Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-07-15
THE Capture OEcGRV[RA
CAPTAIN EVANS ACCOUNT.
EiHhtinE Hob Evans Describes Wv
Idly che WtPsa9 Oct OF the Span-
i~h Fle~s-A~rors Among the En-
ems-CuAans Kin Prisoner.

In the grand hattie between the squad
ron> of Commodore Smiley and Admiral
Ce,ycra, the lasile>hip Iowa was the first
ship Ia see the Spanish fleet coming ont
OF the harher, \ moment later her crew
was at general quarters and at 1888 a. III.
Ia gun Was fired t. attract the attention
OF the aeet-
Captain Evans account Of the hattie
as told in the cabin OF the Iowa is intel.
e>tuy. lie said:
AT the time the genera, orders we're
sounded the engine bell rang full speed
ahead and | put the helm to the star
board and the Iowa crossed the bows Of
the lnfan,a Maria Teresa. the first Span.
ish ship out. As tue Spanish admiral
swung 10 the westward the l2.inch shell
from the forward turret of the Iowa
The fight was grand spectacle. As
the squadron came ont in column the
ships beautifully spaced as to distance and
gradually increasing their speed to l3
knots. it was superb.
The Iowa from this moment kept up
a steady fire from her heavy guns, head
ing all the time to keep the Iufanta Maria
Teresa on her starboard bow and hop
ing to ram one Of the leading ships.
In the meantime the Oregon, Indiana.
Brooklyn and Texas were doing excellent
work with their heavy guns. In short
space of time the enemys ships were all
clear of the harbor mouth aud it became
evidently impossible forethe Iowa to ram
either the first or the second ship ON ac
count Of the speed.
Gave the Teresa . bros dside.
The range at this time was 2OOO yards
from the leading ship. The lowas helm
MAS immediately put hard to starboard
and the entire starboard broadside was
pouring into the Infanta Maria Teresa.
ihe helm WAS then quickly shifted to port
and the ship went across the stern OF the
Teresa in an effort u head oil the Oquen-
do. All the time the engines were driven
ut full speed ahead. A perfect torrent Of
shells from the enemy passed over the
s.nokestack and superslructure Of the
ship, but none struck her.
1.-The Cristohal Colon, being much faster
than the rest Of the Spanish ships, passed
rapidly to the front in an effort " escape.
In passing the Iowa the Colon placed t~o
Grinch shells fairly in our stArOoard bow.
One passed through the cotferdam and dis
pensary, wrecking the latter and bursting
ON the berth deck, doing considerable
damage. The other passed through the
side at the water line within the Golfer
dam where it still remains.
Oquena0 Got . Beneat.
"As it was now obviously Impossible
to ram any Of the Spanish ships Oh ac-
cptnt Of their superior speed, tine Iowa s
helm was put to starboard anu she ran
on q course parallel with the enemy. Be-
ing then abreast OF the Almirante Oquen-
do, ut distance Of HOO yards, the Iowa )
entire battery, including the rapid fire
guns, was opened upon the Oquendo. The
punishment was terrific. Two l2-inch
shells from the Iowa p.ereed the .A'mirante
Oquendo at the same moment, one tor
ward and the other aft. The Oquendo
seemed to stop her engines for a moment
and lost Roadway but she Immediately
resumed her speed and gradually drew
ahead Of the Iowa and caught the terrific
ute u Tile oregon anu eXas.
Torpedo Boats Sighted.
| "At this mOmeut the alarm OF torpedo
boats was sounded and two torpedo boa t
destroyers were discovered in the star
board quarter at distance of 4OOO yards.
Fire was opened at once OH them from
the after battery and a l2-inch shell cut
the stern Of one destroyer sqnarely OFT.
As the shell struck a small torpedo boat
fired back at the battleship sending she'll
within few feet of my head.
swell up, among the advancing cruisers
splitting shots at one end the nther was
the little Gloucester, shooting first at a
cruiser and then at a torpedo boat. aud
hitting head wherever she saw it. The
marvel was TINT she was not destroyed
the Vixcays was slowly drawing abeam
Of the Iowa, and for the space OF Is min
utes it was give and take between the
two ships. The Vixcaya fired rapidly but
wildly. not one shot taking effect. on the
Iowa, while the shells from the Iowa were
tearing great rents in the side of the
Nixcaya. As the latter passed ahead OF
the Iowa she caught murderous fire
from the Oregon.
Two On the Beach In Flames.
AT this time the Infanta Maria Teresa
and the Almirante Oquendo, leading the
enemy's column, were seen to be heading
4 for the beach and in flames The Texas,
Oregon and Iowa pounded them unmey.
cifully. They ceased firing and in few
moments the Spanish cruisers were mass
Of flames and on the rocks with their flags
down. the Teresa flying white flag.
"The enemy's crew stripped themselves
and began jumping overheard, and one
OF the smaller magazines began to explode
After the Cristohal -Csien
Meanwhile the Brooklyn and the Girls
tobal Colon were exchanging compliments
in lively fashion at apparently long
range, and the Oregon. with her locomo.
tive speed. was hanging well on to the
Colon, also paying attention to the Viz.
caya. The Teresa and the Oquendo were
empty and in flames on the beach lust
20 minutes after the first shot was fred