The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-20


ing about equidistant from the Spanish
ships as we successfully overlook them,
except when the Oregon attempted to
close with the Oquendo. The heaviest
fighting was at the harbor mouth and while
the enemy was breaking through or pass
ing 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.
Throughout this running fight the Brook
lyn and Oregon 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 divis-
ion OF oar fleet. considered Commodore
Schley in responsible command during
this running fight and chase so far as
/ 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 sim
pde, namely, TO pursue the Spanish ships
as | had been doing before saw the
Brooklyn, he did not as a matter Of fact
exercise any control over any movement
or action of the Oregon, nor did per-
form any action of any kind whatever in
obedience to any order from the Brook
lyn, neither as TO my course nor as to my
speed, nor as to my gun fire, during the
fight or chase
THE Oregon always had fires under all
boilers. In spite of the speed shown by
the Oregon in this fight she had not been
and is not classed as te fastest ship;
but during all her service, in order that
no scale should form in them, not one Of
our boilers was used fer condensing,
though the resulting discomfort for all
hands was an additional hardship for her
commanding officer"
The following is Admiral Evans's state
ment
The credit for the blockade, Fer the
arrangement OF the ships at the opening
OF the fight and for the first movements
forward into te fight must of course be-
lorg 70 Admiral Sampson. whose orders
we were putting into effect. When the
fight began Admiral SIMPSONS ship, the
New York, was in plain sight. / saw her
turning TO overtakc us Throughout the
fight / considered myself as under his
command, but / received no orders from
him until the Niscaya was aground. Nor
did receive any orders whatever from
the Brooklyn, nor should | have needed
them IL had received them, inasmpch
rs l considered Admiral Sampson to- be
present and IN command,
The heavy hghting was during the time
when the Spanish vessels were coming
out OF the harbor and before they had
stretched fairly TO the westward. When
they thus stretched TO the westward We
all went after them withou orders-of
course We could do nothing else. Until
the Teresa and Oquendo ran ashore the
Iowa was close behind the Oregon and
ahead of the Texas. and all OF lls were
firing steadily at the Spanish ships. Tho
Texas then recovered her speed-for she
was dead in the water after having backed
10 avoid the Brooklyn when the Brook
iyn turned--aLd she went ahead Of the
Iowa. Both of US continued to fire at the
Viscaya unit! she went ashore. Then
stopped, but the Texas followed the
Brooklyn and the Oregon after The Colon.
when the battle began the New York
was not much farther to the eastward
of me than the Brooklyn was to the
westward. After the Viscaya had
grounded the New York overlook me
and signalled me to return TO the mouth
OF the harbor TO prevent any other Span
ish ship from coming out and attacking
the transports. l received no signals OF
any kind from the Brooklyn. All we had
TO do was to close in on the Spanish
squadron as it came out of the harbor,
in obedience to the orders Of Admiral
Sampson, and then, when the heaviest
fighting was over and the Spanish ships
were trying to escape to the west, to
follow them-and of course there was
no signal necessary TO tell us to follow
fleeing enemy.
'The machinery of the Iowa was not
In condition to get the best speed, though
every effort had been made TO make 1T
so. Her cylindr heads had not been off
for more than six months, owing TO the
service she was performing. Her bot
tom was very foul, as she had not been
docked for a period of seventeen months.
The Indiana was unavoidably in even
worse shape.
1.-The New York had left the blockad-
ing line flying the signal Disregard the
movements OF the Commander in Chief,
a signal frequently made, and well un
derstood by the entire fleet 1t did not
transfer the command. No signal was
made for the second in command TO as
5ulIlG OI the HESl, WHICH was
usually done by the Commander in Chief
before reaching the limit Of signal dis
tance when he proposed for any reason
temporarily to relinquish his command
to the next ranking officer"
The following is Amiral Taylor's state
ment:
"At the beginning of the fight the
New York was about as far to the east
ward of me as the Brooklyn was to the
westward. The only signal received
from the New York was at the close of
the fight, when she signaled to me 20
return and guard the mouth of the har
Dor so that nothing could come out TO
attack our transports. | received no
signal whatever from the Brooklyn, and
should not have needed any If one had
been made, as I considered Admiral
Sampson present and in command. From
her position the Indiana took full part
In the actual fight as the Spanish ships
came OUT of the harbor. When they ran
to the westward the Indiana fell behind,
but continued firing at them and at the
torpedo boats until all but the Colon.
were sunk or beached. saw the Brook
lyn turn and run out seaward, seemings
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