below Ask
ed From Time to Time, Are We
Gaining.- and Then Shoyeied
Coal Desperately,

The following letter was received from
a sailor on board the battleship oregon
by George D. Jones, of this city, and is
principally devoted to a description OF
the fight of Santiago, Sunday, July 3, in
which that ship played so prominent
part. The writer of the letter which fol-
lows is James Ayling a warrant officer
OF the oregon.
Dear Friend Jones:
Evidently. from the date of your last
letter, it was written previous to the
worlds greatest naval battle, in which
Commodore Schley displayed his master
" ability to lead the ships of a great ma
ton to glorious victory.
The proud Oregon played an import
ant part in it, but doubtless you know
more about the battle today than l VII
ever be able TO relate TO YOU by letter.
l have no doubt you scan the daily pa
pers and are interested in every bit per-
tanning to the navy, especially in that
which relates to that queen of battle
ships the Oregon.
LAS for the battle, it was The grandest
and most beautiful sight ever witnessed
from the deck OF warship-from an
American standpoint, OF course. II was
full of rapid-firing and the great Oregon
that it was impossible to see across the
superstructure. The haze mostly came
from the starboard secondary battery
and the thirteen and eight-inch guns.
There was some little confusion until
the men were properly stationed at their
guns. then thoughts or the martyred
men of the Maine and remembrance of
| departed comrades inspired vengeance IN
our very souls Added TO this was the
IN baqrf nf
after the first volley Yrom the enemy
| that the Spaniards could not hit US, as
| their aim was entirely too high.
Private O'Shea was credited with fir
| ing the first shot in the battle and also
with sinking a torpedo boat. all of which
| he undoubtedly did, as he is cool and
| collected in battle.
The Infanta Maria Teresa was the
| first of the enemys ships to make for
the beach, and she was completely rid
| died by the fierce fire of the six-pounders
| and was one mass of flames.
Next came the Oquendo, which was
| run ashore and crowded to the beach by
| the Oregon until she received assistance
| from the other ships. She also broke out
| in flames as soon as she struck the
| beach.
"The next ship in line was the pride
| of the Spanish navy, the Vizcaya. II
| was Sf1S Ulldl was SOlilS 10 set ANtW 81 VI =
| in flames and otherwise devastate the
| city. and when she was in the harbor
| there the Spaniards were bold and defiant
| because, forsooth, the guns of the Viz
| caya were pointed toward shore Yet
| with all her boasted power and idealiZed
! superiority, it took the Oregon about
| twenty minutes TO put her hors du com
| bait and she steamed headlong for the
| beach-a saddened, dismayed, conquered
! helpless mass of wreckage.
'Last of all, came the long chase aftel
| the Cristobal Colon, wherein the firemeT
| of the Oregon again gained distinction
| and proved that it is only the real articl,
which conposes the fire room gang O.
the Oregon. With all their force an(
energy, they heaped coal into the fur
naces. while the open stoke holes seemet
| ever to say, Give us more
| Occasionally a fireman would come ol
deck and stick head out of the door.
Are we gaining? he would inquire
his comrades, and then they woul,
go below like shot out of a gun to tel
his comrades, mad then they wouI,
shovel harder than ever before.
Happily, their efforts were rewarded
for the Colon was overhauled; but it wa
not until an S-inch shell had struck he
stern and passed clear through, from por
to starboard. tearing out the commo
dore's quarters.
I'VE made over seventeen knots fo