New-York tribune., 1902-02-20

OF the blockade. and upon the method and ef-
fecuveness of the blockade was very largely
dependent the issue Of the battle. In
der the orders Of Admiral Sampson the block
ade was conducted with success exemplified
oy the result When the Spanish ad
miral al last made his dash to escape, we were
Teady-ready with our men, with our guns, and
with our engines. 1t was only a few
minutes after had seen the leader Of the
advancing squadron that il became apparent
mat CerVera's plan was to run his ships in
column westward in effort TO escape.
Before he had fairly found himself outside the
Morro the entire blockading squadron-the In
diana, Oregon, Iowa, Brooklyn and Texas-was
pumping smell into him at such rate as virtu-
ally TO decide the issue Of the battle in the first
few moments All our ships had closed in
simultaneously. Then occurred the Incl
dent which caused me for moment more
alarm than anything Cervera did that day.
Suddenly a whif Of breeze and a lull
in the firing lifted the pail. and there bearing
toward US and across our bows turning on her
port helm, with big waves curling over her
bows and great clouds Of black smoke pouring
from her tunnels. the Brooklyn She looked
as big as half a dozen Great Easterus, and
seemed so near that II took our breath away.
Back both engines hard" went down the tube
10 the astonlshed engineers. and in twinkling
the old ship racing against herself The
collision which seemed imminent. even If il was
not. was averted. and as the big cruiser glided
past al OF US on the bridge gave sigh OF
relief. Had the Brooklyn struck US then II would
probably have been the end Of the Texas and
her haII thousand men. At ten minutes
20 10 Ghe Spanish ships had appeared at about
800 the Iowa. oregon and Texas were
pretty well punched. holding a parallel course
westward with the Spaniards The Indiana
also coming up we'll inside of all the others Of
our squadron, but little in the rear, owing TO
her far eastward position starting.
About a quarter past 10 the Teresa, which had
been in difficulties from the moment she left
the shelter of the Morro, turned 10 seek a beach
ing place. she was on hre. and We knew that
she was no longer a quantity to be reckoned
with Five minutes later our special enemy the
Oquehdo' also turned lnshore The Viz
caya kept blazing away vciousy. but the
pounding she got from our four ships. more par
ticularly the Oregon, too much for her
beach l determined 20 push on with
the Texas. 1t gives pleasure to be
able 10 write, that old ship she is and not
built for speed, the Texas held her own and
even gained on the Colon in that chase. . q"
Admiral Sampson was commander in chief be-
fore, during and after the action"
CLARK RECEIVED SIGNAL FROM sCHLEY.
Captain Clarks statement is as follows:
The credit for the blockade which led up TO
the fight is of course Admiral SIMPSONS. The
position Of the ships on the morning OF the
fight in a semcircle head-on 10 the harbor in
consequence Of which were able 10 close in
at once, was his In closing in. that is. in max
ing the first movements. were obeying his in
structions, though as matter of fact would
all have closed in any way, instructions or no
instructions When the Spanish ships
Of the harbor the navigator OF my ship saw the
New-York to the eastward. but l received no
signal of any kind from the New-York during
the action, nor she enough to signal
directly to until after the Colon surrendered
The engagement may be said to have been
divided into three parts: First, the fight proper
while the Spanish squadron coming out Of
the harbor and until il was clear Of the Dia-
mond Shoals and definitely headed westward:
second, the running fight with the already dam
ased vessels as they he'd westward, until the
Teresa Oquendo and Vizcaya ran ashore;
and, third, the chase Of the Colon, dur
ing Whlch there was practically no fighting
During the first stage l did not the Brooklyn
or receive any signals from her. At the close or
this stage the Oregon had passed the Iowa and
FTCf f4tuF 0Fr rfa.ag -Ffafy4
l saw the four Spanish ships going west ap-
parenuy uninjured, and followed hard after at
the same time observing the Brooklyn a little
ahead ana onshore. She was broadside TO the
Spanish vessels and receiving the weight of
their fire and was returning it, The Brooklyn
and the Oregon thereafter occupied substan-
TALLY these positions regards each other,
being about equidistant from the Spanish ships
We SuccessVely 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
passing our line Not long after the running fight
began the Teresa and then the OquendO turned
and went ashore, the ViZcaya continuing for
some distance further before she also beached.
Throughout this running fight the Brooklyn and
the Oregon both hoty engaged being
ahead of any OF other ships; and then
constituted the western and what regard as
the then fighting division of our feet. 1 con-
sdered Commodore Schley in responsible COM
mand during this running fight and chase so far
as I was concerned, and acknowledged and
peated a signal he had flying, for close action
something Of the kind AS however, the
the Spanish ships I had been doing be-
fore / the Brooklyn, he did not a mat
ter Of fact exercise any control over any move
ment action OF the Oregon, nor did perform
any action Of any kind whatever in obedience
to any order from the Brooklyn, neither to
my course to my speed, nor as 10 my gun
fire, during the fight chase
The Oregon always had fires under all boil
ers. In spite of the speed shown by the oregon
In this fight she had not been and is not classed
as the fastest ship; but during all her service,
in order that scale should form in them, not
one Of our boilers used for condensng,
though the resulting discomfort for all hands
was an additional hardship for her command
ing officer"
EVANS GIVES ALL CREDIT TO SAMPSON.
The following is Admiral Evans's statement:
ment Of the ships at the opening of the fight,
and for the first movements forward into the
fight must. of course, belong to Admiral Samp-
son. whose orders we were putting into effect.
When the fight began Admiral SampsOn's ship
the New-York was in plain sight. 1 her
: turning to overtake Throughout the fight
considered myself under his command. but
l received no orders from him until the Vizcaya
was aground. Nor did I receive any orders
whatever from the Brooklyn, nor should have
needed them If had received them inasmuch
as l considered Admiral Sampson TO be present
and in command
THE heavy fighting was during the time
when the Spanish vessels were coming out OF
4! the harbor and before they had stretched fairly