The record-union., 1898-07-27
DESTRUCTION
OF CERVERA'S
SQUADRON.
Continued from First Page.)

"The fire from the rapid-fire batteries
Of the battleships appeared to have
been remarkably destructive. An ex-
animation Of the stranded vessels shows
that the Almirante Oquendo especially
had suffered terribly from this fire. Her
sides are everywhere pierced, and her
decks were strewn with the chasred re-
mains Of those who had falleS-
The reports of Commodore w. S.
Schley and of the commanding officers
ARE inclosed.
"A board appointed by me several
days ago has made critical examina-
tion of the vessels, both with view of
reporting upon the result of our fire
and the necessary feature involved, and
of reporting upon the saving of any
Of them and of wrecking the remain
der. The report of the board will be
speedily forwarded. Very respectfully,
wv. T. SAMPSON,
'Rear Admiral U. S. n, Commander
in-Chief Of the United States Naval
Forces North Atlantic Station.
'"The Secretary of Navy, Washington,
d. c."
COMMODORE SCHLEY'S REPORT.
WASHINGTON, July 26.-The follow
ing is Commodore Schley's report:
North Atlantic Fleet, Second Squad
ron. United States flagship Brooklyn.
Guantanamo Bay, July 6, 1898.
Sir: / have the honor to make the
following report of that part of the
squadron under your command which
came under my observation during the
engagement with the Spanish fleet on
July 3, 1898:
''At 9:35 a. m. Admiral Cervera, with
the Infanta Maria Teresa, Vizcaya,
Oquendo, CristobaI Colon and two tor
pedo boat destroyers, came out of the
harbor of Santiago de Cuba in column
at distance, and attempted to escape to
the westward. Signal was made from
the Iowa that the enemy was coming
out, but his movements had been dis
covered from this ship at the same mo-
ment This vessel was the farthest
west, except the Vixen, in the blockad-
ing line Signal was made to the west
ern division as prescribed in your gem
eral orders and there was immediate
and rapid movement inward by your
squadron and a general engagement at
ranges beginning at 1,10O yards and
varying to 5000 until the Vizcaya was
destroyed about 1850 a. m. The con-
centration of the fire of the squadron
upon the ships coming out was most
furious and terrific and great damage
was done them
About twenty or twenty-five min
utes after the enga cement be-
gan-two vessels, thought to be the
Terror and Oquendo, and since verified
as such, took fire from the effective
shell fire of the squadron, and were
forced to rush on the beach some six
or seven miles west of the harbor en-
trance. 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 direc-
tion that I cannot say to what vessel
or vessels the credit belongs. This
doubtless was seen better from your
flagship.
The Vizcaya and Colon, perceiving
the disaster to their consents, con-
tinued at full speed to the westward to
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 put her helm to port, and
with heavy list to port stood in shore
and ran aground at Asseraderos, about
twenty-one miles west of Santiago, 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
near 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