Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-07-15


] thnnGering of great rifles told o.
armOr piercing shells driven into
and through the protected sides OF
Ceryera's ships. Still they fired
Their shots fell about the Indiana
and Iowa thlckly.
| could not see that our battle
ships were hit. No doubt they
were, but it seemed that none OF
their guns was sllenced so terrific
continued their fire.
GREAT YORK OF THE GLOUCESTER
Lieutenant Commander VAN
wright, of the Gloucester, like Mel
son, seemed 10 have blind eye.
Il be were sigualled to pull out, he
remained, with his siX-pounders,
to do work which was bOlh heroic
and astonishing. AT one time the
Gloucester was being fred at by
the Vlzcaya, both torpedo boats,
boat destroyers and the Moro bat
terry. That she was not sunk and
that she had enough men lett to
work her guns was marvellous.
She lay close IN to where Viz
caya came out, aud ran along
psrallel, firing at The cruiser AS
fiercely In proportion to her size
AS did the Indiana aud Iowa
Captain Eulate, of the Vlzcaya,
probably feared torpedo from the
Gloucester, for he turned loose his
secondary battery at her an he
passed on INTO storm OF shells
from the battle ships.
Then the destroyers came on,
aud the Gloucester accepted them
at once as parts of her contract.
These DESTROY prs we're strong in
machine guns of the three AND SIX
FOUNDER class. It seemed that
smoke Jets burst from them in
twenty places as they slipped
along after the NizcaNa. Tho
water all about the Gloucester
was kept splashlng by she lis aud
by bullets from machine guns.
But the yacht steamed ahead,
keeping Chc destroy ers directly be
tween her aud the shore aud ham
merlng them. The MORO was
throwing shells from behind, and
occasionally the Vizcaya turned u
gun or two to AID her followers.
The yacht was often completely
hidden by smoke, | could not but
wonder if she had beeu sunk, bnt
sac always forged ahead, and ap-
peared again buster than ever.
In ten miputes the fire OF the
destroyers Stacked. but, although
some of their guns were disabled.
their machinery was all right, and
they moyed on until MOrro could
no longer take part in the battle.
THE NEW YORK TAKES PART.
Then the New York appeared,
having been summoned to return
from AguadOres. She WAS six
miles away when the deslroyers
saw her. The Moro Numbered
at Sampson as ne came within
range, but the Admiral never he'd
ed, seeing only in the distance the
dim forms OF the Ylzcaya and the
Oquendo, hopelessy hemmed IN
by a circle of fire, aud in the fore
ground the Gloucester, lighting
two destrO, ers at short range.
When the destroy ers saw the
flagship they sped away from the
Gloucester aud tried to overtake
The Vlzcaya and get into shelter
on her stgrbOard side. If that
could not be done there OughI to
he chance to torpedo the Indiana
md break through our line to the
open sea, where speed would save
them, but the Indiana steamed in
.hore aud the Iowa went further
away.
The Indiana's secondary battery
had the first destro, er's range,
aud raiued shells upon her. Spiil-
tered and torn, bnt still with their
steering gear and machinery lntdcl
both destIoyers turned back to run
for the mouth of the haIbor and
seek safety inside, but it was too
late. The fight had been carried
nearly four miles west OF the Moro
and the New York was already
past the harbor mouth.
rhe Gloucester was ready for the
destroyers close at hand. She and
the destrOyers and The Indiana
formed triangle OF which the des
tr0yers were the apex, and the
American fire, couverging, was too
fierce for human beings to with
stand.
CARNIVAL OF DESTRUCTION.
One destroyer dfIfted Into the