The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-08-21
Santiago Again.

Santiago is the naval Banquo's ghost
Of the var with Spain. Referring to
the chart, which shows the positions OF
the Spanish and American ships as
established by board of officers &C.
lected from the American ships en-
gagged, Park Benjamin, naval expert
says of the Brooklyn's famous "loop":
Mr.. Maclsy says that the Brooklyn
turned tail and ran away. Whenp Ger
tainly not while advancing directly up
on the enemy to position 2; certainly
not while chasing on course parallel to
it's consorts, but while swinging to com
plete the second half of that loop, dis
lance of half mile (S80) yards. But
the memorable chart shows that in GO
ing from position to position 8, thus
including the second half OF the loop, il
traversed six miles in twenty-five min
utes. Therefore, it must have travelled
that culpable half mile in just two min
utes and three seconds; and 80, accorG-
ing to Mr.. Maclay, got "out of" battle
which, nevertheless, lasted three hours
and half.
Quoting this paragraph, the Chicago
Tribune inquiries: "If, as Maclay
says, he (Schley) promptly betook him
self out of the fight. a. ainst the respect
full protest OF his 'astounded navigator
how is it, as Mr.. Benjamin asks, that the
chart, to the correctness OF which the
'astounded navigator certi6es, shows
that not one of the other vessels was ss
near to the enemy as the Brooklyn in
any noted position? Who sank the
Spanish vessels, anyway? Or was
there no fight at Santiago2"
The chart simply doesn't show that
"Not one of the other vessels was as
near to the enemy as the Brooklyn in
any noted position" The vessel always
nearest to the enemy after the first
brush was the Oregon. Position 1, at
9:35, shows the ships on their blockade
stations, when the Teresa came out
from the harbor. The Oregon was then
at the right of the blockading line, and
the most remote from the emerging
ships. Position 2, $3.50, shows the Ore
gon up with the Texas and Iowa and
passing between those ships, which,
from their places IN the line, had start
ed in pursuit far ahead of the Oregon.
The Brooklyn is then executing the
"loop."
Position 3, 1915, was the crisis of the
battle. The Colon, Vizcaya, Oquendo
and Teresa are in near proximity,
steering west along the Cuban coast.
The Teresa had been the target OF
destructive fire and had fallen behind
her companions. The Oregon had
come up with her when she turned
sharply for the shore, receiving
raking fire from nearly the whole
of the Oregon's battery. This was the
end of the Teresa. The Oregon then
drew along abeam of the Oquendo and
closed on her at range of only 900
yards, about half mile. The Oregon's
tremendous battery power soon drove
the Oquendo, position a, 1920, burn
ing wreck, in shore, and as the second
Of her antagonists turned for the coast,
the Oregon gave her parting blast
that insured her fate.
Where, at this time, were the Ore
CONS consorts whose position in the
line gave them the lead in the chase?
The Texas was mile and quarter
astern, the Iowa mile and half, and
the indiana, ship of the same dis
placement, armament and steam capac-
ity as the Oregon, WAS two miles
astern. The cruiser Brooklyn was eff
the Oregon's port bow, slightly ahead,
sailing on an outside and parallel
course, and consequently considerable
distance more remote from the enemy.
This was the crisis Of the battle, here
the fate of the Spanish squadron was
settled, and the Oregon was the domin-
ating and effective agent in turning it's
fortunes 30 decisively to the side OF the
Americans.
The Vizcaya was now two miles
away. After finishing the Oquendo,
the Oregon made chase for the third OF
the Spanish fugitives, and after run
ming fight, at l1.05, in position 6 by
the chart, she planted 13.in shell
amidships of the Vizcaya, the culminat
ing disaster that forced her 10 seek the
shelter of the Cuban coast, eighteen
miles from Santiago. Admiral Schley
from the Brooklyn, mile away, sig
nailed, "Well done, OregonW AT thi
time, all the ships, excepting the Brook
Ign, had been hopelessly distanced, ant
had given up the chase.
Position 7, lis, indicates the plac
and time of the surrender of the Colon
While the Oregon had been settling
the fate of the Vizcaya the Colon, tn
last survivor of the Spanish squadron