The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-07-14

Verde squadron commanded by Admiral
Ceryera. the New York Herald secured
the services of an expert naval authority
IN board one of the battleships to write
a technical description of the fight when
II occurred. During the engagement the
writer was at his post Of dutyNan could
not possibly furnish his narrative when
the dispatch boat Golden Rod left the
scene of action TO steam at full speed to
Port Antonio and file IN the cable office
the full account of the battle which the
Herald and Pioneer Press printed exclu-
syely on Tuesday morning. When the
writer agreed to furnish the Herald with
graphed: 81 will write the story unless
killed in battle. II anything happens to
me / trust one of our officers will be
spared to render the Herald the service
which 1t requests" This account Is there
fore the first technical description of the
battle printed anywhere, The Pioneer
Press regrets that 1t is not able to sign
the name of the writer to the story, but
strict naval regulations prevent.)
story of the Spectacle.
On Board the Iowa, off Santiago, July
4-3y the Dispatch Boat Sommers n.
Smith to Port Antonio, July Con Sun
day morning, July 3, our watching ships
lay rolling in the easy surges off the
entrance of the harbor OF Santiago.
Their distance from the guarded haven
was from four to six thousand yards,
and there, with an unsparing alertness,
they awaited for that promised dash
which all hoped for but feared might
never come. A little after three bells
in the forenoon when the inspection of
ships had been concluded and as Lieut.
| Van Duser the officer of the watch, was
relieving the navigating officer, Lieut..
Scheutze. then officer of the deck, he
heard quick cry to call the captain,
followed by a shout, There come the
Spanards out of the harborr'
The trained eye of the alert officer had
marked the thin trail of drifting smoke,
and before. the signals, Clear ship for
action" had been given. the boats of
the Spanish vessels, rushing in ''line
ahead" were seen darling around So
eapa point for the open sea.
In moment all was hustle and trained
energy. Men rushed to their quarters,
guns were trained. and in less than TWEEN
~ seconds the whistling shrek of
rapid-fre gun warned the startled feet
that hot work was awaiting. In two
minutes every gun on shipboard was cast
loose manned. loaded and ready for the
nng-expected signal to fire. At the yard
arm on our battleship a string of signal
nass warned the fleet the enemy was
lying toi-escape. but even before the
answering pennants of the other ships
announced their understanding of the
message every vessel was dashing to the
emergency which had come at last. 1t
vas splendid spectacle. The Spaniards
With bottled steam
Cleared he Harbor Mouth
seemingly in q moment. Their eager
prows whitened the long pillows and their
'uooling wakes left a furrow as straight
.ad sharp as a racing yacht making a
winning run for the finish line. Their
Nurse was shaped for the westward, but
VAST as they sped In their desperate break
wi freedom. faster flew the shells OF the
An'ercans. The first heavy shell from
ne lowa's battery fell short, and then
lucky mischance. so did the second,
:" arterward the rain OF shot fell surely
u unsparingly upon the fleeing foe.
"ot whit behind In this eager fusiliade
Jared the batteries Of the Spanish ships.
1e'r port broadsides famed and grum-
Neu' But 1t was more a display of fire.
.o'hs than successful effort to damage
ships.
~ hfteen minutes after they were dis
'eied the four Spanish armored cruis-
90 nad cleared the wide entrance, and
minutes later the torpedo boat de-
''ers' hugginB the beach and seeking
~ 'heitering broadside of their sister
\. Fps New into the turmoil of the action.
ms time every gun of the American
that could be brought to bear
\, pumping projectiles into the enemy.
!, IN instant, 1t almost seemed, one ship
e Vizcaya class burst into flames, I
60 undoubtedly. by long. sure shot
A., the Oregon or the Texas. A minute
hi, . twelve-inch projectile sent from
inward turret struck the flagship.
Teresa. near her after smoke pipe.
.A. "endous explosion followed. Then
M. rs shrouded In smoke and was
1sa With lurid flames. and then.