Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-20

I Under the orders OF Admlrai Sdtiip
| son the blockade was conducted with
a success exemplified by the result
When the Spanish admiral at last
made his dash to escape we were ready
ready with our men, with our guns
ana with our engines.
1T was only few minutes after we
had seen the leader of the advancing
| squadron that it became apparent that
| Cerveras plan was to run his ships In
column westward in an effort to es-
| cape. r
Before he had fairly found himself
outside the MORO the entire blockaa-
ing Observation-Disclosures, oregon, Iowa
Brooklyn and TeXas-was pumping
shells into him at such a rate as vir-
tually to decide the issue of the bat
tie in the first few moments. All our
ships had closed in simultaneously
then occurred the incident which
than anything Ceryera did that day
Suddenly a Whit OF breeze and lull
in the firing lifted the pail and there,
bearing towards us and across our
bows, turning on her port helm, with
big waves curling over her and great
clouds of blac ksmoSe pouring from her
tunnels, WAS the Brooklyn. She looked
as big as half dozen Great Easterns
and seemed so near that ii took our
breath away. Back both engines hard
went down the tube TO the astonished
engineers and in twinkling the old
ship was racing against herself. The
collision which seemed imminent. even
If 1t was not, was averted and as the
big cruiser Elided past all of us on the
bridge gave a sigh of relief Had the
Brooklyn struck US then 1T would prob
ably have been the end of the Texas
and her half thousand men.
AT 10 minutes to 10 dhe Spanish
ships had appeared at about 800 the
Iowa. Oregon and Texas We're pretty
we'll punched holding Il parallel course
westward with the Spaniards. The
Indiana was also coming up we'll in
side of all the others of our squadron,
but a little in the rear. owing TO her
far eastward position at starting.
About quarter past 10 the Teresa
which had been in difficulties from the
moment she left the shelter of the
MORO, turned to seek Bleaching
place She was on fire and we knew
that she was quantity no longer to
be reckoned with.
Five minutes later our special en-
envy, the Oquendo. also turned in
shore. The viscaya kept blazing
away viciously, but the pounding she
got from our four ships, more particu-
larry from the Oregon, was too much
for her and in half an hour she, too.
headed for the beach. l detertn
ined to push on with the Texas. :
1t gives me pleasure to be able to write
that, old ship as she is and not built
for speed, the Texas held her own and
even gained on the Colon in that chase.
Admiral Sampson was comman-
der in chief before. during and after
the action"
Captain Ciark's Statement.
Captain Clarks statement is as fol-
lows:
The credit for the blockade which
led up to the fight is of course. Admir-
al SIMPSONS. The position of the
ships on the morning of the fight in
a semi-cir at the head of the har-
Dor. in consequence of which we We're
able to close in at once, was his,
In closing in. that is, in making the
first movements. we We're doing his in
structions. tho, as matter of fact.
we would have all closed in ANYWAY.
instructions or no instructions. When
the Spanish ships came out of the har-
Dor the navigator OF my ship saw the
New York TO the eastward, but / re-
ceived no signal of any kind from the
New York during the action, nor was
she near enough to signal directly TO
me until after the Colon surrendered.
THE engagement may have been
said to be divided into three parts:
First the fight proper, while the Span
ish squadron was coming out of the
harbor and until 1t was clear of the
diamond shoals and definitely headed
Westward: second, the running fight
with the already damaged vessels as
they fled westward. until the Teresa.
Oquendo and Viscaya ran ashore, and
third, the chase OF the Colon, during
which there was practically no fight
ing. During the first stage l did not
see the Brooklyn or receive any sig
nails from her. At the close of this
stage the Oregon had passed the Iowa
and Texas, and when we burst out of
the smoke / saw the four Spanish
ships going west. apparently uninjur
ed, and followed hard after. at the
same time observing the Brooklyn 4
little ahead and off shore. She was
broadside to the Spanish vessels and
was receiving the weight of their fire
and was returning it, The Brooklyn
and the Oregon thereafter occupied
substantially these positions as re-
CARDS each other, being about equi-
distant from the Spanish ships as we
when the Oregon attempted to close
with the Oquendo. The heaviest
fighting was at the harbor mouth and
while the enemy was breaking thru or
passing our line. Not long after the
running fight began the Teresa and
then the Oquendo turned and went
ashore. the Viscaya continuing for
some distance farther before she. also
was beached. Turnout the running
fight the Brooklyn and Oregon ships
were both hotly engaged. being ahead
Of any of our other ships, and we then
constituted the western and what
regard as the then fighting division
of our fleet. | considered Commodore
Schley in responsible command during
this running fight and chase SO far as
l was concerned, and acknowledged
and repeated a signal he had flying
for close action, or something of the
kind. AS, however. the problem was
perfectly simple, namely. to pursue