Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-07-14

| was poured into the Infanta Maria Tere-
ga. The helm was then quickly shifted
to port and the ship went to the stern of
the Teresa in an effort to head off the
Oquendo. All the time the engines were
driving at full speed ahead. A perfect
torrent of shells from the enemy passed
over the smokestacks and superstructure
of the ship, but none struck her.
1.-THE Cristobal Colon, being much fast
or than the rest of the Spanish ships,
passed rapidly to the front in an effort to
escape. In passing the Iowa the Colon
placed two 6-inch shells fairly in our star
board bow. One passed through the cof-
ferdam and dispensary, wrecking the lat
ter and bursting on the berth deck, doing
considerable damage. The other passed
through the side 1T the water line within
the cofferdam.
"As it was now obviously impossible to
ram any of the Spanish ships on account
of their superior speed, the 1owa's helm
was put to the starboard and she ran on
a course parallel with the enemy. Beng
then abreast of the Almirante Oquendo,
at a distance Of ], 100 yards, the Iowa
entire battery, including the rapid ire
guns. was opened on the Oquendo. Ihe
punishment was terrific. Many II and 3
inch shells were seen to explode inside of
her and smoke came out through her
| matches. Tvelve-inch shells from the Iowa
n;erced the Alm1ante Oquendo at the
s,ne moment, one forward and the other
aft. The Oquendo seemed to stop her en-
cines for moment and Nst Roadway, but
She Immediately resumed her speed and
gradually drew ahead of the Iowa ana
came under the terrific fire of the Oregon
| and Texas.
sat this moment the alarm of torpedo
| boats was sounded and two torpedo Doat
destroyers were discovered In the star
hoard quarter at distance Of 4,OOO yards.
Fire was at once opened Oh them Win
the after battery and a 12-inch shell cut
the stern Of one destroyer squarely Or.
"As the shell struck small torpedo
boat fred back at the battleship, sending
shell within few feet of my head. l
said to Executive Officer Rodgers, That
little chap has got lot of cheek Rod
gers shouted back, She shoots very well,
all the same
"Well ND among the advancing cruisers,
shifting shots at one and then another,
| was the little Gloucester, shooting first at
| . cruiser and then at a torpedo boat and
hitting head wherever she saw it. The
marvel was that she was not destroyed
| by the rain of shells.
..In the meantime the Vizcaya was
slowly drawing abeam Of the Iowa and
for the space of fifteen minutes it was
give and take between the two ships The
yizcaya fired rapidly but wildly, not one
shot taking effect on the Iowa, while the
shells from the Iowa were tearing big
| rents in the sides of the Vizcaya. AS the
latter passed ahead of the Iowa she came
under the murderous fire of the Oregon.
At this time the Infanta Marix Teresa
and the AImirante Oquendo, leading the
enemys column, were seen to be heading
| for the beach and in flames. The Texas,
Oregon and Iowa pounded them unmer-
cifully. They ceased to reply to the fire
and in a few moments the Spanish cruis-
ers were a mass of flames and on the
rocks with their colors down, the Teresa
flying a white flag at the fore.
1.-THE crews of the enemy's ships
stripped themselves and began jumping
overheard and some of the smaller mag
azines began to explode.
Meantime the Brooklyn and the Girls
tobal Colon we're exchanging compliments