66 aster, a great shell from one of the big war- ing flames whose tongues licked caressingly ships, either the " Iowa," the "Indiana," or the ends of steel projectiles as they sped on Oregon," whizzed over the top of the their journey: to attempt to analyze which of "Gloucester," and struck the "Pluton " in these engines of destruction did the terrific the middle, and with a roar and a plunge she work on the enemy would be extreme selfvanished from sight as if the sea had opened assumption. No man who aided in fighting up a great grave to receive her. The "Fu- ships that day can say more than that his ror" got partially behind the "Oquendo," which was now directing a heavy fire on the "Texas" and the "Brooklyn;" but the "Gloucester," despite the shore batteries, turned in after her, and fairly riddled her with small projectiles. Stung to death, she turned for shore, and broke in two on a reef, the wild surf sounding her requiem. Those of her crew who survived flung themselves wildly into the surf, but some were rescued by the crew of the Gloucester." projectile was aimed to hit the black crafts. that, with but a slight steam-like smoke from their guns, tried vainly to creep along the coast to the west. The active firing had begun at 9.40 o'clock. The "Oquendo," still working her guns, caught fire at 10.22, and for ten minutes her men tried to put it out. But from the military tops and the superstructures of the big warships was pouring a deadly fire of rapid-fire six-pounders, while the "Iowa" and "Texas were dropping It was at this time, looking back from the four and six inch shells in her. Just ahead quarter-deck of the "Brooklyn," that of her was the "Maria Teresa," the flagthe frightful work being accomplished on ship, while the "Vizcaya" was passing the Spanish ships by the American squadron along inside of the two, followed by the could be appreciated. It was one yellow" Colon." The punishment being inflicted pall of smoke where the American ships on the Maria Teresa was not so heavy were, from out of which would shoot blast- as that on the " Oquendo," but the "Brook 66 66 STERN VIEW OF THE "VIZCAYA" AS SHE LAY WRECKED ON THE BEACH, From a photograph taken on the morning of July 4th by J. C. Hemment; copyrighted, 1898, by W. R. Hearst. The large hole was made by a shell from the American ships. Later the explosion of the forward magazine destroyed the mast and demolished the superstructure generally. From a photograph taken on the morning of July 4th by J. C. Hemment; copyrighted, 1898, by W. R. Hearst. lyn" was raking her fore and aft. Sud- Turning to Commodore Schley, he said: denly, in the lull, a big shell from the "Fourteen hundred yards to the 'Vizcaya,' "Texas" crashed through her just above sir." There was that low, moaning song, her armor belt. It evidently cut her fire like a lost soul, that a shell makes; then mains, for the next instant, when a shell we saw Ellis's body waver and fall headfrom the "Brooklyn" smashed through the less to the deck, while men wiped from side, just forward of her beam, and exploding their faces and clothes the brain that had set fire to her, she turned to the beach help- just given us necessary information. In the less. It was just 10.31 when the flagship of turrets it was pretty hot work, and, like a Cervera ran to the beach a mass of flames, whale blowing, the men would come up and five minutes later, and but half a mile alternately to get a bit of fresh air. farther west, the "Oquendo," half her men Lieutenant Doyle's starboard eight-inch turkilled and the ship fairly riddled with shell, ret one of his best gunners complained," Sir, followed. In less than forty minutes the I can't see the shots drop," and Mr. Doyle two best ships in the Spanish navy had been replied, "Well, that's all right. When you destroyed, as well as two torpedo boats, and don't see them drop in the water, you'll know the superiority of guns and men over armor they're hitting." was demonstrated. In this forty minutes many singular things had happened, demonstrating the bravery of men. The almost hysterical enthusiasm that actuates men in a moment of great danger had passed. The coolness of a partial despair born of a knowledge that careful work and quick work were their salvation had grown on all in the fight. The messengers, who, traversing the most dangerous portions of the ship, had at first rushed headlong to the delivery point, shrieking the message, began to move more sedately; the gunners watched the effect of a shot before they fired again; the men came out of the turrets for a breath of air, and discussed with disdain the shooting of the enemy, although we were hit several times. Captain Cook on the "Brooklyn," scorning the protection of eight