The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-27

Vizcaya was beached, to drop out of the
chase and resume blockading stations.
These vessels rescued many prisoners.
The Vixen, finding that the rush of the
Spanish ships would put her between
two fires ran outside Of our column and
remained there, during the battle and
chase.
THE GALLANT GLOUCESTER.
Z. The skilful handling and gallant
fighting of the Gloucester excited the adj
miration of every one who witnessed it.
and merits the commentator of the
Navy Department. She is fast and en-
tirely unprotected auxiliary vessel-the
Yacht Corsair-and has Il good battery Ut
light Il. +. guns. She was lying about
two miles from the harbor entrance, to
the southwark and eastward and imme-
lately steamed in, opening fire upon the
large ships. Anticipating the appear
ancc ,of the Pluton and Furor, the Glou-
cester was slowed. thereby gaining more
rapidly Il high pressure of steam. and
when the destroyers came out she steam
cd for them ut full speed. and was able
to close at short range. where her fire
was accurate. deadly. and of great vol
ume. During this fight the Gloucester
was under the fire of the Socapa battery.
Within twenty minutes from the time
they emerged from Santiago harbor, the
career of the Furor and the Pluton were
ended and two-thirds of their people
killed. The Furor was beached and
sunk in the surl: the Pluton sank in deep
water n few minutes later. The de-
stroyers probably suffered much injury
from the fire of the secondary batteries
of the battleships Iowa. Indiana and the
Texas. vet l think very considerable
factor i'm their speedy destruction was
the fire. at close range. of the Glouces-
ter's battery. After rescuing the surviv-
ors Of the dcStroyers. the Gloucester did
excellent service in landing and securing
the crew of the Infanta Maria Teresa.
s. The method of escape attempted ny
the Spaniards. all steering in the same
direction. and in formation. removed all
tacital doubt or difficulties. and made
plain the duty of every United States
vessel to close in. Immediately engage
and pursue. This was promptly and eff
fectively done. AS already stated. the
first rush of the Spanish squadron car
ried it past a number of the blockading
ships. which could not Immediately work
mp to their best speed: but they suffered
heavily in passing and the Infanta Maria
Teresa and the Oquendo were probably
set on fire by shells fired during the first
fifteen minutes of the engagement. 1t
was afterward learned that the Infanta
Maria Teresa's fire main had been cut
by one Of our first shots and that she
was unable to eXtinguish fire. With
large volumes of smoke rising from their
Of
both fight and flight. and ran in on tho
beach. the Infanta Maria Teresa at
about 1915 a. m. at Nina Nina. six
and one-half miles from Santiago harbor
entrance. and the Almirantc Ouuendo nj
about 10 n. m. at Juan Gonzales seven
miles from the port.
THE BLAZING SHIPS.
o. The Vizcaya was still under
the fire of the leading vessels:
the Cristobal Colon had drawn ahead,
leading the chase.and soon passed beyond
the range Of the guns of the leading
American ships. The Vizcaya was soon
set on fire and at 11:15 she turned in
shore and was beached at Asserraderos.
fifteen miles from Santiago. burning
fercely, and with her reserves of ammu-
milton on deck already beginning to ex-
plode. When about ten miles west of
Santiago the Indiana had been signalled
to go back to the harbor entrance and at
Asserraderos the Iowa was signalled to
resume blockading station" The Iowa,
assisted by the Ericsson and the Hist
took off the crew of the Vizcaya. while
the Harvard and the Gloucester rescued
those of the Infanta Maria Teresa ana
the Almirante Qquendo. This rescue of
prisoners, including the wounded from
the burning Spanish vessels. was the oc-
casion of some of the most daring and
gallant conduct of the day. The ships
were burning fore and aft. their guns and
reserve ammunition were exploding and
it was not known at what moment
the fire would reach the main magazines.
In addition to this Il heavy surf was run
ming just inside of the Spanish ships.
But no risk deferred our officers and
men until their work of humanity was
completed.
10 There remained now of the Span
ish ships only the Cristobal Colon. but
she was their best and fastest vessel
Forced by the situation to hug the Gu
ban coast. her only chance of escape
was by superior and sustained speed.
w men the HcaYa went ashore the colon
was about six miles ahead Of the Brook
lyn and the Oregon: but her squirt was
finished, and the American ships were
gaining upon her. Behind the Brooklyn
and the Oregon came the Texas. Vixen
and New York. 1t was evident from the
bridge of the New York that all the
American ships were gradually over
hauling the chase. and that she had
no chance Of escape.
THE DOOR OF THE COLON.
At 1850 the Brooklyn and
the Oregon opened fire and got
her range, the Oregons heavy
shells striking beyond her, and at 1:2C
she gave up without firing another shot
hauled down her colors and ran ashore
at Rio Torquino. forty-eight miles from
Santiago. Captain Cook, of the Brook
lyn. went on board to receive the sur.
render. While his boat was alongside
came up in the New York. received
his report and placed the Oregon in
charge Of the wreck to save her. if pos
sible; and directed the prisoners to be
transferred to the Resolute which had
followed in the chase. Commodore
Schley. whose chief of staff had gone
on board to receive the surrender, had
Il ll.x.... ~