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most beautiful sight I ever saw. These six vessels appeared at the harbor mouth and came out in column. That means in line ahead and at correct distance. When they emerged I was standing on the bridge of the "Brooklyn," and the first impression I received was that it was a Spanish bull fight, for they came out tail up and head down. Their appearance was the signal for an instant movement on our part.

The admiral had been called to the eastward to have a consultation with General Shafter. Before leaving, the signal was made to disregard the orders of the commander-in-chief, which was a practical announcement to the squadron that the senior officer was in charge, and that, fortunately or unfortunately, happened to be myself. The moment the enemy appeared the signal was hoisted for close action. It was followed by an immediate forward movement by the squadron.

It was difficult to determine which of the three methods would be chosen by the Spanish Admiral. If he intended to make a fight, it was supposed that he would avail himself of the protection of the batteries east and west of the harbor. If he attempted to escape, it was supposed that he would take either the eastern or the western course. It was an anxious moment, and required quick decision and quicker action.

Fortunately he chose to run, and changed his course to the westward. All our vessels had closed in and terrific cannonading had begun. Everything that had a gun seemed to be firing. The "Brooklyn" was unquestionably the point of attack, because she was the fleetest ship. In the few moments that I had to think of the movements going on around me, I was reminded that the storm of projectiles about us resembled a millpond during a hailstorm. But on such occasions one has little time to think of himself. I was not personally aware that a shot had come within a hundred miles of us until a man was killed close to me, and a searchlight was knocked out near by.

A Cannon Ball Carries Away a Sailor's Head.

The question to be decided was whether we were to mask his fleet during a precious ten or fifteen minutes, or to turn out and unmask it, and the decision was made to turn out. The result was that in twenty-nine minutes four of the Spanish ships had been annihilated. The "Vizcaya" and the "Colon" were left. These two put their helms to port and speeded to the westward, but the fleet "Brooklyn" was not to be left, and after a running fight of fifty-four minutes the "Vizcaya " was struck over one hundred times, was set on fire, lost 256 of her ship's company and was a total wreck. That was 110t, however, the exclusive work of the "Brooklyn," for she was assisted magnificently by the "Oregon" and the "Texas."

In the meantime the "Colon" had speeded up considerably, and got very nearly out of range. I signaled to the "Texas" to look out for the "Vizcaya," and started for the "Colon," feeling as Lord Nelson did at Trafalgar, that if one vessel got away the victory would be incomplete. I said to Captain Cook that we might go to dinner; that we would have half to three-quarters of an hour before we would be within fighting range. We went to dinner, and were under fire for thirty minutes, but we didn't reply. We felt that we could reserve our supply for better use than target practice. After dinner, additional boilers having been lighted, speed having been increased, we were coming up with the "Colon" very rapidly. At one o'clock the "Oregon" and the "Brooklyn" had distanced all the vessels.

The "Brooklyn's"
Deadly Projectiles.

The "Oregon" was astern of the "Brooklyn" about four hundred yards, and if the fight had continued an hour longer we would have left her entirely, because we were on the point of turning on two more boilers, which would have given us a speed of nearly three knots more than hers. However, I signaled from the "Brooklyn" to the "Oregon" to let go one of her railroad trains. The projectile that followed this order landed just astern of the "Colon." The "Brooklyn" then fired an 8-inch gun, which struck about the same distance ahead of her. Clarke signaled to me where my shot had fallen, and I signaled back to him where his had gone. The second shot from the "Oregon " passed over and aft the "Colon," and the fourth shot, fired from the "Brooklyn," struck her on the quarter, exploded in her cabin, and wrecked it completely, when the enemy fired a gun to leeward and hauled down his colors and started for the beach.

We then closed in, and Captain Cook was directed to go on board and accept the surrender on unconditional terms. In the meantime the flagship "New York" came up. After reporting to the commander-in-chief what had fallen under my observation, a report came that the "Callao," a Spanish ship, was on the coast. The commander-in-chief said he wanted me to go east with the "Oregon" and complete the job. We started out, feeling that there was nothing which carried the Spanish flag that day that dared come within the battery range of the "Brooklyn."

The battle was unique. It was the first instance in history where a sea fight occurred between squadrons of nearly equal power in which one had completely annihilated the other in an almost bloodless contest for the victor. I felt, as I surveyed the scene upon the bridge of the "Brooklyn," that it was an epoch-making day.

THE GREATEST NAVAL FIGHT OF MODERN TIMES.

By

A

Commodore, U.d.Mary.

(Commander of the "Texas" During the Fight.)

T 9.30 o'clock of Sunday morning, July 3, 1898, while the "Texas " was lying directly in front of Santiago harbor, Lieutenant M. L. Bristol saw smoke arising between Morro Castle and La Socapa. An instant later the nose of a ship poked out behind the Estrella battery. Clash went the electric gongs calling the ship's company to general quarters. Full speed ahead plunged the "Texas" toward the enemy, and up fluttered the vari-colored flags signaling "The enemy is trying to escape." The "Brooklyn," "Iowa" and "Oregon" responded immediately. All headed toward the harbor entrance, being then about two and a half miles away.

There was much suppressed excitement aboard all the vessels as they sped in the direction of the enemy. The first of the Spanish squadron to come into view was a cruiser of the "Vizcaya" class, the "Almirante Oquendo." Closely following her came the "Cristobal Colon," which was easily distinguishable by the military masts between her two smokestacks. Then came the two other cruisers, "Vizcaya" and "Infanta Maria Teresa."

