The evening times., 1898-07-07
and long tongues of fame licked the tow


and long tongues of flame licked the tow
ering masts.
Over the ship cloud of rosy light how
cred and when, after a time. the ex-
plosions of the free powder were added,
great volumes of smoke shut out the sky.
Several explosions of terrific force follow
ed, but, Notwithstanding this. and while
the flames were still quivering through
every outlet and encircling the hull. our
boats were busy with the rescue of the
unfortunate wounded and those more
lucky survivors who had sought the wat
er or the shore as their only refuge from
dreadful death.
When the Spanish captain of the viz
caya, that courteous Eulate, of whom we
heard so much when his ship was in the
harbor of New York. was lifted over the
side and half carried aft. he presented his
sword to Captain Evans as the symbol,
but Evans, gentle as he Is brave. de-
clined to receive it, and. waving it back
with friendly gesture, he grasped the
hand of the Spaniard and welcomed his
brother officer to the hospitality of the
ship.
Much affected by his reception, Capt.
Eulate asked permission to meet the
lowa's officers. and to each he gave a
warm grip of his hand and a friendly
word of gratitude before he was carried
below
The Oregon and Brooklyn Joined in the
attack. but were a little too far out to
get into the best of it, and their efforts
were directed more to head of and catch
the Colon than to join in the general ac-
ton. There was wiscom in this, ap-
proved of all good sailors, for they knew
what work was cut out for them and in
what good hands the other ships were
left.
The glorious Texas, no longer the "hoo-
900 of the fleet. gave Its principal at
tent1on to the ViZcaya, and one of her
Finch shells smashing through the fire
room OF the Spaniard, caused her to
make that quick turn to the shore which
at first we did not understand
The New York was so far to the east
ward that she had long chase. and a
stern chase. before she got into the ac-
tion. and she passed us just after the
NiZcaya surrendered. She made a splen
did marine picture as she rushed eagerly
by in hot chase after the Colon. and
as she shot past we gave Sampson
cheer after cheer. and ozeer after cheer
came back to us from as gallant a crew
as ever served a gun or fed a roaring
furnace
Some of the crew had swum to the
beach. but finding the hostile shores
commanded by alert parties of Cuban
soldiers. they fought in a mad endeavor
to get on board the ships boats rather
than surrender to an enemy whom they
knew to be pitiless. Every officer and
man on the Iowa gave clothes of some
sort to the rescued sailors. and their re-
ception must have taught them that the
deSpised Yankee was not the inhuman
brute their officers had pictured
The paymaster's stores of the ship
were drawn on lavishly TO clothe the
spanish officers and men, and when af-
ter while they We're dried and fed il
was interesting to note the relief all
seemed to feel now that their long sus-
pense of so many weary weeks was over
and done.
Al one time the Iowa was engaged with
all the ships single-handed. The Span
ish officers told us later that their orders
were 70 concentrate their fire on her. and
every effort must be made to disable her
as she was the most dangerous antagonist
Of all awaiting them. But. as one of the
Spanish officers added with a fine air OF
perpiexity:
I'VE found that all the ships were
equally dangerous, and that after all
was said and done, 1t was four ships
against four. and one of these. the Brook
iyn. was much more lightly armored and
gunned than any of ours
Reckoning up the data of this mamora-
BILE fight. which Il was our good fortune
to take part in, We find that:
In less than twenty-five minutes two of
their ships Were wrecked
In less than three-quarters of an hour
the third surrendered.
In fifty-six minutes from the time the
first dashing Spaniard was sighted all
hands We're piped down, the guns were
secured and our boats were In the water
TO save what was left of the Vizcaya's
crew
AT , o'clock in the afternoon of that
memorable Sunday the Iowa arrived off
the entrance TO Santiago. the Gloucester
keeping company with us. after speaking
the Indiana and exchanging cheers thai
made the welkin ring. When alongside
the Indiana Capt. Evans hailed his
brother-in-law. Capt. Taylor. of that
ship. and told him to send Admiral Ger
vera on board. and he would put at his
disposal the vacant admirars cabin of
our ship.
The gallant but defeated sailor came
alongside in the Gloucester's boat. and
was received with all the honors due his
rank and station. The full marine guard
was paraded, the bug'es fiourished a sa-
lutte. and when the official side was fin
ished the reception accorded him by the
captured officers of the Vizcaya showed
the affec:fonate regard with which this
fearless gentleman was held bv those
who served under him.
Capt. Eulate wore the sword Capt. Ey-
ans had refused to accept and he point
ed TO il with pathetic pride as he .old
of the reception accorded him by tho
low1-'s captain. 1t was an affecting and
a heart-warminG sight. and made fit
ting close 10 a day that will be made
memorable for the giories it yielded TO
our arms at sea