The Iola register., 1901-11-01
SCHLEY'S
STORY
Admiral Tells how the Bat
tie was Fought and Won
1t is "a Thrilling Story of as Gallant a
Sea Fight as the Annals of any
Nation Record
NEVER WAS SUCHA VICTORY
The Oftner one Reads the
Story the More Wonder
it Seems
That the Whole Spanish Fleet Should
be Sunk and not one of our Yes
sells Seriously Hurt

Washington, Oct. 25.-Atter nara
ting in detail all the events preceding,
Admiral Schley, at 2:30 O'Clock, be-
gan his description of the battle of
July 3.
ION the morning of July B." he
said, "the day broke beautifully. The
skies we're filed with white clouds and
the breeze continued little bit longer
sfI the land that morning than usual.
After had eaten breakfast | came up
totake survey of the situation with
glisses. We were lying at that time
possibly three miles or little bit over
from the land, and | wondered very
much why they had permitted us to
remain so close. 1t was matter of
constant inquiry and discussion on
board, and especially why the batter
les did not fire on us.
"At quarter of my orderly re-
ported to me that signal had been
made from the flagship to disregard
her movements and that she had gone
eastward. / came on deck with my
glasses after having gone below for II
little while, and whilst l was sitting
abaft on a hatchway l heard call
from the forward bridge: Tell the
commodore that the fleet is coming
out That was some time after the
men had been called to quarters about
9:35 o'clock.
81 looked over the starboard side
and saw the enemy coming out of the
entrance of the harbor. then looked
eastward to see the order of the ships
and / saw the Texas apparently a
point or more abaft the starboard
beam. To the left of her was the
Iowa. She was, of course, to the east.
ward of the Texas. The Oregon was
10 the eastward of the Iowa The In
diana was eastward of that position,
and the Gloucester was lying in under
he land. The New York was out OF
light and out OF signal distance with
classes. looked at that in order to
determine what IN! position liz the
action was to be. II the vessel had
aot been out of sight l should lot
have made signal.
1.-The moment saw that | went for
ward onto little platforh / had con
structed upon the battle tower as N,
tosition in the battle, in order TO b
very close to Captain Cook. | ha,
only been there moment or two whel
Captain Cook joined me. In tn
meantime Mr.. Hodgson, who was Of
the upper bridge, sang out somethir
to the captain about being connecte
up and all ready, and he at the SAN
time said to me; Commodore, the
are coming right at US We'll,
said. go right for them The hel
was put port. The ship was starte
ahead, first at perhaps at about ha
speed: | do not recollect. She toe
her way very quickly and when
headed around | said to CAPITA
Cook; GO ahead, full speed, al
hoist signal to clear ship for actor
That signal was followed by: "Clo
up for close action
"The Brooklyn, as well as the 9th
vessels of tire squadron, charged II
mediatsly into the entrance in acco
dance with the original plan OF see
ing the enemy's ships In the entran
or driving them ashore. We cont
ued directly for the head ofthe enemy
column, the idea ,uppermost in I
mind being that, IL we could ARE
them long enough for the battleshi
TO close in and knock them to piec
that would be our best point OF
tack. They continued on this cour
porting and starboarding to meet
movements of the leading ship, VIII
/ assumed to be the flagship from
dag at her masthead. ] suppose fr
the time we started we were ten
iuelveIminutes, turning first with p
helm and then advancing direct to
enemy. I saw the ships to the Ell
ward and westward closing in.
1.-THE first gun, think, was fred
Lieutenant simpson, almost dire'
over the forecastle of the ship. l
the leading ship, which appareI
had started with the intention of n
ming, 'ake a turn ahead to the "
ward, having a gap between her
the shipfollowing ,Iwhichsp spbseque
proved To be the Viscaya. We \
advancing in the direction OF the
caya, when shO also seemed to
given up the Intention to ram
turnei to the westward, following
direction of the leatlng ship. It