The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-19
.AVENG|NG THE MAINE
Cervera'S Defeat and the Ore
CONS Part in 1t.
"QUfEN OF BATTLESHIPS"
Is the Proud Title She Claims
For Herself,

United States Battleship Oregon, off
Santiago de Cuba, July 4-The smashing
! of Cervera's squadron occurred yesterday,
Sunday, lasting from $50 a. m. to lip D.
m, when the last snip, the Cristobal Colon
! struck her colors TO the Oregon and the
Brooklyn, the two ships who had run her
to death. Never were the magnificent
qualities Of the heavy battleship Oregon
shown 70 better advantage than in this
long chase of the fastest cruiser in the
Spanish navy. Our generous compatri-
OTIS now style the Oregon the Queen Of
Battleships." No doubt the world wond-
cred, when watcing the progress of the
Oregon in her trip around South America
If she could fight as well as she steamed.
When the truth is told the page that was
carved in naval history on July will
bestow great part of the credit for the
decisiveness of the victory to the fighting
work of the Oregon.
Yesterday morning opened peacefully.
and at 9:25 a. m. the first call sounded for
our regular Sunday quarters. Everybody
was dressed in clean white and had as
sembled on deck waiting for the second
call to fall in at quarters for inspection.
At 9:29 the quartermaster suddenly re
ported to the officer of the deck that a
ship was coming out of the harbor. I'm
mediately glasses were brought 10 bear
on the entrance and the Prov of a vessel
with military maSttOp was seen coming
around the first turn. 1t did not take a
second to touch the general alarm, and
precisely at $50 instead of the second
call to quarters, the snip was filled with
the changing Of alarm gongs and wild
notes Of the bugle. while thedrummer boy
was beating the long roll as though his
life depended upon it. A more propitious
moment could not have been selected.
for all hands were on deck, and in two
minutes the ship was cleared for action
and steaming in for the entrance.
At 9:3l, the first gun of the battle was
fired from the forward six FOUNDER on
the bridge of the Oregon, by order of
Captain Clarke, to call the attention of
the fleet 10 the fact that he enemy was
coming out The shell struck right in the
entrance 10 the harbor. and not only
warned our fleet, but showed Cervera that
we were ready and waiting. The Oregon
also blew two long blasts on her whistle
20 warn our feet Meantime the first
Spanish vessel had been coming swiftly
along the inner arm of the channel. and
as She rounded the bend a point of land
at Moro castle cut off our sight of her
bow. and she seemed TO have stopped and
backed in.
The men at our guns sent UP a great
shout of disgust, but suddenly the bow Of
rlPSoaraFerF
Of the outer channel. and quickly a
second ship came into view. closely fol-
lowing the other. Then acheer Of JOY
went up ard Il shout passed along that the
whole fleet was coming out. and the guns
of our fleet echoed their cheer with a
storm Of sheels on the first vessel. The
The other ships filed swiftly out Of the
channel and opened fire as soon as they
cleared Moro castle. The air was soon
filled with shrieking shells.
\ few words explaining thepoSs.fon Of
ours hips 50 YOU viii understand the
movements which now followed. The
SpanIards had evidently been watching
the movement OF the different vessels IL,
our fleet. for they picked out an hour
when We had fewer ships present than AZ
any hour since Admiral Sampson Joined
the blockading squadron with the New
York and Oregon. The Massachusetts
had gone 70 Guantanamo during the night
as mad also the New Orleans and ;heNew--
ark. At SOS a m. the New York bad
headed IN ,he eastward for BsiQuiri. and
by $50 was fully SIX miles from the feet.
This left ;he Oregon, Indiana. Iowa and
Texas hsttleships and the cruiser Brook
iyn- The Oregon was stationed RICH; in
front fthe entrance, and closes, in. To
the eastward OF her was the Iadnana-
To the west and in succession were the
Iowa, Texas and Brooklyn. Further east
ward and close an shore was the converted
yacht Gloucester. The Vixen. OF the same
class. Was outside tee line Of battleShirs.
The first Spanish ship 70 come OUT was
the Infsnca Maria Teresa. Following her
was the Vizcaya. then the Cristobal Colon
and last ne AImiran,e Oquen6o. As the
SpsniarSis came ouI with their flags fy-
ing and signals a. the masthead -hey pre-
sented A beautiful sight As soon as they !
cleared the entrance they headed FOR the
westward, coming al ahigh speed and
hugging the shore. Il took an Incredibly |