inches of steel in his conning-tower, walked about and discussed the ship's movements with Schley, and the men not busy at the guns would get in exposed positions to see" where the Dagoes were." The Spanish had opened fire with their rapid-fire guns; and partly because the forecastle where I stood was covered with smoke from our own guns, and partly because I wanted to know how the men in the various divisions were conducting themselves, I started to make a tour of the ship. To the lee of the forward eight-inch turret stood a young man named George H. Ellis. He was assisting the Navigator, Mr. Hodgson, to obtain the range or distance from our ship to the enemy. Captain Cook had just called to him to ask him the range. The “Vizcaya, Maria Teresa," and "Colon" were then devoting their attention to us, and the fire was hot. Without an instant's hesitation, Ellis stepped into the open and, with the stadimeter to his eye, obtained the range. 9966 In the after turret Lieutenant Rush, with a bandanna handkerchief about his brow, ducked his head out of the turret top, and sang out, "Say, which of those ships do you wish us to hit?" And Lieutenant-Commander Mason, who was coming by with a word of commendation for the men, said: "Just soak the 'Vizcaya;' she's our prey," and Rush dived below, and began firing. Up forward on the gun decks was a sixpounder gun that in this close forty minutes' action had been doing valiant work. they were putting in a cartridge the shell loosened from the casing and became wedged. This was on the side near the enemy, but there was not a moment's hesitation. Out on the gun's muzzle crawled Corporal Robert Gray of the Marine Corps, a rammer in his hand ready to drive the shell out. The gun was hot, and he could not retain his hold; so he dropped down to the sea ladder. Over his head was the frightful blast and draft of the big gun, while around him pattered the shot of the enemy. He failed in his attempt, and gunner Smith then tried it, but he too failed. It looked as if the gun would have to be abandoned, but Private MacNeal of the squad asked permission to make an attempt, and was allowed to try it. Clinging to the hot gun, with death by water assured if he dropped, or was knocked off by the concussion, and the enemy firing at him, he got the rammer in the muzzle and rammed out the shell, amidst cheers from his comrades. I watched these men closely. None of them showed the slightest sign of heroic exhilaration. It was evidently to them a duty of the commonest sort. A few minutes later a sixinch projectile smashed into a compartment just below them. They laughed at the gunner's aim when they found nobody hurt. Five minutes later I photographed a man at the VIEW ABOARD THE "VIZCAYA," ON THE STARBOARD SIDE, LOOKING FORWARD FROM THE AFT GUN TOWER. The picture shows the complete destruction of the forward mast and superstructure caused by the explosion of the "Vizcaya's" own magazine. From a photograph taken July 4th, the day after the battle, by J. C. Hemment; copyrighted, 1898, by W. R. Hearst. after masthead fixing up one of the battle flags, the halyards of which had been shot away. The fire was deadly about him. He would not give his name. About the decks the men not actually busy at the guns enjoyed the fight hugely. When a big shell hit the upper works and exploded with a roar, they would make disparaging remarks about Spanish gunnery. At one time, during a lull in the battle, but while the "Colon was near enough to us to shoot, and I believe was shooting, I took pictures of the men standing on top of an eight-inch turret, in easy range of the enemy's guns, and cheering Commodore Schley. Cervera's flagship had run ashore, stopped to pick up drowning Spaniards of its crew. Both the "Indiana" and the "Iowa" had done splendid work in assisting in the destruction of the two torpedo boats and the cruisers "Maria Teresa" and " Oquendo;" but their lack of speed forbade them continuing the chase. The "Oregon," which had been at the farther end of the line, had gone outside of these other battleships and was coming rapidly to the west, smoke pouring from her funnels. The movement was at first not understood, but when it became apparent that she was leaving the other battleships behind and was coming to the aid of the "Brooklyn," now almost alone with two heavily armored and heavily armed ships, a cheer went up from Schley's flagship for Captain Clark and his splendid crew. "Not that we can't lick 'em," said a gunner's mate to me after the cheer, "but it's good to have help." I agreed with him very cordially, for at this time we were directly abeam the "Vizcaya," while the "Colon" was half a mile forward of us and both were in a position to broadside us. The "Texas" |