New-York tribune., 1901-10-26


more sensitive. and said: Now they are evil
IDENTIFY gaining He went from me the second
time. and that was the last saw of him alive
In performing this ma agnificent duty he lost his
life He was struck about ten feet from where
I standing. His brains and blood were
thrown over a great many people. and some OF
il reached me. He Immediately fell, OF course.
TO the deck and il was shocking sight to men
who had never seen such things before. Lieu
tenant McCauley and DR.. de Valin got down, or.
rather. they were standing between me and the
tower. They picked up the body and carried it
10 the side. just happened TO see them through
this opening. and called out to them not 10
throw that body overheard; that I thought that
one who had fallen so calamity deserved TO be
buried as Christian. His body was laid under
the lee OF the forward turret and covered with
a blanket. and there kept until after the battle
Just before the vizcaya turned to run ashore
she put her helm astarboard. apparently start
ing out for the Brooklyn or the oregon, don't
remember which, and evidently ar that moment
got very severe wound. for l saw quite an
explosion under her bow, and in a moment
afterward she put helm hard aport turning IN
shore. smoke coming from all her hatches
PRAISED CAPTAIN PHILIP.
II thought she was going to capsize, she had
a shell strike her that appeared 10 me to axe
her fore and aft and thought TO mysel: she
would sink in deep water / told the signal
officer 10 signal TO the Texas TO look out for her
men and TO save them, but the Texas was too
far astern 10 receive the message. / made the
remark at the time. however: Philip is always
sensible he needs no instructions about such
things During this part Of the fight noticed
that all of the signal halyards Of my ship were
cut, ! think possibly with one exception. One
OF the speed cones we had hoisted was cut and
came very near striking me. 1t came down in
front Of me and went overheard.
After the Vizcaya had turned in afre, her
colors down. the Colon edged inshore and APP
peared to be following the contour of the coast.
and thought al that time looking astern and
observing what had happened 10 her consorts.
that she was seeking the best place she could
find in order TO end the matter at once. From
Assaderos, which was behind. some sixteen miles
west OF the harbor OF Santiago. TO the point Rio
Tarquino is perhaps about thirty miles, so I
said 10 Captain Cook Cease fire. and TO make
the signal l also told Captain Cook TO let his
men come out Of the turrets into the cooler air
and get something TO eat, and TO hurry up his
men below.
ENCOURAGING THE MEN
7 think / went into the battle tower myself
at that time, and sang out 10 the men beloy
that had got all of them except one. and
that thought they could be depended upon 10
catch that other vessel. ! heard a good deal OF
merriment and rejoicing. 1 went back 20 the
bridge. and soon realized that they We're doing
their best. There was a jingle 10 the rails and
a vibration 10 the vessel but / perceived that
the motions OF the ship We're sluggish. I sug-
gested TO Captain Cook that possibly had
penter down. and 1t developed that one Of the
after compartments had filled with water. which
We thought was due TO the fact that we had re-
ceived some injury below the waterline. The
carpenter. well the captain, thought Il un-
wise 10 examine the compartment until We could
get into smoother water, where could posi-
bly, handle il much more readily. That course
was decided upon. The ships speed. of course,
came up with rapidity. and toward u
o'clock il was very apparent that we were gain
ing upon the chase.
i said 10 Captain Cook several times during
the action Would il not be good idea to edge
in so that We could finish those fellows quick
er? And he replied that we had them in the
most excellent target range. and that the guns
Of the two ships seemed 10 be doing most ad-
mirable work. We pointing at that time
for Tarquino Point. under Cape Cruz at the
point extending TO the southwark. My idea was
that In steering that course if the Colon kept up
her course. she would he obliged to come out.
then said i would get up a lot Of extra am
munitiOn that when she came out into close
quarters it would be a question of but a few
minutes before we knocked her out.
THE BROOKLYN AND THE OREGON.
"As going out TO head her off there
were various signals between the Oregon and
myself. of pleasing character. Some were
official. I gave the order TO Captain Clark to
open fire with his l3-inch guns. Captain Clark
has testified that he did not receive it, and
always had been under the impression, until I
heard him say otherwise that that order had
been transmitted. However, we continued to
advance, the Oregon and the Brooklyn. / don't
think the Oregon was further astern than eight
hundred yards I do not believe the prolonga-
tion Of her course at any time would have
passed within five hundred yards of the Brook
lyn. We were practically and relatively at the
same distances; perhaps the Brooklyn was d
little nearer at times. and then the Oregon a
little nearer.
We continued In this position until about
$3.50, when We realized that we were within
range of this vessel. and we tried the 13-inch
and S-inch guns her Several of them fell
short. but I remember that one Of the Oregon's
l3-nch shots passed entirely over the Colon and
that one Of the S-inch shots Of the Brooklyn
passed over her also. 1 with my own eyes
the jet Of water beyond. / thought AT first it
had gone through her but it appears that il did
not strike her.
SURRENDER OF THE COLON
The position of the Colon being directly under
the fire of the two ships. there was no question
in the mind OF the captain of the Colon that il
would be fatal ] think he did exactly right. a
sacrifice OF life would have been unnecessary,