The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-07-13
THE WAR WITH SPAIN.
Cervera's Race for Life-A Graphic Story
of the Runnin Fight-u Was schley's
Victory.

Sun the story of the discovery of Ger
vera's dash for the open sea, the pur-
suit and destruction of his ships:
On BOARD THE UNITED STATES BATTLE
SHIP TEXAS, OFF SANTIAGO, July 3.-At
$3.50 o'clock this morning, while the battle
ship Texas was lying directly in front Of
Santiago harbor, Lieut.. M. l.. Bristol saw
smoke arising between MORO Castle and
La Socapa. An instant later the nose Of a
ship poked out behind the Estrella Battery.
Clash went the electric gongs calling the
ships company to general quarters. Full
speed ahead plunged the Texas toward the
enemy and up huttered the vari-colored
flags signalling "The enemy is trying to es-
cape"
The Brooklyn, lows and Oregon respond
ed Immediately. All headed toward the
harbor entrance, being then about two and
a half miles away.
There was much suppressed excitement
aboard all the vessels as they sped in the
direction of the enemy. The first of the
Spanish squadron to come into view was a
cruiser of the Vizcaya class, the Almirsnte
Oquendo. Closely following her came the
Cristobal Colon. Then came the two other
cruisers, Vizcaya and Infanta Maria Teresa.
o~ERvERA's SHIP OPENS THR FIGHT.
Almost before the leading ship was clear
of the shadow Of MORO Castle the fight
began by a she'll from the Almirante
Oquendo, to which Cervera had trans
ferred his flag. 1t struck none of the Amer
lean vessels. In a twinkling the big guns
of the Texas belched forth their thunder,
which was followed Immediately by a heavy
fire from our other ships. The Spaniards
turned to the westward under full steam,
pouring a constant fire on our ships, and
evidently hoping to get away by their su-
perior speed.
The Brooklyn turned her course parallel
with that of the spaniards, and, after.get-
ting in good range began a running fight.
THE TEXAS IN THE THICK OF IT.
The Texas, still heading in shore, kept up
a hot exchange of shots with the foremost
ships, which gradually drew away to the
westward under the shadow Of the hills.
The third of the Spanish vessels, the Viz
caya or Infanta Maria Teresa, was caught
by the Texas in good fighting range, and it
was she that engaged the chief attention of
the first battleship commissioned in the
American Navy-the old hoodoo, but now
the old hero. The Texas steamed west with
her adversary, and as she could not catch
her with speed she did with her shells.
Capt. John Philip directed operations from
the bridge until the fire got so hot that he
ordered the ship to be run from the coming
tower, and the bridge contingent moved
down to the passage surrounding the tower.
This was a providential move, for a moment
later a shell from one of the Spanish cruz.
sers tore through the pilot house.
q Captain Philip directed every move
throughout the heat of the fight. For half
an hour the shells whistled all about the
ship, but only one struck it. This tore a
hole through the ash hoist amidships and
exploded inside the smokestack. No one
was injured.
The din of the guns was so terrific that
orders had to be yelled close to the mes
%senger's ears, and at times the smoke was
80 thick that absolutely nothing could be
seen. Once or twice the 12-inch guns in the
turrets were swung across the ship and
fred. The conclusion shook the great ves-
sci as though she had been struck by a great
ball, and everything movable splintered.
The men near the guns were thrown fiat on
their faces. One of them, a seaman named
Scarm, was tumbled down a hatch into
the forward handling room. His leg was
broken.
THE OREGON AND THE IOWA TO THE RON
Meanwhile the Oregon had come in on
the run. She passed the Texas and chased
aftar Do,,,onlora Qohlau IN tho prooL1yp
to head off the foren ost of the Spanish
ships. The Iowa also turned her course
westward, and kept up a hot fire on the
running enemy.
At 10. 10 o'clock the third of the Spanish
ships, the one that had been exchanging
compliments with the Texas, was seen to
be on fire and a mighty cheer went up from
our ships. The Spaniard headed for the
shore and the Texas turned her attention
to the one following. The Brooklyn and
Oregon, after a few parting shots, also left
her CONTEMPORARY and made all steam
and shell after the foremost two Of the
Spanish ships, the Almirante .Oquendo and
the Cristobal Colon.
Just then the two torpedo boat destroy
ers Pluton and Juror were discovered.
They had come out after the cruisers with
out being seen, and were boldly heading
west dow the coast. "All small guns on
the torpedo boats" was the order on the
Texas, and in an instant a hail of shot was
pouring all about them. A six.pounder
from the stsrboard battery Of the Texas,
under Ensign Gise, struck the foremost
torpedo boat fairly in the boiler.
END OF THE D-EsTRoYKRs.
A rending sound was heard above the
roar OF battle. A great spout of black
smoke shot up from hat destroyer and she
was out OF commission. The Iowa, which
was coming up fast, threw a few compli,
mentsry shots at the second torpedo boa,
destroyer and passed on. The little
Gloucester, formerly j. Pierpont Morgan't
yacht Corsairt, then sailed in and finished
the second boat.
Gun for gun and shot for shot the running
fight was kept up between the Spanish
cruisers and the four American vessels