The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-07-30

80 NV - ~ VIAL ttHNE4 " NE41t1z
The credit beiongA
The Oregon having proved vastly fast.
~ than the other. batfleships, ale And
tie bpct kim, together With tae Te a.
and another vessel which proved 10 h
your hagship, continued westward In pur.
suit Of the Colon which had run In clos
TO shore. and the Oregon opened iire with
he I3-ineh guns, landing shell close tG
the Colon. A moment afterwards ths
Brooklyn opened fire with her S-inels guns
landing shell just ahead Of her several
other shells were fired At the Colon, nov
10 range Of the BfbolIyn's and Oregon,
guns. Her commander, seeing al csanc,
q escape cut Of. struck her flag at lii;
p. M. and ran ashore at a point 80 m1e,
west Of Santiago harbor.
Your flagship was coming up rapidly
'at the time, as was also the Texas and
Vixen A little later, after your arrival
the CristObal Colon, which had struck Il
the Brooklyn and the Oregon, was turn
ed over TO you A. one Of the trophies Of
this great victory Of the squadron under
your command.
His Privilege 10 Prnsse.
! have never witnessed such deadly
and fatally accurate shooting as was don.
by the ships of your command as tines
closed in on the spanish squadron, and
deem Il high privilege to commend Il
you for such action as you may deem
proper the CALAMITY and dashing eourag,
the prompt decision and skiIlful handling
II their respective vessels Of Captain Phil
ip, Captain Evans, Captain Clarke, am
especially Of my chief Of staff, Captain
Cook, who was directly under my pei
sonal observation, and whose GOODNESS
prnmPtneas and courage were Of the high
est order.
Lieutenant Sharp. commanding the Eix
en-, acted with conspicuous courage
beg 70 invite special attention to IN.
conduct Of my flag lieutenant, James II
Sears, and Ensign Edward McCauley. Jr.
aide, who exposed themselves fearlessly II
discharging their duties, and also to Ii,
splendid behavior Of my secretary, Lieu
tenant d. Wells, JF., who commanded anG
directed the fighting Of the fourth dins
lon.
| would commend the highly mesi.ori
Gus conduct and courage in the engage
ment Of Lieutenant Commander n. +
Mason, the executive officer. The nayi
gator. Lcaienant A. c. HOdgson, and tn,
division officers, Lieutenant T. d. Griffin
Lieutenant W. r. Rush, Lieutenant Ed
ward Simpson, Lieutenant j. ID. Doyle
Ensign chaEies Webster and the iuniol
divisional Officers were most conspicuous
in every detail Of duty.
BrSSkIyn's brave Men.
] have never in my life served with I
drawer, ~bctteF or wor1hier crew than tina
q the brooklyn. During the comba;
lasting from 9;3S until Isis p. m, mucI
d the time under FIRE, they never fagge,
for q moment and were apparently an
Disturbed by the storm a projeetiies.
congratulate you most sincerely upol
this great victory 70 the squadron undei
your command and am glad that / ha,
an opportunity 10 contribute in the leas
70 victory that seems enough for al
Of as.
J beg 10 enclose list Of the ofIicers an,
crew who participated in the combat.
! cannot close this report without men
tioning in high terms Of praise the SPLEEN
did conduct and support Of Captain c. Il
CUke Of the Oregon. Her speed wa
wonderful and her accurate FIRE splendidl,
destructive. Very respectfully,
w. S. 1SCHLEY,
Commodore, U. S. Navy