The times., 1898-07-27


mately that of the Spanish ship. In this
position at a range of l.40O yards the fire
of the entire battery including rapid-fire
guns, was poured into the enemy's ship
g. About 10 O'Clock the enemy's torpedo
boat destroyers Furor and PIuton were
observed 10 have left the 4Iarbor ard 10
be following the Spanish squadron. At the
time they were observed and in fact
most Of the time they were under fire.
they were at a distance varying from
d. 500 to 400 yards As soon as they were
discovered the secondary battery of this
ship was turned upon them. while The
main Battery continued 20 engage the
V!Zcaya Oquendo and Maria Teresa.
The fire Of the main battery of this snip
when the range was below 250) yards
was most effective and destructive. and
after continuance Of this fire for per
haps tweIrty minutes. It was noticed that
the Maria Teresa and Oquendo were in
flames and were being headed for The
beach. Their c3iors were struck about
1929. ana they were beached about eight
miles west Of Santiago.
Z. About the same time about 1920
the FIRE Of this vessel. together with that
of the Gloucester and another smaller yes
sci proved 50 destructive that che of the
torpedo boat desfroyers (PlutCn) was
sunk. and the FuroT was 80 much dam
aged that she was run upon the rocks
s. After having passed Ia l0:55) the
Oquendo and Nara Teresa, on ire and
ashore this vessel continued TO chase and
fire upon the Vizcaya until 1926, when sig
nal to cease firing was SOUNDED on board,
1t having been discovered that the Viz
Caya had struck her colors.
9. At Il the Iowa arrived in the vicinity
of the Vizcaya. which had been run
ashore. and ii was evident that she could
not catch the CristObal Colon. and that
the Oregon. Brooklyn, and New York
would, two steam cutters and three cut
ters were Immediately hoisled out and
sent to the Vizcaya TO rescue her crew
Our boats succeeded in bringing of a
large number Of officers and men Of that
ships company and in placing many Of
them on board the torpedo boat Ericsson
and the auxiliary dispatch vessel Hist.
TO- About I1:30 the New York passed
IN chase of the Cristobaf Colon. which
was ende8vOring to escape from the Ore
gon. Brooklyn and Texas.
II. We received on board this vessel
from the Vizcaya Capt. Eu ate. the
commanding officer. and twent ty-.hree Of
ficers together with about 25s petty off,
GERS and men. Of whom thirty-two were
woundel. There were also received on
board five dead bed.es. which were i'm
'isi1d'v'S Out-Sd Win tHS HOH4OI9 uue 10
their grade
p The battery behaved well in all re-
spects
The dash-pot of the forward Pinch
gun. damaged in the euga cement Of the
%. having been replaced the same day by
one of the old dash-p5tS winch gave no
trouble during this engagement.
- 13. The following : an approximate
statement OF the ammunition expended
during the eng3 cement \ more exact
Statement cannot be given a. this lime:
ThiTty-one Pinch semi-A P shell. with
full charges; 25 S-!nch common shell. with
full charges; 25l finch cartridges. COM
mon shell: l 0-6 6-pounder cartridges. COM
momn shell: 100 1-pounder, cartridges,
common shell
II This ship was struck in the hull. on
the star5oard side. during the early part
of the engagement. by two projectiles of
about G-inch iber: one stirling the hus
| TWO or thI -eet above the actual water
line and -0st directly on the line OF
the berth deck, piercing the ships side
| between frames 9 and 10; and the others
| piercing the side and the cofferdam be-
| tween frames IS and 10
The first projectiIe did not pass beyond
| the inner bulkhead Of the conerdam A
| 4l-43. The hole made by II was large
| and ragged being about sixteen inches
| en- inches in a vertical direction. It
struck with a slight inclination aft. and
| perforated the coffe-dam partition bulk
| head "a 41-43-i5-40. II did not explode.
and remained in the cofferda1n.
| The second projectile pierced the side
| of the ship and the cofferdam 1G5. the
upper edge of the hole being Immediately
| below the top of the cofferdam on the
| berth deck in compartment \ 104. The
1 off bq~ r1a M
| coamiug of the water sank compartment.
| exploded and perforated the walls of the
| chain locker. The explosion created a
small fire. which was promptly extin-
! guished The hole in the side made
| by this Drojectile was about five feet
/ above the water line, and about two to
| three fees above the berth deck One
fragment of this shell struck link of
| the sheet chain wound around the g.
| FOUNDER ammunition hoisr. cutting the
| link in two. Another perforated the cof-
| ferdam on the port side and slightly dish
| ed the outside plating.
! These two wounds, fortunately. were
not of serious Importance. Two or three
other proiectiles of small caliber struck
about the upper bridge and smokestacks.
infiicting trif1ing damage. And four 9TH
er small projectiles struck the hammock
| nepings and the side aft.
| 15 There are no casualties among the
! ships company to report No officer nor
man was injured during the engagement
| 16. After having received on board the
| rescued crew of the ViZcaya, this vessel
| proceeded 10 the eastward and resum-
ed the blockading station in obedience to
| the signal made by the commander-in-
| chief about 1850.
II. Upon arriving on the blockading
| station, the Gloucester transferred TO
| this vessel Rear Admiral Cervera his
flag lieutenant. and the commanding Of
| ficers of the torpedo boat destroyers
| Furor and Pluton, and also one man of
the Oquendo's crew rescued by the
! Gloucester.
1S Naval Cadets Frank Taylor, Evans
and John r. Lewis. and five men belong
! ing to the Massachusetts were on board
the Iowa when the enemys ships came
| out They were stationed at different
| points and rendered efficient service
19. The officers and men of this ship
| behaved admirably No set of men could
| have done more gallant service
1 take pleasure In stating TO you, sir
that the GOODNESS and Judgment of the
executive officer, Lieut.. Comma uder
Raymond P. Rodgers, deserves, and will
hope, receive a proper reward at the
hands of the Government. The test OF
the executive officers work is the con
duct of ship and crew In battle. In thi:
case it was simply superb.
The GOODNESS of the navigator, Lieut.
W. H. Schuetze, and of Lieut. F. n
Hill, in charge of the rapid-flre guns or
the upper deck. are worthy of the great
est commendation-
Other officers of the ship did not come
under my personal observation, but tn,
result of the action shows how well the,
did their duty.
I cannot express my admiration for m!