The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-29

". r Rush. Lieutenant Edward Simp.
son. Lieutenant J. @. Doyle. Ensign
Charles Webster and the junior divis-
ional officers were most steady and
conspicuous in every detail OF duty,
contributing 10 the accurate firing oi
this ship in her part Of the great VIC
tory Of your forces.
The officers OF the medical. pay and
engineer and marine corps responded
to every demand Of the occasion and
were fearless in exposing themselves.
The warrant officers, Boatswain VIII
liam L. Hill, Carpenter @. II. Warford
and Gunner Applegate. were every
where exposed in watching for dam
age, reports OF which We're promptly
conveyed to me.
| never have in my life served with
a Drawer. better or worthier crew than
that OF the Brooklyn. During the COM
bat lasting from 9:35 o'clock until lis
o'clock p. m, much OF the time under
fire. they never tagged for a moment
and We're apparently undisturbed by
the storm OF projeCtiles passing ahead.
astern and over the ship.
The result OF the engagement was
the destruction OF the Spanish squad
ron and the capture OF the admiral and
some 1900 to 1900 prisoners. with the
loss of several hundred killed. estimat-
ed by Admiral Cervera at GOO men.
The casualties on board this ship
We're: G. H Ellis. chief yoeman, kill
ed J. Burns, fireman, first-claSs, Sc
verely wounded. The marks and scars
show that the ship was struck about
twenty-five times and she bears in all
forty-one scars as the result OF her
participation in the great victory OF
your force on July 3. 1898. The speed
cone halliards were shot away, and
nearly all the signal halliards. The en-
sign at the main was so shattered
that in hauling it down at the close OF
the action, it fell in pieces.
/ congratulate you most sincerely
upon this great victory to the squad
ron under your command and l am
glad that 1 had an opportunity TO con-
tribute in the least to a victory that
seems big enough for all Of es.
Since reaching this place and hold
ing conversation with several of the
captains, viz: Captain Eulate. of the
ViZcaya and the second in command
of the Colon, Commander Contreras,
have learned that the Spanish ad-
miral'S scheme was to concentrate al
fire for a while on the Brooklyn, and
the ViZcaya to ram her in hopes that
they could destroy her, the chance OF
escape would be increased, as it was
supposed she was the swiftest ship o1
your squadron. This explains the
heavy fire mentioned and the Vizcaya's
action in the earlier moments of the
engagement. The execution of this
purpose was promptly defeated by the
fact that all the ships of the squad
ron advanced into close range and
opened an irresistibly furious and ter.
| rife fire upon the enemy's squadron
| as it was coming out of the harbor
I am glad to say that the injury
supposed to be below the line was due
! to a water valve being opened from
I some unknOw cause and flooding th'
| compartment. The injury to the bel
is found to be only slight and th'
leak small.
I beg to enclose a list of officers and
crew who participated in the combat
of July 8, 1898.
I cannot close this report without
mentioning in high terms of praise the
splendid conduct and support of Cap
! tain c. E. Clark, Of the Oregon. Hel
. speed was wonderful and her accurate
fire splendidly destructive.
Very respectfully,
w. S. SCHLEY,
Commodore u. s. Navy,
Commanding Second Division, NORTH
Atlantic Fleet.