The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-27
COMMODORE SCHLEY DECLARED
THERE WAS GLORY ENOUGH FOR ALL
SpaniardS Intended to Sink the Brooklyn = Sampson
Charges the Enemy With Treachery
Sampson

out, firing upon the large SHIPS. Antlc-
ipating the appearance of the PlGton
and Juror, the Gloucester was slowed,
thereby gaining more rapidly high
pressure of steam, and when the de-
stroyers came out she steamed for
them at full speed, and was able to
close to short range where her fire was
accurate, deadly and of great volume.
During this fight the Gloucester was
under the fire OF the Socapa battery.
Within 20 minutes from the time they
emerged from Santiago harbor the ca
reers of the F'uFor and Pluton were
ended, and two-thirds of their people
killed. The Furor was beached and
sunk in the surf, the Pluton sank in
deep water a few minutes later. The
destroyers probably suffered much in
jury from the fire of the secondary
batteries of the battleships Iowa, In
diana and the Texas, yet 1 think a
very considerable factor in their speedy
destruction was the fire at close range
of the Gloucester's battery. After res
cuing the survivors of the destroyers
the Gloucester did excellent service in
landing and securing the crew of the
Infanta Maria Teresa.
A SIMPLE PROBLEM.
S. The method of escape attempted
by the SDaniards-all steering in the
same direction and formation-removed
all tactical doubts or difficulties, and
made plain the duty of every United
States vessel TO close in Immediately in
pursuing the ships, which was
promptly and effectively done. AS al
ready stated, the first rush of the Span
ish squadron carried it past a number
of blockading ships, which could not
Immediately work uD to their best
speed; but they suffered heavily in
passing. The Infanta Maria Teresa
and the Oquendo were probably set on
fire by shells fired during the first 10
minutes of the engagement. 1t was
afterwards learned that the 1nfanta
Maria Teresa'S fre main had been cut
by one of our first shots, and that she
was unable to eXtinguish fire. With
large volumes of smoke rising from
their lower decks aft, these vessels
gave UP both fight and fight, and ran
in on the beach-the Infanta Maria Te-
resa at about 1915 a. m. at Nimanima.
six and one-half miles from Santiago
harbor entrance, and the Almirante
Oquendo at about 1890 a. m, at Juan
Gonzales, seven miles from the port.
9. The ViZcaya was still under the
fire of the leading vessels; the Cristo-
Dol Colon had drawn ahead, leading the
chase, and soon passed beyond the
range of the guns of the leading Amer
lean ships The Vizcaya. was set on
fire, ard at HIS she tuTEed in shore
and was beached at Acceraderos, Is
miles from Santiago, burning fierceiy
and with her reserve of ammunition on
deck already beginning to explode.
When about ten miles west of Santiago
the Indiana had been signaied to go
back to the harbor entrance, and at
Acceraderos the Iowa was signaled to
resume blockading station" The Iowa,
assisted by the Ericsson and the Hiss.
took off the crew of the Vizcaya, while
the Harvard and the Gloucester res
cued those of the Infanta Maria Teresa
and the Almirante OQuendo.
GALLANT CONDUCT.
This rescue of prisoners, including the
wounded, from the burning ships, was
the occasion of some of the most daring
and gallant conduct of the day. The
ships were burning fore and aft, their
guns and reserve ammunition were ex-
ploding, and it was not known at what
moment the fire would reach the main
magazines. In addition to this, a heavy
surf was running just inside of the
Spanish ships. But no risk deferred our
officers and men until their work of
humanity was complete.
CHASE OF THE COLON.
10. There remained now of the Span
she was their best and fastest vessel.
Forced by the situation TO hug the Gu
ban coast, her only chance of escape
was by superior and sustained speed.
When the Nizcaya went ashore, the
Colon was about six miles ahead OF
the Brooklyn and the Oregon, but FER
squirt was finished, and the American
ships We're now gaining upon her. Be-
hind the Brooklyn and the Oregon
laea
L was evident from the bridge OF the
New York that all the American ships
were gradually Overhauling the chase,
and that she had no chance Of escape.
AT 1880 the Brooklyn and the Oregon
opened fire and got their range-the
Oregon's heavy shells striking beyond
her-and, at 1:10, she gave up without
firing another shot, hauled down her
colors and ran ashore at Rio Toru-
quino, IS miles from Santiago Captain
Cook of the Brooklyn went on board TO
receive the surrender. While his
boat was alongside, came
up in the New York, received his report
and placed the Oregon in charge of the
wreck, to save himself, if possible, and
the prisoners to be transferred
TO the Resolute, which had followed the
chase. Commodore Schley, whose chief
OF staff had gone on board to receive
the surrender, had directed that all
their personal effects should be re-
tanned by the officers. This order 1 did
not modify. The Cristobal Colon was
not injured by our firing and probably
is not much injured by Bleaching,
though she ran ashore at high speed.
The beach was so steep that she came
of by the working of the sea. But her
sea. valves were opened and broken.
I am sure. after her sur
render. and, despite all efforts, she
sank. When il became evident that
she could not be kept afioat, she was
pushed by the New York bodily upon
the beach, the New York's stem being
placed against her for this purpose
the ship being handled by Captain
Chadwick with admirable Judgment
and sank in shoal water, and may be
saved. Had this not been done, she
would have gone down in deep water,
and would have been to a certainty
total loss.
AN EFFECTIVE BLOCKADE.
II. 1 regard this complete and inn
portant victory over the Spanish forces
as the successful finish of several
weeks of arduous and close blockade, |
so stringent and effective during the
night that the enemy was deferred from
making the attempt TO escape at night |
and deliberately elected to make the |
in daylight. That such was
the case l was informed by the COM |
handing officer of the Cristobal Colon. |
To fae,l