The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-29
THE. REsoLUr E,s WORK.
Sighted a Stranger and Warned the
Fleet of Fighters.

Sighted a Stranger and Warned the
Fleet of Fighters.
~. S. s. Resolute, Guantanamo Bay. July A.
'Sir-I have the honor to make the fol-
lowing report of the operations of this ship
on July 8. Arrived off Santiago at 6 a. M,
/ reported in person on board the flagship
to the chief of staff and from him received
orders to remain in the vicinity until further
orders. While lying to the northeast of the
line, just to the eastward of the Indiana,
we sighted the leading vessel of the Span
ish fleet coming out The same time the
Iowa fired shot We at once headed the
ship to the eastward, but had not got her
steady on her course before a ten-inch shell
struck about forty feet from the starboard
sides of the ship abreast the pit of the
struck about seventy feet aStern the ship.
The next five minutes a number of pro-
1ectiles struck the water beyond and about
Making all the speed possible headed
for AltareS in order to communicate with
the commander-in-chief. Before reaching
Altares / met the flagship New York COM
ing to the westward and communicated to
her that the Spanish fleet were coming out
line. Having then received our orders to
proceed to Guantanamo / headed in that d.
rection, signaling to the Harvard as we
passed AItareS that the Spanish fleet were
coming out. 81
"At 1920 when off Baiquiri, sighted a
large man-of-war painted a dingy white
with two tunnels and two military tops
standing to the westward. On proceeding
nearer made out what l took to be the
Spanish flag together with signal which
could not read. Heading the ship to the
southwark to pass round him the stranger
put his helm to starboard and apparently
stood after us to sea- Being convinced by
this maneuver on his part that he was an
enemy / at once headed to the westward,
running down to the fleet of army trans
rs xxyQr md fan n
AltareS i also Signaled to the Harvard that
an enemy was coming from the eastward.
Continuing my course to the westward
crossed the entrance to Santiago harbor and
the Socapa battery fired two shots at us.
The first, from a large gun, passed directly
over the pit of the house and the second,
apparently sx-incE shell, passed over the
forecastle of the ship.
Shortly after passing the southern en-
trance / sighted a wreck burning on the
beach and a little later discovered the
Gloucester standing by second wreck, ap-
together with three others that we sighted,
were all blazing f1ercely, and two of them
blew up with loud report and a large vol
ume of smoke shortly after we passed
cat 12:45 communicated with the In
diana and told her of the man-of-war had
sighted off Baiquiri. Captain Taylor or
dered me to proceed at once to the COM
mander-in-chief with the information.
notified Captain Evans that had sighted
a Spanish man-of-war off Baiquiri, and at
his request assisted in recalling
some of his boats from the wrecks
the westward and found the flagship
with her consorts. lying off the Cristobal
Colon, which was aground at the mouth of
a small stream. Here I received sos Spanish
prisoners, of whom 494 were enlisted men
and fourteen were officers. I also received
a guard of twenty-five marines and commits
stoned officers to assist in guarding the
AT II p. m, I got under way and pro-
ceeded to Guantanamo bay. where / arrived
at 7:30 a. m. to-day The prisoners are now
on board this ship waiting your orders and
thus far they have given US no trouble.
II desire to add that during our run to
westward while warning these ships and
Fastening to communicate with the COM
mander-in-chief. the engines made at times
eighty-one revolutions per minute. showing
a speed in excess of sixteen knots. which is
in excess of any that she made while in the
employ of the Old Dominion Steamship
Company. l consider Ii my duty TO COM
mend to you the efficiency of the engineer
force on this occasion.
"Congratulating you upon the complete
victory won by yourself and the squadron
under your command. ! am. very respect
fully. }. G. EATON.
Commander. Commanding.
''To the Commanders n-chief North Attain
tic Station