New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-27

a
the Santiago Harbor entrance and the Aiuairan'e
Oquendo at about 1890 a. m. at Juan Gonzales.
seven miles from the port
Ninth-The Vizcaya still under the fire OF
the leading vessels; the Cristoba Colon had drawn
ahead. leading the chase and soon passed beyond
the range Of the guns Of the leading American
ships The Vizcsya set on fire. and at
Ills she turned In shore and was beached al
Acerraderos fifteen miles from Santiago burning
hercey. and with her reserves OF ammunition on
deck already beginning to explode.
REsCUING PRISONERS.
When about ten miles west OF Santiago the
Indiana had been signalled 10 go back TO the har-
Dor entrance. and at Acerraderos the Iowa was
sgnalled TO resume blockading station Inc
Iowa assisted by the Ericsson and the Hist. took
off the crew Of the Vizcaya while the Harvard and
the Gloucester rescued those Of the Infanta Maria
Teresa and the Almirante Oquendo. This rescue OF
prisoners including the wounded from the purh-
Ing Spanish vessels. was the occasion OF some OF
the most daring and gallant conduct OF the DAY
The ships were burning fore and aft. their guns
and reserve ammunition were exploding ana II
WAS not known at what moment the fire would
reach the main magazine. In ADDITION 10 TINS "
heavy surf was running just inside Of the Span
ish ships But no risk deferred our offcers anu
men until their work OF humanity was complete
Tonth-There remained now Of the Spanish SHIPS
only the Crstobal Colon, but she was their best
and fastest vessel Forced by the situation 10 hug
the Cuban coast her only chance or escape was py
superior and sustained speed When the NHcaFa
went ashore the Colon was about six miles hhcau
of the Brooklyn and the Oregon but her squirt was
finished and the American ships were now gaining
unon her Behind the Brooklyn and the oregon
came the Texas the Vixen and the New olh
II was evident from the bridges OF the Ne"-fo'h
that all the American ships were gradually over
hauling the chase and that she had no chance Oh
escape AT $3.50 the Brooklyn and the oregon
opened fire and got her range-the Oregons heaVy
shell striking beyond her-and at 10 she gave up
without firing another shot, hauled down her COL
ors and ran ashore at Rio Torquino' loi'y-rs'
miles from Santiago Captain Cook. OF the BROOK
lyn went on board 10 receive the surrenuer'
SAMPSON COMES UP.
While his boat alongside l came up IN the
New-York received bis report and placed the Ore
gon in charge OF the wreck. 10 save her' II pos'
hle: and directed the prisoners TO be transierfeo
~ the Resoute which had followed the chase
Commodore Schley. whose chief Of stan mad gone
on board to receive the surrender hao oiiee'e
that all their personal effects should be retainer
nv the officers This order did not modify Inc
Cr,stobal Colon was not injured by our nllhs' anu
| rrohabv is not much injured by beaching' thoush
she ran ashore at high speed The oeach was 50
steep that she came off by the working or the sea
But her sea-valves were opened ana pfohe".
treacherously. am sure after her sufrehue a.'-
dos nite all efforts she sank. When 1t became EVIL
dent that she could not be kept afoat she was
| nushed bv the New-York bodily upon the peach-
| the New-York's stern being placed against her ioi
this purpose the ship being handed by Japan
! Chadwick with admirable tudgment-anu sam ~
shoal water and may be saved Had this not oeei,
done she would have gone down IN deep water anu
would have been TO a certainty. total loss
| rleventh-I regard this complete and important
victory over the Spanish forces as the succeseiNi
finish Of several weeks OF arduous and close pioch
| odo 40 stringent and effective during the nieh'
|
,.nnt IN escape at night and deliberately e!ecteo
| n make the attempt in daylight That th's was
| tbe case was Informed by the commanding ofi-
! Ger OF the Cristobal Colon
THE PLAN OF THE BLOCKADE.
rwelftb-It seems proper briefly to describe mere
.ba manner in which this accomplished Inc
barbor of Santiago is naturally easy 10 oio1hdte'
| there being but entrance ana that h"t ~
| one and the deep water extending close up 70 the
| shore line presenting no diffcultes or Navigation
orts,de Of the entrance. At the time or my arrlVal
before the port June l. the moon was al us iuii
and there was sufficient light during the night 10
enable any movement outside OF the entrance 10
no detected; but with the waning or the moon una
the coming of dark nights there was opportun'.y
for the enemy to escape or for his torpedoooats 10
make an attack upon the blockading vessels l.
was ascertained with fair concusiveness 'hat '"e
Merrinac CALAMITY taken mo 'ne oho''iio' VII
June 8. did not obstruct It.
| 7 therefore maintained the blockade as follows:
To the batte-ships assigned the duty IN tur''
of lighting the channel Moving up 10 'he port a.
a distance Of from one TO two miles from ''io
| Morro-dependent upon the condition OF the at
| rnosphere-they threw a searchght bean oHecu!
| -, the channel and held Il steadily there TINS
| ughtened up the entire breadth OF the channe lot
half mile inside of the entrance so primarily ''a'
| the movement of small boats could De detected
Why the batteries never opened hre upon INC
searchlight ship always a matter OIL surprise
N me but they never did. sta toned close 10 the
entrance of the port were three picket launches'
and at a little distance further out three small
picket vessels. usually converted yachts ana
when they were not available one or two or our
torpedo-boats. With this arrangement there was
AZ least a certainty that nothing would get out OF
the harbor undctected
VIGILANCE INCREASED
After the arrival Of the Army. when the si;ua-
,,on forced upon the Spanish Admiral decision
our vigilance increased. The night bockading
distance was reduced to two miles for all yes
sels and a battle-ship was placed alongside the
eearchlight ship with her broadsde trained upon
the channel in readiness to FIRE the instant Span
;sh ship should appear The commanding ofhcers
merit the greatest praice for the perfect manner
In which they entered into this plan and put It
into execution. The Massachusetts, which accord
ing to routine. sent that morning to coal ~
Guantanamo like the others had spent weary
nights upon this work. and deserved better tate
than Ia be absent that morning.
,nclose for the information OF the Depart
mont comics Of orders and memoranda Issued from
time TO time relating to the manner OF maintaining
the blockade When all the work was done so
well II is difficult TO discriminate In praise Tine
object of the blockade OF Cervera's squadron was
fully ACCOMPLISHED and each individual bore well
his mart In IT, the commodore in command or tho
Second Division the captains Of ships their off,
GERS ard men. The fire OF the battle-ships was
poyerful ard destructive and the resistance OF
.1rnn wa broken
almost before they had got beyond the range OF
their own forts
WHAT THE OREGoN's SPEED DID