The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-19

could have been heard on shore had it
not been drowned in the roar of the
forced draught, and the whirr Of the
ammunition trolleys as the men below sent
car after car of ammunition from the
magazines to the hoists as fast as they
could run. The men in the fireroom
showed their appreciation by throwing
coal on the hungry fire SO fast that vol
umes of black smoke poured out of the
smokeStacks and the prOpellers we're dr1V-
ing US through the water at the rate OF
Us reWs%itions a minute. The Nizcaya
wa sriGht ahead Of us now and we were
overhauling her rapidly. The Texas and
Iowa had been left behind and were going
in toward the two ships already on the
beach. The Brooklyn was on our port
beam 1000 yards away, and the little
Vixen was some distance away on her
port quarter.
The Cristobal Colon had been drawing
away from the Vizcaya all the time and
was nearly four miles ahead of US now
With the experience we had on the Infanta
Maria Teresa and the Almirante Oquendo.
our fire was becoming remarkably accu-
rate and was playing havoc with the
Vizcaya- Again and again our shot tore
through her stern or burst on her decks.
In tnree-Quarters of an hour from the
time the Almirante Opuendo went ashore
the Vizcaya was seen to be on fire, and
she hesitated about five minutes, then
headed inShore Her big flag was still
hoisted, so our fire on her was not slack
ened. A 13-inch shell struck her in the
bow and blew her whole bow wide open.
The flames on board her were evidently
making quick passage to the forward
magazines. AS soon as she struck the
beach, she hauled her colors down and
her crew jumped into the sea.
Firing on her was stopped, and soon
after we passed her an explosion took
place forward, which was supposed to be
her n-inch magazine.
The joy among our crew can be imag-
ined at having destroyed three of the big
Spanish cruisers. but TO dampen this joy
was the fact that the Cristobal Colon was
four miles ahead, and it looked as though
she was going TO get away. We felt that
it would be a victory for them If one man
aged to escape, and we all watched with
breathlesS interest the chase which now
began. In the enginereom the steam was
holding at 140 pounds and everything was
working well. In the fire room the smoke
begrimmed men had no pity on their tired
arms, but we knew that this could not
last many more hours. for the stokers
had no relief crew. All hands were there
at work. The Brooklyn was on our port
beam, the same position she had held all
the way, and apparently could go no
faster, as Sc had only five of her eight
boilers in use, and one of her compart-
ments was full of water
It was about II O'Clock when the Viz
caya went ashore, and by 12 o'clock our
other ships were all null down on the
horizon. The Cristobal Colon was hug
gng the shore and the Brooklyn and Ore
gon were holding their own with her. and
were the only two ships of our fleet in
sight. The smoke of three others could
be seen on the horizon so we knew the
others had not yet given up the chase.
At Y O'Clock we all had Dewey break
fastS, starting a fire in the galley and
boiling strong coffee About 12:15 we began
to gain perceptbly on the Cristobal Colon
and commenced firing with the 13-inch
forward guns. The shells dropped close
around her, the range used being be-
tween 1000 and s, 900 yards From this time
on We gained on her steadily, and soon
opened FIRE with our star-board 5-inch
guns fordward
About 1 clock the Cristobal Colon slow
ed down and headed toward the shore.
she seemed 10 be looking for a good soft
place to run on the beach We were rap
l.
the cry arose that she had hauled down
her flag and started for the shore, wtlen
orders We're given 10 cease firing. but the
men remained at the guns 70 watch for
treachery. The Brooklyn. WIKI Commo- /
dors Schiey. headed in for the CristobaI
Colon. and sent boat over 20 take pos +!
session Of the prize We lay 20 and wait /
ed for the return Of the boat
The Colon was beacted OF d sandy piece +
OF shore and seemed 70 be in good ccndi- /
ton except that she mad a big hole n her 4
stern made By an S-inch shell.
About three-quarjers OF an hour after /
she had hauled down ser flag or flag
ship. the New ok, came up and recelved 1
OF board the commanding officer % the /
Colon and MS staff. Admiral Sampson /
then signaled the Oregon 70 take charge 1
u the prize and tow her OF the beach |
Tee prize crew found the ship rapidly /
filing wiki water. and upon gong beloF 4
70 ire engine room found re water up /
IN the tops % the cylinders. AL water
Ugh. doors and matches were closed be-
OK, but me water continued 70 rlse aid /
ne prisoners were rzpsdiy transferred 20
the ResolEte. which Rad come W. Tbs
vas not eTsce=d untl , II. ana c1~a
ae Vixen with several small ooa-s Eas
seat alongside The Colon - take OF yne
ne7 81 case she should founder n tss
meantime TIE Colon Rad bee0 fso@ssd- h1t
about 70 ? n she s-s721ei thai sas was
sinking and tae Nex York Pat her s-oE
MO me SIDE q the CoIoa ard pushed he-
N the beacn again A. I-za > n eae
rev abandoned Eler and Sas T-te over
IN her stz-ooz-d ss5e and .zy tssre-
Thus ease3 TIE greztss, So Hzht II
Tnica modern saeps have e-ez engage
There was only Oze man killed o. 60
American s.ae snt ewe wSs11>6- Nearly