The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-29
THE REPORT OF
CAPT. COOK, OF
THE BROOK YIN
Tells a Simple, Striking Ste
ry of the Battle
WITH CERVERA'S SHIPS
THE MAJESTIC RUSH OF THE
BATH ESHIP OREGON.
JOINS BROOKLYN IN TIE C0L0l CHASE
Generous Words of Praise from Captain Cook
Evoked by the Distinguished GaIIan-
try Displayed by his Men
Under Fire.

Washington, ID. c., July 2S.-The
Navy Department to-day made public
the following report OF Captain Cook,
of the brooklyn, on the destruction of
Cervera's flect:'
United States First-class Cruiser Brook
lyn. flagship, at anchor, Guantanamo
Bay, July 18th, 1898.
Sir:
|. At 8 o'clock a. m.. July 3rd. | gave
orders and arrangements were made Tor
general muster at $3.50 a. m. AT $3.50 a..
M, the enemy We're telegraphed by the
Iowa as coming out. At the same time
they were discovered by the quarter
master on watch, y. Anderson, of this
ship, and reported to the officer of the
deck. The executive officer, Lieutenant
Commander Mason. who was OF deck
about to execute the order for general
muster, Immediately gave the order:
Clear ship for action and general quart
erS." Signal was made at the same
time ENEMY coming out. action"
went Immediately forward, stood for the
enemy and gave orders to get steam in
all boilers.
We started with steam in three boil
ers ut about II knots speed.
. The head of the Spanish squadron.
in column, was inst outside the entrance
'of the harbor Of Santiago, hetuing about
southwest. The Spanish squadron CON
sisted of the Maria Teresa. flagship;
SiZcaya, Oquendo and Colon, and two
torpedo boat destroyers. We opened
fire on the first ship five minutes from
the discovery.
3. The port battery was first engaged
rs we stood with port helm to head off
the leading ship, giving them Il
raking fire at about 800 yards range.
The enemy turned to the westward to
run close into the land. We then wore
around to starboard, bringing the star
board battery into action. The enemy
Rugged the shore to the westward
4. The Brooklyn leading, was follow
ed by the Texas, Iowa. Oregon, Indiana
and Gloucester The Vixen, which had
been to westward of us on the blockade,
ran to the southwark and eastward of
us. and kept for some time off our port
side, distant about one thousand yards,
evidently intending to guard against tor
pedo attack upon this ship; the shell
passing over us fell very thick about her,
some passing over her. At this time the
firing was very fast. and the whistling
Of shell incessant, and our escape with
so little injury was miraculous, and
can only be attributed to bad
craftsmanship on the part of
the enemy. The Maria Teresa, which
had dropped astern while we were wear
ing, under the heavy fire of our fleet ran
ashore.
). The Vizcaya, Oquendo and Colon
continuing on and gaining in distance,
the Brooklyn>was engaged with the three
leading ships of the enemy which were
forging ahead, the Texas, Iowa and In
diana keeping up heavy ire but
steadily dropping astern. The Oregon
was keeping up Il steady fire and was
coming up in the most glorious and gal
liant style out-stripping all others. 1t
was an inspiring sight to see this battle
ship, with ii large white wave before
her, and her smokeStacks belching forth
continued pulfs from her forced draft.
We were making II knots at the time
and the Oregon came up off our starboard
quarter at about six hundred yards and
her position there, though we
soon after increased our speed to fifteen
knots and just before the Colon surren-
dered were making nearly sixteen.
6. The Oquendo, soon dropped astern
and on fire ran ashore. The ViZcaya
and Colon continued on, under fire from
the Brooklyn and Oregon. The other yes
sells of our fleet We're well astern ana
out of range. The Texas was evidently
coming up fast. At about 1000 Il. IN.
the NiZcaya was seen to be on fire. and
the Colon passed inside of her with in
creased speed. took the lead and grad
ually forged ahead. The Vizcaya soon
after ran on the beach, ablaZe with
fire. We signalled the Oregon to cease
firing on the Vizcaya as her flag was
down. Firing Immediately ceased and
we both continued the chase of the
Colon, now about twelve thousand yards
away. The ranges ran from loo to
J, 900 yards with the ViZcaya as she KEEP,
in and out from the coast. We steered
straight for a distant point near Cape
Cruz, while the Colon kept close to the
land. She could not have come out with
out crossing our bows and we were
steadily gaining on her. We were getting
more steam all the time and now had
four and one-half boilers on and the
remaining one and one-half nearly ready.
Z. After running for about fifty miles
west from the entrance the Colon ran
into a big piece of land, fired Il gun to
leeward and hauled down her flag. The