The Red Cloud chief., 1898-07-15
The OREGON'S GREAT WORK.
Oniccrs From SAMPSON. Fleet Tell Of
Cerveras Last Fight.

wv oiAi'tio WIN III III oh ~ cts
Louis and who had participated in the
fight with the Spanish cruisers of San.
tiago, were obliged to tell the whole
story of the memorable contest. While
In the main their accounts did not diff
fer materially from the press dis.
patches, yet they seemed to give credit
to the work Of the Oregon.
From an account, as given by one
Officer, It appears that on the morning
of the fight -four American warships
lay off the entrance to the harbor.
The Oregon was slightly TO the east;
then to the westward came the con-
verified yacht Gloucester, lying between
the Oregon and Iowa. To the west
ward of the Iowa was the Texas, while
further along, in fact, eight OF ten
miles to the west of the harbor. was
the Brooklyn, with Commodore Schlcy
on board.
The position of the fleet was in
keeping with the plan mapped out by
Admiral Sampson, and his command
had definite orders in case the Spanish
fleet made a dash out OF the harbor.
While all the ships had steam up, none
of them, with the exception of the
brooklyn, was under way. The latter
had, a few minutes previous to the
sighting of the S~paniards, turned
away to the westward, and when the
first shot was fred from the Iowa she
was going away from the fleet at about
an eight knot gait.
Just why the Brooklyn was steaming
On to the west at this time is not known,
but although she had not gone far and
was still probably quite nea the sta
ton designated by Admiral Sampson,
her commander nevertheless had to
swing round, and in doing SO put his
helm to starboard and made a long
sweep to port, going a mile or more off
shore in the maneuvcr. The first
Spaniard that came rushing out of the
harbor's mouth was the Cristobal
Colon, with Admiral Cervcra on board,
the vizcaya was second, the Almirante
Ooucndo third and the Maria Teresa
the fourth, while two torpedo boat
destroyers brought up the rear.
While the Iowa got in the first lick
at the fleet. as they came dashing by,
the Oregon was the first American out
side the Brooklyn in motion. She
gathered Roadway s o fast that she cut
ia between the iowa and the feet, and
pumped a good 13.inch at the Colon
before she had gone by. The Oregon
was therefore in a most excellent po-
sition to meet the Vizcaya when she
came along and, with the help of the
Texas, tackled her so fiercely that she
was on fire in a few minutes and head
ed for the beach.
While the Oregon's whole starboard
battery was banging ut the Vizcaya
the aft guns had swung around and
were pumping shells into the Oquendo.
The wreck of the three Spaniarda
was accomplished in about fifteen or
twenty minutes, and by this time the
Oregon had attained her maximum
speed. With forced draft on and every
pound of steam up, the big Pacific
coat battle ship ploughed through the
water as she never did before, except,
perhaps, on her speed trial three years
ago.
Leaving the Texas and the Iowa &c
complete the destruction of the re-
mainder OF the Spaniards and the
rescue Of the unfortunate sailors, Cap
tain Clark headed the Oregon after
the Colon.
The Brooklyn by this time had taken
her wide sweep off shore and was
headed in for the Colon, opening up or
that vessel with her port broadsides
AS the Colon ran by the Brooklyn she
gave the latter the benefit of her bis
guns, and no less than thirty shotl
took effect on the Brooklyn's port side
a number of them passing cleal
through the Yankee cruiser. Tn,
Brooklyn turned again, bringing he
starboard guns on the Spaniard. II
the run up the coast the Brooklyn wa
hit a dozen times on her starboars
side, while all three of her tall smoke
stacks showed the effect OF the Colon
stern chasers.
The superior speed Of the Brooklyn
and Oregon sealed the fate Of tn,
Colon, and after a u OF forty mile
Admiral Cervcra ordered the flagship
to be headed for the shore.
The Colon struck about $50 yard
! from the beach, and as soon as h ha,
grounded Admiral Cervera ordere'
everyone to jump overheard AM
plunged into the sea himself, followe'
by all his officers.
The little Gloucester, after destroy
ing the torpedo boat destroyers
, turned after the Oregon and mad
such good time that she was up eve,
with the Colon when she ran ashore
As she drew considerable less waite
, than either the Oregon or Brooklyn
her commander, Lieutenant Commar
: der wainwright, was able to run /
quite close to the stranded ship, an
a the Gloucester's boats were sem ou
q after the swimming crew. Admire
I Cervera was picked up just outside tn
surf. about ten yards from shore. an
4 after his long swim, was thorough
n exhausted.
A The Colon had just turned in-shor
when the New York came up after
Ionr and ou;cl. RIM The Aaushtn wa