New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-11


Of the memorable contest. While. in the MAN,
their accounts did rot differ from the press dis
patches yet they seem 10 give more credit to the
work OF the Oregon.
From the account given by one officer IL APP
pears that on the morning Of the fight the four
American warships lay off the entrance 10 the
harbor in this order: The oregon was silshuy
10 the east then to the westward came the con-
verted yacht Gloucester living between the ore
gon AMI the Iowa. To the westward OK the
Iowa was the Texas. while further along. IN
fact eight or ten miles to the west OF inc mar
Dor was the Brooklyn with Commodore Schey
on board.
The position Of the feet was in keeping WIN
the plan mapped out by Admiral Sampson anu
his command had definite orders IN case inc
Spanish feet made dash out OF the MAJ
While all the ships had steam up. none OF '"e''''
with the exception Of the Brooklyn was "''ue'
way The latter had = few minutes previous
to the sighting Of the Spanlards turheu """'
TO the westward ard when the first shot was
heard from the Iowa she was going ava! iio''
the fleet at about an S-knpt gait
BROOKLYN UNDER STEAM.
Just why the Brooklyn went steamng OF 10
the west at this time is not known but. al
though she had not gone far and was st'il' P'o"
ably. near the station designated 10y Admirai
Sampson her commander. nevertheless hau W
swing around, and In doing so h. put his h-ih'
to starboard and made n long sweep To port
going a mile or more ofshore In the man"uNre'
The first Spanard that came rushing OUT OF t'ie
harbor's mouth was the Cristohal Coon' VIII"
Admiral Cervera on board the Vzcaya was Sec
ond the Almirante OIucndo thi?d ana the
Maria Teresa fourth. Will. two torpedo-ooa'
destroyers brought up :he rear.
While the Iowa got In the first shot at the
neet ~ 1t came Jashing by. the Oregon was
he first American vessel outside OF the Brook
lvn in motion She gathered Roadway so fast
that she cut in between the Iowa and the fleet
md pumped n good 13-inch shell ut the Colon
before she had gone by The Oregon was there
fore in n most excellent position TO meet 'he
Vizcaya when she came along. and with the help
Il the Texas the two tackled the Spahiard SD
fercely that she was on fire In n few minutes
and had headed for the beach. While the ore
CONS whole forward starboard battery was
hanging at the Nizcaya, the after guns had
swung around and were pumping shells into the
Oquendo. which also had been tackled by the
Iowa which, in the mean time. had disposed OF
the Teresa.
THE OREGON'S HIGH SPEED.
Tho wreck OF tho three Spaniards was accom-
pllshed In about fifteen or twenty minutes. and by
this time the Oregon had attained her maximum
speed. With her forced draught on and every
pound OF steam up. tho big Pacific Coast battle
ship ploughed through the water as she never
did before except. perhaps. on her speed trial.
three years ago.
Leaving the Texas and the Iowa to complete
the destruction Of the rest Of the Spaniards and
the rescue Of the unfortunate sailors, Captain
Clark headed the Oregon after the Colon. The
Brooklyn by this time had taken her wide sweep
of shore and WIS headed In FOR the Colon. open
ing up on that vessel with her port broadsde.
As the Colon ran b. the Brooklyn she CAV" the
latter the benefit OF her big guns. and no less
than thirty shots took effect on the Brooklyns
port side and a number Of them passed clear
through the Yankee cruiser.
As the Colon went by the Brooklyn the latter
turned her starboard guns On the Spanards. In
tho run up III. coast the Brooklyn was hit
dozen times her starbosrd side. while all
three Of her tall srnokestacks show the effects Of
the Color's stern-chasers Tho superior speed
q the Brooklyn ard the oregon sealed the fate
e tho Colon. and after q run ~ forty miles Ad-
rniral Cervera ordered the flagship to be headed
for the shore.
ADMIRAL cERvENA JUMPED OVERHEARD
The Colon struck about one hundred and Nifty
Yards from the beach and as she had
grounded Admiral C.rvera ordered every one 90
Jump overheard. and plunged into the sea him
self followed by all Of his officers
The little Gloucester. after destroying the tor
pedo- boat destroyers. turned after the oregon
and made such good time that she was up even
with the Colon when she ran ashore. AS she
drew considerably less water than either the
oregon or the Brooklyn. her commander. Lieu
tenant Commander Wainwright. was able 10
run in close TO the stranded Spaniard. and the
Giouccster's boats were soon out after the swim
ming crew Admiral Cervera was picked up
Just outside the surf about ten yards from shore.
and. after his long swim. was thoroughly ex-
hausted
The Colon had just turned in-hore when the
New-York came up after a long and quick run
OF over sixty miles. The flagship was enabled
TO get in a dozen good shots before the Colons
flag came down. so that Admiral Sampson had
a hand In the fight. although 1t was brief one.
II yyill be seen therefore. that the oregon. while
the most easterly OF all the American ships.
nevertheless was enabled by her superior speed
Z, have a hand in the destruction OF all four OF
the Spanish cruisers. and the only one OF
the fleet that did