The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-11

east. apparently sought the entrance to
Azerradores. The Texas and Vixen di-
rected their fire on the Vizcaya until
llOI when, as the colors went down,
we ceased.
At i1:O9 there came burst OF flame
and smoke from the YlzcaVn's stern.
and all the ships resumed their are
while passing the doomed vessel, which
was hard on Azerrndores reef.
At 11:15 the Brooklyn, Oregon, Texas.
Iowa and Indiana, the last named ten
miles from the CrIstobal Colon, were In
sight OF the Vixen. It was believed on
the Vixen that the vessel at Azerra-
dores was the Spanish flagship.
At 1925 the Iowa had stopped. The
after end OF the Vlzcaya was a sheet OF
fame, and from 1923 TO l1;42 there were
many explosions on board the Spanish
cruiser, apparently caused by the ignl-
tion OF loose charges about the guns.
They resembled huge chrVsanthemums.
with ribbons OF smoke, as the burning
powder grains fell from the ends OF the
petals.
A Long Chase.
At li:45 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 half;
the Brooklyn one point on the starbourd
bow, distant three miles; the Texas on
the starboard quarter, distant one mile;
the Iowa two points on the starboard
side, distant eight miles. and the New
York one point on the starboGrd quar-
ter, distant ten miles,
The last two vessels were apparently
of Boca del Rio, but were too far dis
tant to be certainly identified In the thin
haze and smoke from the leading ships.
No other vessels were in sight, The
smoke from the ship destroyed at Juan
Gonzales and to the eastward could be
seen, but the vessels hull was invisible.
At noon the relative positions of the
American ships were practically the
same. When the Vixen was abreast OF
sevilla. thirteen miles west OF Santiago.
the Texas bore three points on the
starboard quarter. little less than a
mile on, and the Oregon and Brook
Ign one point to the starboard and port
bow, distant four and hves miles re-
spectIvely, while the Cristobal Colon
bore two points on the starboare dtB-
tant fully ten miles.
According to the official pilot on the
Vixen, that vessel was on Bayamita,
The estimated distance was taken from
the officers and official pilot AT l2:OO
the New York was in line with the
burning Vizcaya at a distance OF nine
miles. At 1915 the Texas was on the
starboard quarter, the New York two
- the
Oregon q half point on the starhoard
bow, the Brooklyn one point on the
port bow and the Cristobal Colon one
noint on the starboard bow, stih miles
away, At 1920 the Oregon fired shot
which fell short. The Cristobal Colon
was then hull down from the Vixen.
During the next half hour the occa-
sional shots from the oregon and the
Brooklyn struck near the chase.
At 1850 the Texas was one point for
ward of the starboard beam, and was
steadily gaining. At lis the Oregon
and the Brooklyn headed in shore about
four points. At 1925 the Texas signal
led "the enemy has surrendered"
This signal was reported to the New
York, but was not acknowledged. The
Cristobal Colon was seen through
glasses aiming close lnshore, and ac-
cording to the pilot, at Rio Tarqulno.
II was thought on bonrd the Vixen that
a white flag was displayed on the Girls
tobal Colon, but this subsequently prov
ed to be escaping steam.
At 2 o'clock boats from the Brooklyn
and oregon went alongside the Colon.
At 2:25 the Vixen stopped of Rio Tar
uuIno, near the Brooklyn and Oregon.
The New York arrived five minutes
later and intercepted the boats which
we're returning from The Colon.
In all these observations, the time
was accurately noted, but the watch
used was five minutes behind the deck
clock. which agreed very nearly with the
hours indicated by the bells on the 9TH
NJ ttaEaalg