The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-11

Texas, though apparently on fire. But
the leading vessels were too far to the
west to be identified accurately. The
Indiana was in sight, a little to the
west of Moro castle.
At 1924 the Cristobol Colon was still
gaining and was reserving her fire. At
this moment the only American vessels
seen from the Vixen were the Brooklyn,
Oregon. Texas and Iowa, six miles be-
hind the Oregon.
The Texas and Iowa were six miles
behind the oregon. The Indiana was
four miles astern of the Iowa At 1857
the Cristobal Colon and other Spanish
ships resumed the heavy fire. The sec
ond vessel was five miles from the
Vixen. The Oregon was firing 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, shell tearing the flag at
her mast. At 10:37 the Brooklyn forged
ahead and the Oregon brought her for
ward thrteen-inch guns to bear on the
leading Spanish vessel. AT 10:F the
Texas, in front of the Iowa, was gain
ing rapidly. At this time the Brook
lyn's fire was steady and deadly, her
shells striking or bursting alongside of
the Spaniards.
At l0:49 the Texas reached Juan Con-
zales and the Indiana was apparently
off Cabanas. At 1850 the Vixen APP
preached, heading northwest. The
Texas was gaining rapidly, the Iowa
appeared to be off Juan Gonzales, and
the yacht appeared off Guayacabon.
hotly engaging the enemy's ships. At
1854 another Spaniard was on fire and
heading for the beach, with a heavy list
to port. This was the Nizcaya making
for the reef at Acerraderos. At 1:01
the Vizcaya ported her helm and head
ed east, apparently seeking the entrance
to Acceraderos. The Texas and Vixen
directed their fire on the Vizcaya until
11:07. when, after the coiors went down,
we ceased. At 11:09 there came a burst
of flame from the Vizcaya's stern, and
all the ships resumed their fire while
passing the doomed vessel At l1:16 the
Brooklyn, oregon. Texas. Iowa and In
diana, the last named ten miles from
the Cristobal Colon, were in sight of the
Vixen. 1t was believed on the Vixen
that the vesselat Acerraderos was the
Spanish flagship. At 1l:25 the Iowa had
stopped. The after end of the ViZcaya
was a sheet of flame and from 1l:26 to
11:42 there We're many explosions on
board the Spanish cruiser. apparently
caused by the ignition of loose charges
about the guns. They resembled huge
chrysanthemums with ribbons Of smoke
as the burning powder grains fell from
the ends of the petals.
At IL AS the chase narrowed itself to
the Cristobal Colon, which was close
ashore and seven miles from the Vixen,
with the oregon one point on the star
board bow. distant a mile and a half:
the Brooklyn one point on the starboard
bow. distant three miles; the Texas on
the starboard quarter, distant one mile
the Iowa two points on the starboard.
distant eight miles, and the New York
one point on the starboard, distant ten
miles. The last two vessels were ap-
parently off Boca del Rio, but were too
far distant to be certainly identified. No
| other vessels were In sight The smoke
! from the ship destroyed at Juan Con
Zales and to the eastward could be seen.
but the vessels hull was invisible. At
noon the relative positions of the Amer
F., leans were practically the same. When
the Vixen was abreast of Sevilla, thir-
! teen miles west of Santiago. the Texas
bore three points to the starboard quar-
| ter, a little less than a mile off. and the
| oregon and Brooklyn one point on the
| starboard and port bow, distant four
| or five miles, respectively, while the
] Continued on Page Eight)