Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1898-07-22
" FIGHTING BOB'S STORY.
Continued from Second Page.

apparently long range and the
Oregon with her locomotive speed,
was hanging well on to the Colon,
also paying attention to the VIZ
cays. The Teresa and the Oquen
do were in flames on the beach
just twenty minutes after the first
shot was fired.
Fifty minutes after the first shot
was fired the Vlzcaya put her
helm to port with a great burst of
flame from the after part of the
ship and headed slowly for the
rocks at Acceraderos, where she
found her last resting place.
AS it was apparent that l
could not possibly catch the Girls
tobal Colon and that the Oregon
and Brooklyn undoubtedly would,
and as the fast New York was
also on her trail, 1 decided the
calls of humanity should be heard
and attention given to the 1000 or
1900 Spanish officers and men
who had struck their color to the
American squadron, commanded
by Admiral Sampson. l there
fore headed for the wreck of the
Vizcaya, now burning furiously
fore and aft. When 1 was
in as far as the depth
of water would admit, 1 lowered
all my boats and sent them at
once to the assistance of the men
who were being drowned by
dozens or roasted on the decks. l
soon discovered that the insurgent
Cubans from the shore were
shooting on men who were strug-
Cling in the water, after having
surrendered to us. l immediate
ly put stop to this, but I could
not put stop to the mutilstion of
many bodies by the sharks inside
the reef.
These creatures had become ex-
cited by the blood from the
wounded mixing in the water.
My boats crew worked manfully
and succeeded in saving many Of
the wounded from the burning
ship. One man who will be rec
commended for promotion, clam
bered up the side of the Vizcays
and saved three men from burn
ing to death. The smaller maya
zines of the Vizcsya were explod-
ing with magnificent cloud effects.
The boats were coming along side
in a steady string and willing
hands were helping the lacerated
Spanish officers and sailors on
the Iowa's quarter deck.
spaniards Shot to Pieces.
All the Spaniards were absolute.
ly without clothes. Some had
their legs torn off by fragments of
shells. Others were mutilated in
every conceivable way. The bot.
toms of the boats held two or three
inches of blood. In many cases
dead men were lying in the blood,
Five poor chaps died on the way
to the ships. They were after
ward buried with military honors
from the Iowa.
Some examples of heroism, OF
more properly devotion to discip.
line and duty, could never be sur
passed. One man on the lost Viz
caya had his left arm almost sho
off just below the shoulder. The
fragments were hanging by 6
small piece of skin. But h'
climbed upassisted over the side
and saluted as if on visit of cere
mony. Immediately after hin
came strong hearted sailor
whose left leg had been shot of
above the knee. He was hoistet
on board the Iowa with tackle
but never a whimper came iron
him. Gradually the mangle,
bodies and naked we'll men accu
mulated until it would have beel
almost difficult to recognize tn
Iowa as a United States battle
ship.
Blood was all over her usual
clean quarterback, and 272 make
menwere being supplied with waite
and food. Finally came the boat
with Captain Eulate, commando
of the Vizcaya, for whom a chai
was lowered over the side, as h
was evidently wounded. Th
Captains guard of marines wa
drawn up on the quarterback t
salute him, and l stood waiting t
welcome him. AS the chair wa
nlaced on the deck, the marine