The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-29
Captain Cook Tells Of His Ships Part
in the Programme.
IT WAS AN INSPIRING SIGHT.
Her Escape from Injury was Littie
Short of Miraculous and Can Only
he Due to the Poor Markham
ship of the Spanish Gunncrs


AT Anchor Guantanamo Bay
July Z. 1895.
sir.1 At9A n. July 3. ] gave orders
and arrangements were made for gen
eral muster al $50 A. NJ. ~ $3.50 A. VI.
the enemy were telegraphed by the Iowa
a. coming out Al the same time they
were discovered oy the quartcrmaster ON
watch ~ Anderson. Of this ship. ana
reported 10 the officer Of the deck.
The executive officer Leutenant-Com
mander Mason. who was on deck about
10 execute the order for general muster.
Immediately gave the order: clear
the snip for action and general
quarters" Signal was made az the same
time Enemy coming out action J
went Immediately forward stood for the
enemy. and gave orders TO get steam In
an boilers
TWELVE KNOTS.
we started with steam I'm three boilers
az about twelve knots speed.
? The head OF the Spanish squadron
IN column was just outside the entrance
Of the harbor Of Santiago heading ABOUT
southwest
The Spanish squadron consisted Of me
Maria Teresa hags hip. Nicaya. Oquen-
DO and Colon. and two torpedo-ooat de-
fTTONflE.
ship IN FIVE minutes from the discovery.
8 The port battery was FIRST engaged as
we stood with port helm 10 head off the
leading ship. and giving them raking
FIRE ar about fifteen hundred yards range.
The enemy turned 10 the westward 10
close into the land We then wore around
20 starboard bringing the starooard bat
terry into action The enemy Rugged the
shore 10 the westward
rs THE LEAD.
4 The Brooklyn leading was followed
bv the Texas. Iowa. oregon Indiana ana
Gloucester The vixen. which had been
70 the westward of as on the blockade
ran 10 the southwark and eastward OF us
and kept for some time off our port side
distant about one thousand yards. evil
IDENTIFY intending 10 guard against torpedo
attack upon this ship the shell passing
over u fell very thick about her some
passing over her At this time the hrine
was very fast. and the whistling Of sheh
incessant. and our escape with so niue
injury was miraculous and can only ne
attributed 10 bad Workmanship on the
part Of the enemy The Maria Teresa
which had dropped astern while We were
wearing under the heavy nre or our
feet ran ashore
THREE AT 4 TIME
s. The Nizcaya. OQuendo and colon
continuing on and gaining I'm distance
The Brooklyn was engaged with me
three leading ships OF the enemy when
were forging ahead. the Texas. Iowa ana
Indiana keeping mp heavy hre' h"i
steadily dropping astern.
The Oregon was keeping mp q steady
IRE and coming up I'm the most glorious
f.rfn al al
A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT
II was an inspiring sight 10 see this
battleship. with a large white wave be-
fore her. and her smokestacks belching
forth continued puns from her forced
draught. We were making fourteen Knots
al the time. and the oregon came mp or
our starbOard quarter az about SIX hum
dred wards and maintained her position
though we soon after Increased our speed
20 fifteen knots. and Just before the colon
surrendered were making nearly sixteen.
1.-THE Oquendo soon dropped astern'
and. on fire, ran ashore Inc Nlzcayd
and Colon continued on, under hre from
BROOKLYN and Oregon. The other vessels
NJ orr fleet were well astern and out of
range. ,
The TEXAS was evidently coming M
faat A. about 1855 a. NJ. the Nizcaya
was seen 10 be on FIRE and the Colon pass
"a inside OF her with increased speed
took the lead and gradually forged aheao.
The Vizcaya soon after ran ON inc
beach on FIRE We signalled 10 cease mr.
ing on the Vizcaya, as her flag was down
Firing Immediately ceased. ana we nolH
continued the chase OF the Colon. now
about L.. 900 yards away. The ranges ran
from 1900 TO 5000 with the Nizcaya' as
she kept in and out OF the coast we
sfeered straight for a distant point neaI
Cans cruz. while the colon kept close "a
the land She could not have come out
without crossing our bows. and We were
steadily gaining on her We were getting
more steam an the time, and now had
four and one-half boilers on. and the
remaining one nd one-half nearly ready
COLONs FLAG DOWN.
T. After running for about fifty miles
We eteered Tor the Colon. She ran TO Inc
beach 10 leeward and hauled down hei
fag The Oregon and Brooklyn had JUS
previously begun 10 IRE on the Colon
and were landing shells close 10 her.
was sent on board by Commodore SchleA
40 receive the surrender
The captain spoke English and received
me pleasantly though naturally mucn
depressed lie surrendered uncondition
said that his case was hopeless ana ne
saw mat we were too much for him.
was on board about fifteen minutes A.
we came from the Colon the flagship
New York came I'm with the Texas.
reported on board the flagship 20 Rear
Admiral Sampson. | stated 10 nm ina
believed the Colon could be gotten on
the beach.
\. During the entire action I was ir
constant communication with YOU so tha
was enabled TO promptly execute YOU
orders and instructions. The Officers
and crew behaved with great and uneX
ceptionable GOODNESS and bravery, so thai
II IS dialcult TO discriminate. They
were encouraged I'm their best efforts by
your enthusiasm. and your chcery words
..Fire steady bows. and give It 20 them.
A JEALOUS OFFICER.
O. The Executive Oncer \. r. Ma
son with his usual zeal was continually
az the battery. directing the firing anS
keeping me well informed Of the eNac
condition Of the ship and I'm encourag
ing both officers and men by his eNamph
OF GOODNESS and courage.
TO- Lieutenant Hodgsou was on IN
bridge co0lly and deliberately takinl
bearings. measuring and giving ranges
lie was assisted IN getting ranges an'
noting them by chief Neoman Georg'
Ellis with stademeter until Ellis wa
killed by passing shell.
1.-THE officers OF the divisions, Lieuten-
ant T. ID. Grimm. ". r. Rush. +. Simp'
son. J. G. Doyle b. w. Wells and En-.
sign Webster all performed their ful
duties deliberately and efficiently.
and efficient Naval Cadet Halligan Mar
bic. Adele and CronRn having especially
been noticed for good service Lieut. y
The Naval Cadets In division were COO
-. a