The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-29


 nan, Son ofP. J. cronan of This Cftv--
 A Tribute t" the oregon-Reports
 From Commanders Of thc Ericsson
 and Harvard.
 Washington, July 2S.--The navy de- partment late to-day gave out for publication further reports on the de- struction of Admiral Cer%era's squad- ron off Santiago. July B. The reports include that of Captain Cook of Com modore Schley's flagship Brooklyn and is particularly interesting, showing in some detail the splendid work of the ship against which the Spanish fire was almost entirely directed. The re- ports follow:
 U. S. F. s. Brooklyn, First Rate At
 Anchor, Guantanamo Ray, July [,
 1898.
 Sir:
 l. At a. m., July 3, I gave orders and arrangements were made for gem eral muster at 9:30 a. n1 At 9:3O a. m. the enemy was telegraphed bys the Iowa as coming out. At the same time they were discovered by the quarter- master on watch, N. Anderson, of this ship, and reported to the officer of the deck. The executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Mason, who was on deck about to execute the order for general muster, immediately gave the order, < Clear ship for action and general quar- ters." Signal was made at the same time, Enemy coming out, action" went immediately forward, stood for the enemy and gave orders to get steam on ali boilers
 We started with steam on three boil- CTS at about twelve knots speed.
 2. The head of the Spanish squadron, in column, was just outside the en- trance of the harbor on. Santiago head ing about southwest. The Spanish squadron consisted of the Maria Teresa (fagship), Vizcaya. Oquendo and Colon and two torpedo destroyers. We sop- ened fire on the leading ship in five { minutes from the discovery.
 3. The port battery was first engaged as we stood with helm to port to head off the leading ship, and giving them ralSing fire at about 1,500 yards grange The enemy turned to the west-e ward to close into the land. We then bore around to starboard, bringing the starboard battery into action. The en- eny hugged the shore to the west- ward.
 4. The Brooklyn leading, was fol- lowed by the Texas, Iowa, Oregon h. diana and Gloucester. The Vixen, which had been to westward of us on the blockade, ran to the sputllward and eastward of us and kept for some tinQe off our port side distapt about 1,000 yards. evidently intending to guard against a torpedo attack upon this ship, the shells passing over us fell very thick about her. some passing over her. At this time the firing was very faat, and the whistling of shell inoessant and our escape with so little injury was miraculous, and only can be at- trfbuted to bad marksmanship on the part of the enemy. The Maria Teresa, (which had dropped astern while we were wearing, under the heavy fire of our fleet, ran ashore, the Vizcaya, Oquendo and Colon continuing on and gaining in distance.
 5. The Brooklyn was engaged with the three leading ships of the enemy, which were forging ahead, the Texas Iowa and Indiana keeping up heavy fire, but steadily dropping astern. The Oregon was keeping up a steady fire and was coming up in the most glor- ious and gallant style, outstripping all others. It was an inspising sight t0 see this battleship with large white wave before her and her smokestacks belching forth continued puffs from hor forced draft. We were making four teen knots at the time and the Oregon came up off on our starboard quarter at about 500 yards and maintained her position.
 6. The Oquendo soon after the falling out of the Teresa, dropped astern and on fire ran ashore. The Vizcaya and < Colon continued on under fire from the Brooklyn and Oregon. The other ves- sells of our fleet were well astern and out of range The Texas was evident ly coming up fast. At about 1l:5s the Vizcaya was seen to be on fire and the Colon passed inside after her with in- IiCoSSa bPCUOs cOon tllS iCdQ bklu SI6A- < ually forged ahead. The Vizcaya soon after ran on the beach, ablaze with fire. We sfgnalied the Oregon to cease firing on the Vizcaya as her flag was down Fire immediately ceased and we both continued the chase of the Colon, now about 1.200 yards away. The range ran from 1.560 to 5000 yards with the Viz caya as she kept in and out from the coast. We steered straight for a dis tant point near Cape Cruz while the Colon kept close to the land, running into all the nights. She could not have come out without crossing our bows and we were steadily gaining on her. We were getting more steam all the time and now had four and one-half boilers on, and the remaining one and half nearly ready.
 T. After running for about fifty miles west from the entrance the Colon ran into bight of land. beached, fired a gun leeward and hauled down her flag The Oregon and Brooklyn had just previously began to fire upon the Colon and were landing shells close to her. was sent on board by Comomdore Schley to receive the surrender. The captain spoke English and received me ,1o,.or4,xy rhough pafura Nv much fje-