The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-11
OPTICIANS.


Of the Brooklyn bow, as viewed from the
Vixen, the Cristobal Colon gaining speed
and closing up. 1t was apparent that the
leading vessel was disabled and on fire as
she dropped rapidly astern. She apparently
headed for the shore off Juan Gonzales. The
oregon, forging ahead, engaged the fourth
ship As She passed two smaller Spanish
vessels, probably the Furor and Pluton, to
the westward of Cabanas, engaged the Iowa
and the Texas though apparently on fire.
But the leading vessels were TOO far TO the
west to be identified accurately. The In
diana was in sight little TO the west OF
MORO Castle. At 1924 the Cristobal Colon
fire. AT this moment the only American
vessels seen from the Vixen were the
brooklyn srS" Oregon, Texas and Iowa, six
miles behind the Oregon. The Indiana was
TOUR miles astern of the Iowa.
HEAVY FIRE RESUMED.
AT 1887 the Cristobal colon and other
Spanish ships resumed the heavy fire. The
second vessel was five miles from the Vixen
The Oregon was gaining rapidly on the
Cristobal Colon. which was using smokeless
powder The enemy's fire was very high and
many OF their shots passed over the
brooklyn, falling close to the Vixen, piece
OF smell tearing the flag at her mainmast.
AT lO:4I the Brooklyn forged ahead and the
oregon nred her forward thirteen-inch gun
At the leading Spanish vessel. AT 10:47 the
LeGas, In front of the Iowa, was gaining
-"P4NS. al lHlS time the BrOOklVnfS fire
was steady and deadly. her shells striking
or bursting alongside of the Spaniards.
AT lU:z9 the Texas reached Juan Com
zaleS. and the Indiana was ar parentlv m
Cabanas. At 1850 the Vixen aDproached
heading north-northwest. The Texas was
gaming rapidly, the Iowa appeared to be off
Suan gonzales and the Yacht appeared off
Guayacabon, holly engaging the enemy :
SHIPS AT 1854 another Spanish vessel was
On fire and heading for the beach with a
heavy list to port. This was the Vizcaya
il;Ol the Vizcaya ported her helm ard
T tranee east; apparently seeking the en-
vixen directed their fire on the Vizcaya
uhtll ll:Ol When, as the colors went down
lame ana smoke from the Vizcaya's stern
and all the ships resumed their fire while
RAISING the doomed vessel, which was hard
on Acerraderos reef
AT 11:16 the Brocklyn Oregon Texas
iowa and Indiana, the last named ten miles
from the Cristobal Colon. were in sight OF
chat the vessel at Acerraderos was the
Spanish flagship. At 11:25 the Iowa had
stopped. The after end of the Vizcaya was
a sheet of flame, and from 1l:26 to II: 42
there We're many explosions on board tile
spanish cruiser apparently caused by the
Ignition OF loose charges about the guns.
Iney reserubled huge chysanthemums with
rlpDonS moke, as the burning powder
grains rom the ends of the petals
AT. he CRISTOBAL COLON
AT IL e chase narrowed itself to the
Cristob Colon, which was close ashore
and seven miles from the Vixen, with the
Oregon one point on the starboard bow
distant mile and a haif the Brooklyn,
one point on The starboard bow, distance
three miles; the Texas on the starboard
quarter. distant ono mile; the Iowa two
points on the starboard side, distant eight
miles, and the New York one point on the
starDoard quarter, distant ten miles. The
last two vessels were apparently off Boca
del Rio, but were too far distant to be
certainly identified in the haze and smoke
from the leading ships. No other vessels
were in sight. The smoke from the ship
destroyed at Juan Gonzales and TO the
eastward could be seen, but the vessels hull
was invisible. AT noon the relative posi-
tions of the American ships were practical
ly the same.
When the Vixen was abreast of Sevilla.
thirteen miles west of Santiago, the Texas
bore three points on the starboard quarter,
a little less thaa mile off, and The Oregon
and Brooklyn one point on the starbodrd
and port bow, distant four and live miles,
respectively, while the Cristobal Colon
tant fully ten miles According to the Off
cial pilot on the Vixen that, vessel was off
Bayamita. The estimated distance was
taken from the officers and official pilot.
AT 1906 the New York was in line ws;h the
burning Vizcaya, at Il distance Of uine
miles: AT 1915 the Texas was on the star
board quarter, the New York two points on
the starboard quarter gaining the oregon
q half point on the starboard bow, the
bIOOhIyH one point Oh the port DOW, ana
the Cristobal Colon one point on the star
board bow, still miles away. AT 1920 the
Oregon fired shot, which fell short The
Cristobal Colon was then hull down from
the Vixen. During the next half hour tile
occasional shots from the Oregon and the
Brooklyn struck near the chase. At 1880
the Texas was one point forward, off the
starboard beam, and was steadily gaining.
At Ills the Oregon and the Brooklyn headed
inshore about tour points.
At rs the Texas signaled, THE enemy
has surrendered" This signal was reported
to the New York, but was not acknowl-
edged. The Cristobal Colon was seen
through glasses running close in shore
according to the pilot. at Rio Tarquno 1t
was thought on board the Vixen that a
white flag was displayed on the CristobaI
Colon, but this subsequently proved to be
escaping steam. At o'clock boats from the
Brooklyn and oregon went alongside the
Colon. At 2:25 the Vixen stopped off Rio
Tarquino near the Brooklyn and Oregon
The New York arrived five minutes later
and intercepted the boats which were re-
turning from the Colon.
In all of these observations the time was
accurately noted, but the watch used was
five minutes behind he deck clock. which
agreed very nearly with the hours indicated
by the bells on the other vessels.
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