The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-27

of the harbOr entrance, where they
] burned and blew up later. The torpedo
! boat destroyers were destroyed early
in the action, but the smoke was so
dense in their direction that I cannot
say 10 what vessel or vessels the credit
belongs. This doubtless was s>en bet
ter from your flagship.
! 4. The Vizcaya and Colon. perceiving
the disaster to their consorts, continued
at full speed to the westward 10 escape.
and were followed and engaged in a
running fight with the Brooklyn, Texas.
/ Iowa and Oregon until 1850, when the
| Vizcaya took fire from our shells. She
1 put her helm to port and with a heavy
/ list to port, stood inshore and ran
aground at Acerraderos, about 81 miles
west OF Santiago on fire, and where
she afterwards blew up during the
night Seeing that she had struck her
coiors and that several vessels were
nearing her to capture and save her
crew. signal was made to cease firing.
/ The Oregon having proved vastly faster
than the other battleships, she and the
Brooklyn, together with the Texas and
another vessel which proved to be your
flagship continued westward in pursuit
of the Colon which had run close in
shore, evidently seeking some good spot
to beach if she should fail to elude her
pursuers.
PURSUIT OF THE COLON.
5. This pursuit continued with in
cfeasing sDeed in the BrcolSlyn, Ore
gon and other ships, and when the
Brooklyn and the Oregon opened were
within long range of the Colon, and
the Oregon opened fire with her 13-inch
guns, landing a shell close to the Colon.
A moment afterwards the Brooklyn
opened fire with her S-inch guns, land
ing a shell Just ahead of her Several
other shells were fired at the Colon.
now in range of the Brookiyn's and
Oregon's guns. Her commander. see
ing all chances OF escape cut off and
the destruction awaiting his ship, tred
lee gun and struck her flag at 1:1o
p. m, and ran ashore at a point some
so miles west of Santiago harbor. Your
flagship was coming UP rapidly at the
time, as was also the Texas and Vixen.
A little later, after your arrival, the
Cristobol Colon, which had struck 20
; the Brooklyn and the Oregon, was
turned over to you as one OF the
trophies of this great victory of the
squadron under your command.
s. During my official visit a little
later, Commander Eaton of the Reso-
lutte appeared and reported to you the
presence of a Spanish battleship near
Altares Your orders to me were to
take the Oregon and go eastward to
meet her, and this was done by the
Brooklyn, with the result that the YES
sci reported as an enemy proved to be
the Austrian cruiser Infanta Maria Te-
resa, seeking the commander-in-chiet.
DEADLY SHOOTING.
Z. 1 would mention for your consid-
Grafton that the Brooklyn occupied the
most westward blockading position,
with the Vixen, and, being more di-
rectly in the route taken by the span
is,h squadron, was exposed for some
minutes, possibly 10, to the gun fire OF
three of the Spanish ships, and about
3.OCO yards from the batteries, but the
vessels of the entire squadron, closing
in RAPIDLY, soon diverted this fire and
did magnificent work at close range l
have never before witnessed such dead
ly and fatally accurate shooting as was
done by the ships of your command as
they closed in on the Spanish squadron,
and l deem it a high privilege to COM
mend to you for such action as you
may deem proper the gallantry and
dashing courage, the prompt decision
and skillful handling of their respective
vessels. of Captain Philip, CAPTAIN
Evans. Captain Clark, ard especially of
my chief of staff, Captain Cook, who
was directly under my personal obser-
walton, and whose GOODNESS, promptnesS
The dense smoke of the combat shut
out from view the Indiana and Glouce-
ster. but as these vessels We're closer to
your flagship, no doubt their part in
tie conflict was under your immediate
observation.
GALLANT CONDUCT.
s.. Lieutenant Sharp, commanding the
Vixen. acted with conspicuous courage;
although unable to engage the heavier
ships of the enemy with his light guns,
he, nevertheless, was close in TO the
battle line, under heavy fire, and many
of the enemy's shots passed behind MS
vessel.
9. | beg to invite special attention TO
the conduct of my flag lieutenant,
James L. Sears, and Ensign Edward
McCauley, jr.. aide, who were con-
stantly at my side during the engage
rnent, and who exposed themselves
fearlessly in discharging their duties;
Ind also to the splendid behavior OF my
secretary, Lieutenant b. Wells, Jr., who
commanded and directed the fighting
of the fourth division with splendid Ell
feet.
10. 1 would commend the highly meri-
torious conduct and courage in the en-
ga1e1nent of Lieutenant Commander n.
~. Mason. the executive officer, whose
presence everywhere over the ship dur
ing its continuance, did much to secure
Ine sOoC results o. I1lS snip = pssit 80
The victory.
Il. The navigator, Lieutenant A. c.
Hodgson, AID the division officers
Lieutenant T. D. Griffen, Lieutenant
W X. Rush, Lieutenant Edward Simp-
son. Lieutenant j. d. Doyle, Ensign
Charles Webster and the junior divis-
iOnal officers were most conspicuous IN
every detail of duty, contributing to
the accurate firing Of this ship in her
part Of the great victory of your
forces.
II. The officers of the medical. pay
and engineer and marine corps re-
sponded to every demand Of the occa-
sion and were fearless in exposing
themselves. The warrant officers,
Boatswain William L. Hill, Carpenter
G. H. Warford and Gunner Z. L. APP
plegate, We're everywhere exposed, in
watching for damage, reports of which
were promptly conveyed to me.
IS. have never in my life served with
a drawer, better or worthier crew than
that OF the Brooklyn. During the COM
bat, lasting from $40 until lis pm,
much of the time under fire, they never
tagged for a moment and were APP
parently undisturbed by the storm of
projectiles passing ahead, astern and
over the ship.
THE CASUALTIES.
IA. The result of the engagement was
the destruction of the Spanish squadI
ron and the capture of the admiral and
some 1900 to 1900 prisoners, with the
loss of several hundred killed, esti-
mated by Admiral Cervera at eco men.
10. The casualties on board this ship
were: G. II. Ellis. chief yeoman, killed;
J. Burns, fireman, first class, severely