Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-07-26

mighty armament the officer on duty bent
his glasses to read the signal. 1t was
nearly 8 O'Clock, sitting hot and eyes
were straining across the brazen water in
idle wonder when the stern guard would
be broken. Disregard the motions of the
commander in chief" read the signal dis
played by the big flagship Then the
beautiful cruiser steamed away toward
Sboney.
On the deck of the Brooklyn, shaded by
a big awning, sat Commodore Schley.
Near by him was Captain Cook. The
inspection was over. the men had been
released and all was as monotonous as
it had been for forty days. Just at this
juncture the navigating officer on the for
ward bridge bent his glasses on the har.
Dor entrance. His attention had been at
tracted to smoke which was coming
therefrom. He quietly turned to Mr..
Hodgson. executive officer, and said:
THAT smoke is moving, SIR"
Give me the glasses" said Mr.. Hodg-
son, and he trained them on the object
now increasing in size. THE enemy is
escaping, sir" he bawled out to the
squadron chief, dropping the glasses in
his excitement.
Signal the feet to clear Ship said
the commander.
I'VE have done so. sir
From the signal bridges of half the YES
sells in the fleet came the signal that at
last Cervera had dared the wrath of the
blockaders. In swift reply came the or
der from the Brooklyn to close in and
engage but by the time the bunting hap.
ped from the ropes the entire fleet had
broken ground and was following out the
general order to fight on sight. AS they
swung to port to meet the enemy the for.
ward turrets of the Teresa blazed with a
noisy defiance and the shot were turned
loose among the vessels bearing down
swiftly upon them.
Then the most remarkable naval bat
tie of all time was under way. The big
Brooklyn. the largest ship in the fleet,
swooped down under half steam, belching
flame and smoke from all her port bat
terry. Then, with mighty sweep of her
bows. she sheered up to starboard and.
swinging around in circle. passed close
by the Texas, reopening with her star
board battery. Swiftly she flew. gaining
speed and power with each revolution of
her screws. Chased as inferior to any
one of the four gigantic cruisers opposed
TO her, she successfully engaged them
ALL
The Texas. the Oregon. the Indiana,
all swooped down, turning to meet the
westward course of Cervera's ships.
Their heavy guns threw tons of hard
metal against the sides of the doomed
ships, but only one had the steam and
speed to follow the escaping leaders. With
an experience gained in Il race of 12OOO
miles, the stokers and engineers of the
mighty Oregon had learned lesson
which stood them in good stead. With
speed greater even than that OF the
Brooklyn, this leviathan passed to star
board of the Iowa and Texas and hung
on the trail of the speedy Brooklyn, gain
ing rapidly on the flagship, hurting heavy
rot and shell upon the enemy.
rom out the entrance of the harbor,
...st of all, lying fiat in the water with a
limited exposure to hostile fire, came the
most dreaded of all the ships which float.
ed the flag Of CASTLE that morning. With
double the speed of the Americans, with
deadly torpedoes aboard and with instruc-
tons to send in their deadly missiles on
any ship daring enough to await their at
tack, slipped out the Furor and Pluton.
During all the long watch off that harbor
these two had caused the bockadcrs the
greatest anxiety. Yet the result tends to
show how useless in hot battle they and
their class can be.
When the action began the Gloucester
lay fnrthest inshore in the starboard di-
vision. She Tapped over the huge Indiana
and her gallant commander sent her for
ward and then swept in wide circle,
| clearing the way for Taylor. She blazed
away with her guns-mere toys compared
to those of her big consort-but at too
long range for effective service. Then
Captain Wainwright, knowing the speed
of his ship, held her back to gain steam.
He was still waiting when the torpedo
boats made the outer entrance. Then
came his opportunity.
Opposing two vessels regarded as the
most dangerous in the fleet of the enemy
by this time was but one daring Yankee
seaman with crew of daring Yankees
aboard n fragile yacht built for pleasure
and not stern war. 1t was contest none
need have felt shame in avoiding, but
| Wainwright had seen the Maine sink be.
low the waters of Havana harbor, had
| sen his men in mangled heaps crushed
1at of life. and he knew no hesitation
| Like greyhound his little vessel sho,
forward. Down under the fire of the
battleships which had turned their fir.
upon them the yacht bore in between the
| deadly torpedo boats. Often in that bril-
liant action they tried to torpedo tht
Gloucester, but the skill of the command
er and the skill of the men behind tn.
guns smothered both vessels with dam
aging fire.
In and out like snake of fame ant
smoke raced the Gloucester. Back to