The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-11

| Off Santiago de Cuba, july o.-Nl /;
Port Antonio, Jamaica, July 8, , p. M
| Following is the official account of tn
engagement with the Spanish squadron
as seen from the United States steame
Vixen:
| At 9:4J a. IN. the quartermaster OF
duty reported that Il tug was comm:
out of the harbor. Examination prove'
| the vessel to be Il Spanish cruiser flynn;
large Spanish flag and a smaller fla;
at the masthead, which was thought t.
be the Admiral's flag, as it was on thu
leading ship.
The Vixen at this time was lyins
about two miles off shore and four mile;
to the westward of Moro Castle, anC
from this time to the end was never
out of sight of the base and was within
two miles of the destruction of the three
armored cruisers.
Word was at once sent to the com
manding officer, and all hands were call
ed TO quarters. Full speed was ordered
and the helm was put to port to stanC
further off shore and leave the Brook
lyn's fire line unobstructed. The
brooklyn had hoisted a signal that The
enemy was attempting to escape and the
Vixen, noticing that the leading ship was
turning to the westward, signalled thai
the enemy was attempting to escape II
that direction. The fleet at this time
had resumed its station and the vessels
began rapidly to close in toward the
mouth of the harbor, concentrating ter
rifle long range fire upon the enemy.
There was no doubt that the enemy
was coming out There were severa
anxious moments before it could be de
termined whether the Spanish Admira
would order his fleet to dispense and at
tempt to break through the blockadinl
squadron or would keep his ships tOgeth
err The leading vessel had changed he
course to the west when n second vesse
appeared. followed shortly by the Girls
tobal Colon. The Colon was easily iden
tilted because her mast was between he
two smokestacks. The other ships coul(
not so easily be identified, rs the Viz
caya, the Almirante Oquendo and In
fanta Maria Teresa had the same APP
pearance.
Meanwhile the fleet approached the
mouth of the harbor and when the
fourth vessel appeared and turned to the
west it became evident that Admira
Cervera had reconnoitered the field an(
selected the west as the weakest par
of the blockade, because the strongest
eastern current had drifted the heavies
ships to the east of their customary pc
sitions. The western portion of the
blockading circle was defended by the
Vixen and the Brooklyn. The Brooklyn
headed north apparently intending to in
tercept the head of the enemy'S column
AS the leading ships of the euemy's
column appeared the western battery
opened heavy fire, apparently directed
ut the eastern and central ships of the
blockading squadron. At 10 Il. IN. the
Brooklyn was nearest and engaged the
two leading ships, which were close to
gether with an interval of three quar-
tiers of mile between the second ship
and the Cristobal Colon.
At 1905 the Brooklyn turned with 3
lort helm, making complete turn to the
east so that she was again he;Ning
west. The enemy's leading ships were
on her starboard quarter and the fourth
vessel was coming up rapidly astern. Al
this time the Vixen was west of the
leading ship and was steaming on a par
allel course.
For the next fifteen minutes the
Brooklyn received and returned the fire
of the two leading ships and an occa
sional shot from the Cristobal Colon.
At 1890 the chase was well formed
the positions being as follows: The enc
my's ships in column between CabanaS
and Guayacabo, the Brooklyn steering
Il parallel course Il mile distant, with the
Oregon two miles southeast. The othel
American vessels were obscured by the
smoke.
At 1888, the Colon and other leading
ships of the enemy were close together,
just clear of the Brooklyns bow as
viewed from the Vixen, the Cristobal
Colon gaining speed and closing up. 1t
was apparent that the leading vessel
was disabled and on fire as she dropped
rapidly astern. She apparently headed
for the shore off Juan Gonzales.
The Oregon. forging ahead capitally
engaged the fourth ship. As she passed,
two smaller Spanish vessels, probably
the Furor and Pluton. to the westward
of Cabanas, engaged the Iowa and the
Texas, though apparently on fire. But
he leading vessels were too far to the
west to be identified accurately. The In
diana was in sight a little to the west
of Moro Castle.
At 1884 the Cristohal Colon was still
gaining and was reserving her fire. AT
this moment the only American vessels
seen from the Vixen were the Brooklyn,
Oregon, Texas and Iowa, six miles be-
hind the Oregon.
The Indiana was four miles astern of
the Iowa.
At 1887 the Cristobal Colon and other
ships resumed the heavy fire. The sec
ond vessel was five.miles from the Vix-
on, The Oregon was gaining rap
dly on the Cristobal Colon, which
was using smokeless powder. The enc
mics fire was very high and using smoke
css powder. The enemies fire was very
high and many of their shots passed
over the Brooklyn, falling close to the
Vixen, n piece of a shell tearing the flag
ut her mainmaSt.
At 10:47 the Brooklyn forged ahead
and the Oregon fired her forward 13-
inch gun at the leading Spanish vessel.