The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-29
Detailed Account Given by Captain
Cook, of the Brooklyn, and Lavish
Praise Bestowed ON His Men.
CHEEKY WORDS FROM sCHLEY
LIEUT.. USHER, OF THE ERICSSON,
CAPT. COTTON, OF THE HARVARD,
Lieut.. Sharp, of the Vixen, and Com
Make Statements to Sampson.

WASHINGTON, July 2S-The Navy De-
partment has made public the reports of
Captain Cook, of the Brooklyn; Lieutenant
| Usher, commanding the Ericsson; Captain
Cotton, of the Harvard: Lieutenant Sharp
of the Vixen, and Commander Eaton of
the Resolute, giving their stories of the de-
struction of Cervera's fleet. The full text
of these documents follows
| ~. S. Flagship Brooklyn, First Rate,
AT Anchor, Guantanamo Bay, July :.
| Slr-At a. m. July gave orders and
! arrangements were made for general mus
ter at $50 a. m. At $50 a. m. the enemy
| were telegraphed by the Iowa as coming
OUT Al the same time they were discov-
| derson, of this ship, and reported to the
officer of the deck. The executive officer,
| Lieutenant Commander Mason, who was
! deck about to execute the order for general
muster, Immediately gave the order Clear
ship for action and general quarters Sig
coming out. Action. l went Immediately
! forward, stood for the enemy and gave orr
| derS to get steam on all boilers We started
| with steam on three boilers at about twelve
| knots speed.
SO. The head Of the Spanish squadron in
| column was just outside the entrance of the
west. The Spanish squadron consisted of
the Maria Teresa fagship), Vizcaya,
Oquendo and Colon and two torpedo de
| stroyers. We opened fire on the leading
ship in five minutes from their discovery.
20. The port battery was first engaged
| as we stood with port helm to head off the
| leading ship and giving them a raking fire
| at about 1850 yards range. The enemy
| turned to the westward to close into the
| land. We then wore around to Starboard,
| bringing the starboard battery into action.
| The enemy Rugged the shore to the vest
ward. Me-
"a The Brooklyn leading, was followed
! by the Texas. Iowa, Oregon Indiana and
| Gloucester. The Vixen, which had been to
the westward of us on the blockade, ran TO
! fhVUo rd al 50
| for some time off our port side distant about
| 1000 yards evidently intending to guard
against torpedo attack upon this ship. The
| shells passing over us fell very thick about
! her. some passing over her. At this time
| the firing very fast and the Whistl1ng
| of shell incessant, and our escape with so
| little injury was miraculous and only
! be attributed to bad craftsmanship on the
| part of the enemy. The Maria Teresa,
which had dropped astern while we were
wearing, under the heavy fire OF our teet
ran ashore.
PRAISE FOR THE OREGON.
"5 The Vizcaya, Oquendo and Colon,
| continuing on and gaining in distance, the
Brooklyn was engaged with the three lead
| ing ships of the enemy, which were forging
ahead, the Texas, Iowa and Indiana keep
| ing up a heavy fire, but steadily dropping
astern. The Oregon was keeping up
steady fire and was coming up in the most
glorious and gallant style, outstripping all
|
battle ship, with large white wave before
her and her smokestacks belchng forth
| continual puffs from her forced drafts. We
/ were making fourteen knots at the time
| and the Oregon came up off our starboard
| quarter about six hundred yards and main
tanned her position. though we soon after
increased our speed to fifteen knots, and
lust before the Colon surrendered were
| making nearly sixteen.
IS. The Oquendo, soon after the falling
| ont IF he Teresa drODDod dStern
| fire ran ashore. The ViZcaya and Colon
continued on under fire from the Brooklyn
and Oregon The other vessels OF our neet
were we'll astern and out OF range. me
| Texas was evidently coming up faSt. AT
about 1858 &. m. the Vizcaya was seen 10 be
on fire and the Colon passed inside OF her;
with increased speed took the lead and
gradually forged ahead. The Vizcaya soon
| after ran on the beach ablaze with fire.
we signaled to the oregon to cease firing
| on the ViZcaya, as her flag was down. Fir
ing Immediately ceased and we Se both 9th con- con,
! about twelve thousand yards away. The
| RANGES ran from 1.500 to 5000 yards
with the vizcaya. as she keqr ai IN ana for
| a distant point near Cape Cruz, while the
! Colon kept close to the land, running into
| without crossing our bows and we were
| steadily gaining on her. We were getting
| more steam all the time and now had four
| one and a half nearly ready.
| a. After running for about fifty miles
! west
| a blight of land. beached. fired gun to
| Ieeward and hauled down her flag The
| Oregon and Brooklyn had just previously
begun to fire upon the Colon and We're land,
| ing shells close to her. was sent on board
| by Commodore Schley to receive the sur
render. The captain spoke English and re-
! much depressed. He surrendered uncondi-
| tionally. He was polite, shook hands and
his t0 %aS mne6 feT him n0 tna on
| board about fifteen minutes. AS we came
| from the Colon the flagship New York came
| in with the Texas. i reported on Doarq
| the flagship to Rear Admiral Sampson. /
| stated to him that 1 believed the Colon
| could be got off.
SCHLEY'S CHEEKY WORDS.
So During the entire action l was in con-
slant communication with you (Schley). so
| that 1 was enabled to promptly execute
| your orders and instructions. The officers
| and crew behaved with great and unexcep-
tional GOODNESS and bravery, so that it is
difficult to discriminate They were encour-
aged in their best efforts by your enthu-
siasm and your CHEEKY words Fire steady.
boys, and give it to Them
80. The executive officer. N. E. Mason,
| with his usual zeal, was continually at the
| battery directing the firing and keeping me
| we'll informed of the exact condition of the
i ship and in encouraging both officers and
| men by his example of GOODNESS and cour-
| age.
| 10 Lieutenant Hodgson was on the
| bridge, coolly and deliberately taking bear
| ings and measuring and giving ranges. He
| was assisted in getting ranges and noting
! time by Chief Yeoman George Ellis with
! a stadimeter until Ellis was killed by
| passing shell.
IL The officers of the divisions. Lieuts
| T. D. Griffin, w. r. Rush, e. Simpson, j.
| G. Doyle. B. w. Wells an Ensign Web
ster all performed their full duties deliber-
| ately and efficiently The naval cadets in
! divisions were cool and efficient Naval
/ Cadets Halligan, Marble. Abete and Cronan
| have been especially noticed for good serv-
| ice Lieutenant B. w. Wells, your secretary
volunteered for command of a division and
was given the fourth division. thus enab-
| ling me to station commissioned officer
| iii a turret.
| '12 Too much praise cannot be given the
| engineers department for the hard work
| done by all in steadily raising the steam
| knots.
'13. The marines did splendid service at
| the guns and at their stations. The order
| lies carried messages quickly and effective
| ly. Captain Murphy and Lieutenant Bor-
| den were constant in their visits to the diff
ferent stations to be assured of efficiency.
| IA Medical Inspector Paul Fitzsimmons
! slant attendance at the divisions and on
/ deck to be ready for any emergency. Flag
Lieutenant James II. Sears was particularly
active, standing in the open directing sfg-
mails, and reporting the fall of shot and posi-
! ton of the enemy. He was cool and firm in
| his duty.
| CONSPICUOUS GOODNESS.
rs Ensign McCauley attended personally
| n SIGNALS while constantly under frs ~