Cervera's Ship Opens the Fight.

Almost before the leading ship was clear of the shadow of Morro Castle the fight had begun. Admiral Cervera started it by a shell from the "Almirante Oquendo," to which he had transferred his flag. It struck none of the American vessels. In a twinkling the big guns of the "Texas " belched forth their thunder, which was followed immediately by a heavy fire from our other ships. The Spaniards turned to the westward under full steam, pouring a constant fire on our ships, and evidently hoping to get away by their superior speed. The "Brooklyn" directed her course parallel with that of the Spaniards, and, after getting in good range, began a running fight.

The "Texas," still heading in shore, kept up a hot exchange of shots with the foremost ships, which gradually drew away to the westward under

The "Texas" in the Thick of It.

the shadow of the hills. The third of the Spanish vessels, the "Vizcaya " or "Infanta Maria Teresa," was caught by the "Texas" in good fighting range, and it was she that engaged the chief attention of the first battleship commissioned in the American Navythe old hoodoo, but now the old hero. The "Texas " pursued her adversary, which, however, being the swifter vessel, we were compelled to make the most of our opportunity while in range, which we did with excellent results, for our shells did great execution. My position was on the bridge until the concentrated fire of the "Oquendo" and "Vizcaya" upon the "Texas' compelled me to seek shelter near the conning tower. This was a providential move, for directly after a shell from the "Oquendo" burst by the bridge which would have killed every one who might have been near it. For nearly an hour missles whistled about the "Texas," one of which struck the ash-hoist and exploded in the smokestack, injuring no one, however; another 12-inch Hontoria shell struck the port bow above the water line, making a hole large enough to admit a man's body, and others of smaller size hit various parts of the ship, doing considerable damage, but fortunately none of my men were injured.

The din of the guns was so terrific that orders had to be yelled close to the messengers' heads, and at times the smoke was so thick that absolutely nothing could be seen. Once or twice the 12-inch guns in the turrets were swung across the ship and fired. The concussion shook the great vessel as though she had been struck by a great ball, and everything movable was splintered. The men near the guns were thrown flat on their faces. One of them, a seaman named Scram, was tumbled down a hatch into the forward handling room, his leg being broken by the fall.

Meanwhile the "Oregon" had come in on the run. She passed the "Texas" and chased after Commodore Schley, on the "Brooklyn," to head off the foremost of the Spanish ships. The "Iowa" also turned her course westward, and kept up a hot fire on the running enemy.

The "Oregon" and "lowa" to the Front.

At 10.10 o'clock the third of the Spanish cruisers, the one that had been exchanging compliments with the "Texas," was seen to be on fire and a mighty cheer went up from our ships. The Spaniard headed for the shore, and the "Texas" turned her attention to the one following. The "Brooklyn" and "Oregon," after a few parting shots, also left her contemptuously and made all steam after the foremost two of the Spanish ships, "Almirante Oquendo" and the "Cristobal Colon."

Just then the two torpedo-boat destroyers, "Pluton " and "Furor," were discovered. They had come out after the cruisers without being seen, and were boldly heading west down the coast. "All small guns on the torpedo boats" was the order on the "Texas," and in an instant a hail of shot was pouring about them. A 6-pounder from the starboard battery of the "Texas," under Ensign Gise, struck the foremost torpedo boat fairly in the boiler. A rending sound followed above the roar of battle. A great spout of black smoke shot up from that destroyer and she was out of commission. The "Iowa," which was coming up fast, threw a few complimentary shots at the second torpedo-boat destroyer and passed on. The little "Gloucester," formerly J. Pierpont Morgan's yacht "Corsair," then sailed in and finished the second boat.

End of the Destroyers.

Gun for gun, and shot for shot, the running fight was kept up between the Spanish cruisers and the four American vessels. At 10.30 o'clock the "Infanta Maria Teresa " and "Vizcaya" were almost at the beach, and were evidently in distress. As the "Texas " was firing at them a white flag was run up on the one nearest her. Immediately I gave the order to cease firing and a moment later both the Spaniards were beached. Clouds of black smoke arose from each, and bright flashes of flame could be seen shining through the smoke. Boats were visible putting out from the cruisers to the shore. The "Iowa" waited to see that the two war ships were really out of the fight, and it did not take her long to determine that they would never do battle again. The "Iowa" herself had suffered some very hard knocks.

The "Brooklyn," "Oregon," and "Texas" pushed ahead after the "Colon " and "Almirante Oquendo," which were now running the race of their lives along the coast. At 10.50 o'clock, when Admiral Cervera's flagship, the "Almirante Oquendo," suddenly headed in shore, she had the "Brooklyn" and "Oregon" abeam and the "Texas " astern. The "Brooklyn" and "Oregon" pushed on after the "Cristobal Colon," which was making fine time and which looked as if she might escape, leaving the "Texas" to finish the "Almirante Oquendo." This work did not take long. The Spanish ship was already burning. At 11.05 o'clock down came a yellow and red flag at her stern. Just as the "Texas" got abeam of her she was shaken by a mighty explosion, and noting her destruction the "Texas " left the "Almirante Oquendo " to her fate to join in the chase of the "Cristobal Colon."

That ship in desperation was ploughing the waters at a rate that caused the fast "Brooklyn" trouble to keep the pace, and the "Oregon " was showing a speed truly extraordinary for a battleship, while the "Texas" was making a new record since her trial trip. The "Brooklyn" might have proved a match for the "Cristobal Colon " in speed, but she was not supposed

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