Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-07-13
The CAPTURE OF CER![RA
CAPTAIN EVANS ACCOUNT.
Fighting Bob Evans Describes Wv
idly the Wiping Out of the Span
tsh Fleet-HerOes Among the En-
emy-Cubans XIII Prisoners.

In the grand battle between the squad
rons of Commodore Schley and Admiral
Cervera, the battleship Iowa was the first
ship to,see the Spanish fleet coming out
of the harbor. A moment later her crew
was at general quarters and at 0:33 a. nj.
a gun was fired to attract the attention
OF the fleet.
Captain Evans account of the battle
as told in the cabin of the Iowa is inter
esting. lie said:
sounded the engine bell rang full speed
ahead and | put the helm to the star
board and the Iowa crossed the bows Of
the Infanta Maria Teresa, the first Span
ish ship out. AS the Spanish admiral
swung to the westward the l2-inch shell
from the forward turret of the Iowa
seemed TO strike her fairly in the bow.
"The fight was a grand spectacle. As
the squadron came out in column the
ships beautifully spaced as to distance and
gradually increasing their speed to l3
knots, it was superb.
"The Iowa from this moment kept up
steady fire from her heavy guns, head
ing all the time to keep the Infanta Maria
Teresa on her starboard bow and hop
ing to ram one Of the leading ships.
"In the meantime the Oregon, Indiana,
Brooklyn and Texas were doing excellent
work with their heavy guns. In short
space of time the enemy's ships were all
clear of the harbori mouth and it became
evidently impossible for the Iowa to ram
either the first or the second ship on ac-
count Of the speed.
Gave the Teresa q Broadslde.
"The range at this time was 1000 yards
from the leading ship. The lowa's helm
Was Immediately put hard To- starbodrd
and the entire starboard broadside was
pouring into the Infaiita Maria Teresa.
The helm was then quickly shifted to port
and the ship went across the stern OF the
Teresa in an effort to head of the Oquen-
do. All the time the engines were driven
at full speed ahead. A perfect torrent OF
shells from the enemy passed over the
smokestack and superstructure OF the
ship, but none struck her.
"The Cristobal Colon, being much faster
than the rest of the Spanish ships, passed
rapidly to the front in an effort to escape.
In passing the Iowa the Colon placed two
Ginch shells fairly in our starboard bow.
One passed through the cOfferdam and dis
pensary, wrecking the latter and bursting
on the berth deck, doing considerable
damage. The other passed through the
side ut the water line within the Golfer
dam where it still remains.
Oquendo Got a Beneht.
"As it was now obviously i.npossible
to ram any Of the Spanish ships on ac-
count Of their superior speed, the Iowa g
helm was put to starbOard and she ran
ON course parallel with the enemy. Be-
ing then abreast of the Almirante Oquen-
do, at distance of 100 yards, the Iowa 8
entire battery, including the rapid fire
guns, vas opened upon the OquendO. The
punishment was terrific. Two l2-inch
shells from the Iowa pierced the AlmirAnte
Oluendo at the same moment, one for
ward and the other aft. The OquendO
seemed to stop her engines for a moment
and lost headway but she Immediately
resumed her speed and gradually drew
ahead OF the Iowa and caught the terrific
fire of the Oregon and Texas.
Torpedo Boats Sighted.
"At this moment the alarm of torpedo
boats was sounded and two torpedo boat
destroyers were discovered in the star:
board quarter at distance of 1000 yards
Fire was opened at once on them from
the after battery and a l2-inch shell cut
the stern of one destroyer squarely off.
As the shell struck a small torpedo boat
fred back at the battleship sending a shell
within a few feet of my head.
"Well up, among the advancing cruisers
splitting shots at one end the other was
the little Gloucester, shooting first at a
cruiser and then at a torpedo boat. and
hitting head wherever she saw II. Inc
marvel was That she was not Destroyer
by the ram of' shells In the meantime
the Vizeaya was slowly drawing abeam
OF the Iowa, and Tor the space OF 10 MIN
utes 1t was give ana take between inc
two ships. The vizeaya hred rapidly Dat
wildly, not one shot taking effect on the
Iowa, while the shells from the Iowa were
tearing great rents IN the side oil the
Nizcaya. As the latter passed ahead oil
the Iowa she caught murderous IRE
from the Oregon.