The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-08-03


entrance to the southwest and east
ward and Immediately steamed in,
opening fire upon the large ships. An
ticipating the appearance of the Pluton
and FurOr, the Gloucester was slowed,
thereby gaining more rapidly high
pressure of steam, and when the de-
stroyers came out she steamed for
them at full speed and was able to close
10 short range, where her fire was ac-
curate, deadly and of great volume.
During this fight the Gloucester was
under the fire Of the SOcapa battery.
within twenty minutes from the time
they emerged from Santiago harbor
the careers of the Furor and the Pluton
were ended and two-thirds Of their
people killed. The Furor was beaehed
and sunk in the surf; the PlutOn sank
in deep water few minutes later. The
destroyers probably suffered much in
jury from the fire Of the secondary
batteries of the battleship Iowa and
Indiana and the Texas, yet think
vrey considerable factor in their speedy
destruction was the fire, at close
range, of the Gloueester's battery.
After rescuing the survivors of the de
stroyers, the Gloucester did excellent
service in landing and securing the
crew of the Infanta Maria Teresa.
s-The method of escape attempted
by the Spaniards, all steering in the
same direction and in formation, re-
moved all tactical doubts and Difficult
ties and made plain the duty Of every
United States vessel to close in, imme-
diately engage and pursue. This was
promptly and effectively done. As
already stated, the first rush Of the
Spanish squadron carried it past a
number of the blockading ships, which
could not Immediately work up to their
best speed, but they suffered heavily in
passing, aud the Infsnta Maria Teresa
and the Oquendo were probably set on
fire by shells fired during the first
fifteen minutes of the engagement lt
was afterwards learned that the Infanta
Maria Teresa's fire main had been cut
by one of our first shots and that she
was unable 10 extinguish the fire.
With large volumes Of smoke rising
from their lower deck aft. these ves-
sells gave up both fight and flight, and
nan i'm on the beaeh-Infanta Maria
Teresa at about l0:l5 a. m. Nina Nina,
| six and half miles from Santiago
harbor entrance, and the Almirante
OquendO at about 1880 a. IN. at Juan
Gonzales, seven miles from the port.
The remainder OF the report describes
the surrender Of the vessels and the
rescue of the wounded. In regard to
the Cristobal Colon the report says:
Captain Cook, of the Brooklyn, went
on board to receive the surrender.
While his boat was alongside l came
up in the New York, received his re-
port and placed the Oregon in charge
of the wreck to save her if possible,
and directed the prisoners to be trans
ferred to the Resolnte, which had fol-
lowed the chase. Commodore Schley,
whose chief of staff had gone on board
to receive the surrender, had directed
that all their personal effects should be
retained by the officers. This order
did not modify.
The concluding portion of the report
describes the harbOr of Santiago and
the blockading arrangements, and says
regard this complete and important
victory over the Spanish forces AS the
successful result of several weeks OF ar
duous and close blockade, 50 stringent
and effective during the night that the
enemy was deferred from making the
attempt to escape at night, and deli0
erately elected to make the attempt il
daylight. That this was the case wa
informed by the commanding officer o.
the Cristobal Colon
In regard to the work Of the feet, the
report says:
When all the work was done so vel
it is difficult to discriminate in praise
The object of the blockade of Cervera'
, squadron was fully accomplished, ant
each individual bore well his part il
1.-THE commodore in command of tn
Z second division, the captains Of tn
ships, their officers and men. The fir
: Of the battleships was powerful an
destructive, and the resistance Of tn
: Spanish squadron was in great par
/ broken almost before they had got bt
: yond the range Of their own fort'
{ The fine speed of the Oregon enable
) her to take front position in the chas'
, and the Cristebal Colon did not give u
e until the Oregon had thrown IS-inc
2 shell beyond her. This performane
I adds to the already brilliant record
2 this fine battleship, and speaks highi
: of the skill and care with which he
: admirable efficiency has been main
| tanned during a service unprecedente
e in the history of vessels of her elas'
4 The Brooklyn's westerly bloekadin
: position gave her an advantage in tn
chase which she maintained to the enc
D and she employed her fine battery wit
!. telling effect. The Texas and the Ne
: York were gaining on the chase durin
the last hour, and had any accident b
o fallen the Brooklyn or the Oregon the
D would have speedily overhauled II
Il Cristobal Colon.
y Commodore Sehley's report is mne
d briefer, and the main portion is devote
II to mention of the work done BY 9TH
Ir commanders. He says:
Il have never before witnessed sue
+ deadly aud fatally accurate shooting
e was done By the ships Of your con
le mand as they closed in on the Spani.
Ie squadron, and deem it high priv
E ilgd TO commend 20 you for such actic
e as you may deem proper the gallantE
rt and dashing courage, the prompt decl
: ion and the skillful handling Of the
N respective vessels, Of Captain Pbilil
le Captain Evans, Captain Clark, and e
Sc peciaIly Of my ehief-of-staff, CAPITA
Ia Cook, who was directly under my Pt
e sonal observation. and whose cOolnes
l. promptness and courage were OF 4
1t highest order. The dense smoke Of 4
TO combat shut out from my view the !