Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-27

the winter of that year and again in the
spring OF 1901 he made a cruise to the West
stan to Admiral Dewey in connection with
the naval maneuvers.
In the Santiago Battle.
Capt. Taylor bore IAN important and hon
orable part In the naval battle Of Santiago
His ship. the Indiana. was the nearest to
the entrance of the bay Of the big vessels
lying in blockade 1t lay to the east of the
channel. and as lit swung around to the
attack of Cerveras ships as they made
their sOrtie 1t had an opportunity to take
them In the flank as they turned to run to
the westward. This opportunity was
seized. ana the Maria Teresa and the Ami
rante OQoendo were almost smothered by
the storm of projectiles from the Indiana.
1t was largely due to the efficient work OF
this vessel that these two ships were
forced to run ashore within forty minutes
after they emerged from the harbor. From
his position east Of the MORO Capt. Taylor
was unable to Join the Brooklyn. Oregon.
Texas and Kew York In the final chase OF
the Colon. but he managed to deliver some
effective blows on each of the Spanish
cruisers as they came out Of the harbor.
we at once cleared for action, said
Capt. Taylor In his official report. and the
men were at the guns in remarkably
short time. all the officers and men show
Ing an aiacrtty that clearly Indicated their
pleasure the opportunity afforded them
Steamihg ahead as rapidly as possible
the Indiana opened on Cerveras flagship
the Maria Teresa. Captain Taylor main
tained savage cannonade on this craft
which was terribly effective. From the
bridge. his official report says. Il could
see that our shooting was excellent and
showed Its effects. One of our thirteen
inch shells was seen to enter the Infanta
Maria Teresa under the quarter deck and
explode and that ship was observed to be
on fire very shortly afterward." Captain
Taylor also devoted his attention to the
Oquendo. which was making a plucky
night against all the American ships, the
Vfscaya and the Colon having sheltered
themselves by running between the Teresa
and the shore About 1915 o'clock. Cap
tain Taylor. seeing that the Teresa and
Oquendo were burning and heading for
the beach. turned his fire toward the tor
pedo boat destroyers Pluton and Furor,
which had followed the cruisers from the
bay In the meantime he maintained
nre at long range on the fast-ieeing Wis.,
caya. In short time that vessel was seen
to turn toward the beach.
At this moment the American flagship
new York rushed past the Indiana and
signaled go back and guard entrance Of
harbsr Accordingly Captain Taylor turn
ed to the eastward
Spanish Cruiser Reported.
Half an hour later the American auxil-
fary cruiser Resolute came within hail and
reported by megaphone that a Spanish
battle ship was coming from the east Soon
afterWard the auxiliary cruiser Harvard
hurried up with the same report.
rms was startling news and was regard
ed as not altogether improbable. for ru-
mors had been persistent that a second
spanish squadron was coming to the West
Indies. and 1t was deemed possible that
1his might be the foremost of that
squadron The American fighting ships
were widely scattered along the coast to
the west in chase OF the Cristobal Colon
A large force Of transports lay unprotected
on Daiqufr1 and Siboney. The Indiana
was the only armored warship at hand.
Capt. Taylor. with guns loaded and crew
at quarters. promptly bore down on the
stranger. ready for instant action. The
vessel proved to be the Austrian armored
cruiser katserin Maria Teresa, which sent
an officer aboard the Indiana asking per-
mission to enter the harbor The stranger
was referred to Admiral Sampson. and the
austrian proceeded to the westward caus-
ing renewed commotion as she came within
sight OF the American warships that had
been chasing the Colon. The Indiana took
station of the entrance to prevent a sort,e
by Spanish war vessels still within the
harbOr,