The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-27

ing is Commodore SchIey's report: @
North Atlantic Fleet Second Squadron,
United States Flagship Brooklyn, Guantan-
emo Bay, July 6, 185S.-Sir: have the on
or to make the following report Of that part
OF the squadron under your cssnma i'd which
came under my observation during the en-
gagement with the Spanish feet on July o.
1898.
2. At. 9:35 a. m. Admiral Ce.yera, with the
lnfanta Maria Teresa, Vizcaga, Oquendo,
Cristobal Colon and two torpedo boat de-
stroyeis, came out of the kar. Or of SAINT ago
de Cuba, in column, at dis. ance, and az
tempted to ESCAPE to the Westward. The
signal was made from the Iowa that tn,
enemy was coming cut, but his movement had
peen q scovered from this ship at the same
moment. This vessel was the ia t,et we t.
except the Vixen. in the b,ockading Inc
Signal was made to the westward division
as prescribed in your general orders and
there was immediate and rapid movement
forward by your squadron, and general en-
gagament ct ranges beginning at LOO yards
and varying to 300, until the Vizcaya was
destroyed, about 1850 o'clock a. m. The con-
centration of the fire of the squadron up n
the ships coming out was most furious and
terrific and great damage was done them.
D. About twenty or twenty-five minutes
after the engagement began two vessels
thought to be the Oquendo and Teresa, ard
since verified as such, took f:e from the eff
fective shell fire of the squadron, and wee
forced to run on the beach, some six or
seven miles west 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 l cannot say to what
vessel or vessels the credit belongs This.
doubtless, was better seen from your flag
ship. 4
4. The V1zcaya and Colon, perceivrg t
disaster to their consorts continued on a.
fuii speed to the westward, and were en-
gagged In running fire with the Iowa,
Brooklyn and Oregon, until at 1880 the Viz.
caya took fire from our shells. She put hsr
heim to port and with a heavy list to port
stood in shore and ran aground at Acerrade-
ros, about twenty-ore miles west of Santa go,
on fire fore and aft, and where she blew up
during the night. Observing that she had
struck her colors 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, cont .nued
westward in pursuit Of the Colon, which bad
run close in shore, evidently seeking some
l. q
Fer pursuers.
B. This pursuit continued with increasing
speed in the Brooklyn, Oregon and other
ships and soon the Brooklyn and Oregon were
within long range CT the Colon, when the
Oregon opened fire with her thirteen-,nch
guns, landing a shell close to the Colon
moment afterwards the Brooklyn opened fire
with her e1ght-inch guns, landing a shell Just
ahead of her. Several other shells were fired
at the Colon, now In range of the Brooklyn's
and Oregon's guns Herr commander seeing
all chance Of excape cut off, and destruction
awaiting his ship, fired lee gun and struck
her flag at lis D. m, and ran ashore at a
point some fifty miles west Of Santiago har
Dor. Your flagship was coming up rapidly at
the time, as was also the Texas and Vixen.
A little later, after your arrivalJ the Cristobal
Colon, which had struck to- the Brooklyn and
the Oregon, was turned lover to you as one
Of the trophies of this great victory of the
squadron under your command.
8. During my official visit little later
Commander Eaton, of the Resoute, appeared
and reported to you the presence of Spanish
battleship near Altares. Your orders to me
were to take the Oregon and go to meet her.
This was done, and the Oregon and Brooklyn
met the ship, with the result that the vessel
reported as Spaniard was the Austrian war;
ship 1nfanta Maria Terease, seeking the COM
mander-in-chief.
Z. / would mention for your consideration
that the Brooklyn occupied the most west
ward blockading position with the Vixen and
being MORE directly in the route taken by the
Spanish squadron, was exposed for some min
utes, possibly ten. to the gun fire Of three
ships and the west battery, at range of
l,6OO yards from the ships and about 5000
yards from the batteries, but the vessels Of
the entire squadron. closing in rapidly, soon