The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-27
SAMPSON is FAIR
His Official Report on the Naval
Battle
Involving the Destruction Of
CerVera's Fleet.
HE CLAIMS NO PART
But Would Have Been In if 1t
Had Lasted.
Especial Praise of the Little
Gloucester.
HE CLAIMS NO PART

United States Flagship New York,
First Rate, or Santiago de Cuba, Gu
ba, July 10, 1898.
Sir: l. have the honor to make the
following report upon the battle and
the destruction of the Spanish squad
ron. commanded by Admiral Cervera,
off Santiago, on Sunday, July 3rd, 1898.
2 The enemy's vessels came out of
the harbor between $3.50 and 1000 a. m,
the head of the column appearing
around Cay Smith at 9:S1 and emerg-
ing from the channel five or six min
utes later.
3. The position of the vessels Of my
command off Santiago at that moment
were as follows: The flagship New
York was four miles east of her block
aiding station and about seven miles
from the harbOr entrance. She had
started for SibOney, where 1 intended to
land, accompanied by several of my
staff, and go to the front to consult
with General Shafter A discussion of
the situation and more definite under
standing between US of the operations
proposed had been rendered necessary
by the unexpectedly strong resistance
of the Spanish garrison at Santiago. I
had sent my chief of staff on shore the
day before to arrange an interview with
General Shafter, who has been suffer-
ing from heat prOstration. I made ar
rangement to go to his headquarters
and my flagship was in the position
mentioned above when the Spanish
squadron appeared in the channel. The
remaining vessels We're in or near their
usual blockading positions; distri buted
in semi-circle about the harbor en-
trance counting from the eastward to
the westward in the following order:
The Indiana about a mile and a half
from shore; the Oregon, the New
YOrk's place between these two, the
Iowa, Texas and Brooklyn the latter
two miles from the shore west of San
tiago- The distance of the vessels
from the harbOr entrance was from two
and a half to four miles-the latter be-
ing the limit of day b1Ockading dis
lance The length of the arc formed
by the ships was about eight miles.
me MASSACHUSETTS, had left at a. m,
for Guantanamo for coal Her station
was between the Iowa and the Texas.
The auxiliaries Gloucester and Vixen
lay close to the land and nearer the
harbor entrance than the large vessels,
the Gloucester to the eastward and the
Vixen to the westward. The torpedo
boat Ericsson was in company with the
Hagship and remained with her during
the chase until ordered to discontinue
when she rendered very efficient ser
vice in rescuing prisoners from the
burning Vizcaya- I enclose a diagram
showing approximately the positions of
the vessels as described above.
4. The Spanish vessels came rapidly
out of the harbOr, at q. speed estimated |
at to 10 knots and in the following !
order: Infanta Maria Teresa. alag
ship, Vizcaya, CristObal Colon and the |
Alm1rante OQuendO. The distance be
tween these ships was about 800 yards, !
which means that from the time the |
first one became visible in the upper |
reach of the channel until the last one |
was out of the harbor, an interval of |
only about twelve minutes elapsed. F!
Following the Oquendo, at a distance |
of about 1900 yards, came the torpedo !
boat destroyer PlutOn, and after her |
the Furor. The armored cruisers as |
Tani6lV 2 & thew 001116 hai
to bear, opened a vigorous fire upon the |
bIockading vessels, and emerged from |
the channel shrOuded in the smoke of |
their guns.
The Fight Begins.
5. The men on the port were at Sun |
day quarters for inspection. The sig |
nal was made simultaneously from sew |
era1 vessels ''Enemy's ships escaping" !
and general quarters was sounded |
The men cheered as they sprang to |
their guns and fire was opened probab- !
~ within eight minutes by the vessels |
whose guns commanded the entrance. !
The New York turned about and |
steamed for the escaping fleet
flying the signal Close in toward har-
Dor entrance and attack vessels" and |
gradually increasing speed, until to- |
ward the end Of the chase she was ma
king sixteen and One-ha1f knots and |
vas readily closing on the CriStobal |
Colon. She was not at any time |
within the range OF the heavy Spanish |
pAnpSs anu neI only part IN the Qr1DE /
was to receive the undivided fire from |
the forts in passing the harbor en-
trance and to fire a few shots at one of |
the destroyers, thought at the moment
70 be attempting to escape from the
The Spanish vessels upon clearing the
harbor turned to the westward in col
umn, increasing their speed to the full |
power OF their engines. The heavy
Dlockading vessels, which had closed |
n toward the MORO at the instant Of
the enenyS appearance and at their |
pest speed delivered a rapid fire well
sustained and destructive, which speed
ny overwhelmed and silenced the Span
ish flre. The initial speed Of the Span
1aroS carried them rapidly past the
vessels and the battle deveI-
oped into chase in which hte BROOKLYN |
and Texas had at the start the advant- !
age of position. The Oregon steaming
with amazing speed from the COM |
mencement of the action took fiTst |
place. The Iowa and Indiana having
done good work, and not having the
speed OF the other ships, were directed |
Dy me IN succession. at about the time |
of the chase and resume bIockadine
stations These vessels rescued MANY |
prisoners. The Vixen finding that
the rush of the Spanish ships would |
or our column and remained there dur
Ing the battle
The GlOucester's Part.
The skillfuI handling and gallant
nghLlng OF the Gloucester excited the
admiration Of every one who witnessed
1t and merits the commentator of the |
navy department. She IS a fast and /
entirely unprotected auxiliary vessel
the yacht Corsair-and has a good bat
terry Of light r. F. guns. She was lying
about two miles from the harbOr en-
trance TO the southwark and eastward,