From a photograph by J. C. Hemment, Copyright, 1898, by W. R. Hearst. Vizcaya Aground at Aserraderos. way and then, lest a shell from the Oregon with the fire of the Brooklyn, out at sea, sink her, she turned in shore and was beached at the mouth of Rio Tarquino. The battle was ended. We had swept the enemy from the sea, and Captain Philip, by a public act that portrayed the thought in the heart of every man in the squadron, called his men to the quarterdeck, and with bare head said: Captain John Philip, Commanding the Texas. "I want to make public acknowledgment here that I believe in God the Father. I want you all to lift your hats and from your hearts offer silent thanks to the Almighty." CHAPTER XVIII SEAMEN OF THE SQUADRONS CONTRASTED STORY OF SPANISH TREACHERY ON A GOOD SHIP THEY HAD SURRENDERED TO US-CAPTAIN CHADWICK'S REMARKABLE SKILL IN HANDLING THE NEW YORK-OUR MEN AS LIFE SAVERS-UNDAUNTED IN THE PRESENCE OF FIRE AND EXPLODING MAGAZINES ATROCIOUS CONDUCT OF CUBAN SOLDIERS-THE SQUADRONS COMPARED--REWARD OF A COMMANDER WHO BREAKS DOWN THROUGH OVERWORK. IN gathering up the loose ends of the story of the battle off Santiago it seems best to begin at the end and work backward. In this way we at least get one interesting view of the char acter of the enemy we whipped. Adolphus Kentreres, in an interview after the battle, is reported as saying: "The projectiles of the Oregon began reaching us at IP.M., and that, together with the fact that it was not possible to fight with the after guns on account of the Colon's lack of large calibre pieces, and the certainty of being overhauled by the whole American squadron in a few hours, left no other remedy |