The Princeton union., 1901-10-24

Edward Simpson, who was also q
watch officer on the Brooklyn He
told the story of the campaign from
the start from Key West to the battle
of July 8.
: Fired the First Gun. ..u...s, .''
Lieutenant Simpson had occupied
a position forward when the battle of
July 3 began, and he fired the first
gun. ! -.
The range was given at $500 yards,
and the Maria Teresa was right in
line. The least range he had heard
was l 400 yards. He was unable to
testify concerning the loop because
he had to repair his guns.
After the turn he said that he had
again picked up the forward, Spanish
ship, which was still the Maria Teresa.
He could hear the smaller shots, in
d1catlng close range, and during the
entire time he had heard Commodore
Schley's voice frequently cheering the
men. Again, when he saw the Wis
caya's fire slackened, he heard the
commodore give the order "fire de-
liberately, boys" He had at that time
observed the Viscaya turn toward the
Brooklyn, but she had received a shot
which turned her to the shore. At
this point the witness described the
coming up of the Oregon.
ut was after the Maria Teresa had
dropped astern and We had only two
ships to contend with, I got the cry
that one of the Spanish ships was on
fire and heading for the beach. |
tried to see her. I looked back and
could see nothing for the smoke. Then
l heard the cry very shortly after
wards, another one is on fire, heading
for the beach, Between shots looked
back again and saw a bow wave com.
ing from the smoke, followed almost
Immediately by two 13-inch guns. It
was the Oregon. She was then about
OFF our starobard quarter, I should say
800 yards. I called to the men that
the Oregon was with us, got a cheer
in reply and then the action continued
the Oregon firing also. AS the Wis.
caya turned and headed off the Oregon
fired one of her big guns. I heard the
commodore say: He has raked her
and she is on fire. Signal to the
Oregon to cease firing and through
the peep holes of my hood T saw Lieu
tenant McCauley climb on top of my
turret with the Wig-Wag flag, and
could see the Tapping of the flag. AS
soon as the Viscaya turned in we
ceased firing on her, and all were al
lowed to come out of the turrets for a
breathing SPELL"
The Chase of the Colon.
''The Colon was in the neighbor-
hood of, roughly speaking, six miles
ahead of us. She continued to- gain
but later we held her. The Oregon
came along with us and got pretty
near up abeam. Then as our steam
came up our speed increased. We
still held her and finally commenced
gaining on her and the Oregon. Nine
thousand yards was the elevation of
my forward guns. I was ordered oc-
casionally TO try shot at the Colon
simply for range.
"We would try a shot at her. and
it would fall short. Then the Oregon
would try a shot, and there was wig
Wagging going on between the vessels
as to the results Of the fall Of the two
shots. Finally, my range decreasing,
and firing not at will, but by order, I
was told to try again. / tried at the
Colon at. $500 yards, and I saw the
splash of my projectile on the other
side of her. jumped out of the tur-
ret to ask permission to fire another
shot Immediately at $500 yards. Be-
fore they gave me permission, or I
had chance to do it, the Oregon fired
one OF her 13-inch guns and that also
went over her. Then the Colon turned
in, ran to the beach, and her flag came
down. We kept on steaming in
toward her. AS we steamed in toward
her, heard one of the quartermasters
say, They are jumping overboard.' I
saw splashes alongside and thought
that they were. But it probably was
what we afterWard heard to be breech-
blocks. Captain Cook left the ship
after some difficulty in getting out a
boat and went to the Colon to receive
her surrender"
Encouraged Officers and Men.
In reply to question, Lieutenant
Simpson said he had seen Commodore
Schley several times during the en-
gagement of July 9, but he remem-
bered him especially as he stood
when the Viscaya went ashore. "He
was,' said the witness, "leaning
against the turret in the most natural
possible position, holding his glasses
in his arms. His department and
bearing was that of a brave man; SELF
possessed, alert to his duties and en-
couraging to officers and men to do
their duty"
On cross-examination Lieutenant
Simpson said that at Cienfuegos the
blockade line had been three or four
NJ14 f11rfh
at night.
Lieutenant Edward P. Fitzgerald,
who was an assistant engineer on the
Brooklyn during the battle off San
tiago, was then called to the stand.
He said that he was in the fire room
during the battle and that there we're
several orders. One of these given at
the beginning of the engagement was
to ''stand by for a ram Or collision
Quarters" The witness was not ques-