The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-28
CHADWfCK--NEW YORK.
United States Flagship New York,


lowing report of the part taken by this
ship in the action Of yesterday during and
following the sortie Of Admiral Cervera's
squadron:
The ship had started at $50 for the army
landing at Siboney, the commandments
chief having an appointment with the
general commanding the army. A few
minutes after the crew had been called
TO quarters for Sunday inspection, fir
ing was heard and a ship sen leaving the
harbor entrance. The helm was at once
put over, the crew called to general quar-
tiers, signal "close intowards the har-
Dor entrance and attack vessels made,
orders given to spread al Hires, and the
ship headed back for the enemy, whose
ships were seen successfully coming out
at a high speed The flagship Infanta
Maria Teresa was first, then another
armoured cruiser Of the same class (Which
turned out to be the Vizcaya), followed
by the CristObal Colon an armored cruz
ser (Oquendo) and the torpedo boat des-
troyers FurOr and Pluton.
The nearer ships had Immediately en-
gagged any the time we were off the en-
trance. the flagship was afire, and soon
ashore; the Indiana and Gloucester were
actively engaged with the torpedo boats;
this snip fired some four inch shells at
the one nearer the port toward which she
was already headed, and seemed atempt-
ing 70 return, but she was already prac-
tically out o fthe fight, the boiler of the
more advanced onehad blown up showing
a vast column of condensed steam. Dur
ing the time the batteries whose line of
fire We mad crossed close to- repeatedly
fired upon US but without effect. No re-
turn was made to the fire. A shell from
the west battery fell within 200 yards of
the ships when We were over four miles
TO the westward, and wehad thought our
selves out of range. This ship stood on,
leaving the Gloucester, which had shown
herself SO capable, TO look after the sur
vivOrs in the torpedo boats. BY this time
a second cruiser was achore and burning,
the Almirante Oquendo, while the third,
the izcaya and the Cristobal Colon were
still steaming rapidly westward. The In
diana was now signalled Ql:26 a. M 10 re-
turn to her bIockading position, TO look
after anything which might be there.
Shortly afterward the Vizcays ~-..ned
Ehoreward, and smoke began to issue from
her after part, and by the time that she
miles west of Santiago, she was ablaze
The Iowa had signalled little before that
she had surrendered, and stopped off this
place. where she gave much assistance
in the rescue of the Vizcaya's people.
This ship stood on in chase of the Girls
sS5al Calan, with ahead of us, the Brook
cyn, the Oregon, Texas and Vixen, the
Oregon being much nearer in shore of
the two headmost ships but not in gun
shot. We We're rapidly increasing our
speed.
Il was evident, however, that the Colon
would give us a lengthy chase and at noon
the crew left quarters and went 10 din
ner.
About 12:5O the Oregon opened fire. and
some of her shells were observed TO strike
beyond the Colon; this made her capture
a foregone conclusion and shortly after l
o'clock she turned in towards shore and
son struck her colors. She had been
beached at a small inlet known as Rio
Torquino. BY the time we arrived a
boat was alongside her from the Brooklyn
came alongside this and reported. This
ship then sent a boat to take possession
and Captain Cook. the boarding officer,
the commanding officer going in the boat.
! was received by the commodore OF the
squadron. the captain. Captain de Nav
odon Emilio Morou. and Captain de Davio, |
of the first class Don Jose de Paroles V
Chacon, (Which latter had been civil gov
ernor Of Santiago. and had only just been
attached 20 the squadronD
1 arranged for the transfer OF the crew
and officers, a division to each snip pre-
sent and the engineer force to be left !
aboard. While aboard. however. the Re- |
solut arrived and il was arranged to tran /
sfer the whole number to her
I mad taken with me the fleet surgeon, !
an engineer and tn carpenter. to examine
and make secure everything necessary. /
The engineer reported to me that she was
making water aft. I had previously had
soundings taken and found eight feet az
the bow and seventy at the stern. SO that
but a small portion o fthe ship was left
ashore I returned as quickly as possible
- the flagship to report the situation. The
Oregon was signalled 10 take charge. and /
the men were FASTENED on board a num- !
Der sent also from the ship our work of !
closing watertight doors &c. was how
ever. of no avail. a large number Of sea
valves having been treacherously opened
anu satS waves - 20 thtu Is TO make II
impossible 20 close them: the shin thus
slowly settled. Al $50 she came af,oat
ana come out into deeper water The OH /
Ger IN charge CLieutenant Commander Cog /
swelD had let go an anchor but il was /
clear that # she went down in water OF
Jeh depth in which she was she could /
never be recovered: this ships stem was /
placed against her quarter. and later a
line being taken from our own boat to
hers. the Colon was forced inshore. II
vas by this time dark. bur using a search
light we were able 20 force the shin on
the beach. The chain being paid out ar
the same time. She thus sank in a very
moderate depth Of water and il IS very
probable she may he saved.
At u p. N. the flagship returned 20 San
E3ago IeavinS the Texas and OREGON in
4 arge of the prize.
Though the snip was not able TO come
action with any Of the larger ships
account OF her distance 70 the west
!. every nerve was strained to Go 50. /
al was done that could be done: our /
had rapidly increased so that we |
-ojng 10 knots az the end We were /
stely as,ern while al others We're /
f-ao,y 20 seward We were thus /
ltion TO prevent a possible Goubl- /
rear and escape 10 the south /
ers and crew. as they always