Told By "fighting Bob."

Off Sanitago de Cuba, Jnly 7, via Port Antonio, July 11.- The battleship Iowa, commanded by "Fighting Bob" Evans, was the flrst of the American vessels to spy Cervera's squadron steealing out of the harbor of Santiago. Some one on the bridge shouted: "What's that black thing coming out of the harbor?" A moment later the Iowa was at general quarters and the signal was hoisted that the enemy's ships were coming out. A gun was flred at 9:33 a. m. to attract the attention of the squadron. Captain Evans account of the battle is intensely intereeting. He said: "At the time 'general quarters' was sounded the engine bell rang full speed anead, and I put the helm to starboard and the Iowa crossed the bows of the Infanta Maria Teresa, the first ship out. As the Spanish admiral swung to the westward the twelve-inch shells from the forward turret of the Iowa seemed to atrike him fair in the bow and the flght was a spectaole. "As the squadron carne out in column, the ships beautifully spaced as to distance, and gradually increasing their speed to thirteen knots, it was superb. "The Iowa from this moment kept up a steady fire from its haavy guns, heading all the time to keep the Infanta Maria Teresa on its starboard bow and hoping to ram one of the leading ships. "In the meantime the Oregon, Indiana, Brooklyn and Texas were doing excellent work with their heavy guns. In a short time the enemy's ships were all clear of the harbor mouth and it became evidently impossible for the ïowa to ram either the first or the second ship on account of speed. "The Iowa's helm was immediately put hard to the starboard and the entire starboard broadaide was poured into the Maria Teresa. The helm was then quickly shifted to port, and the ship went acroes the stern of the Teresa in an effort to head off the Oquendo. All the time the engines were driving at full speed abad. A perfect torrent of shells from the enemy passed over the smokestack-s and superstructure oí the ship, but none struck her. "The Cristóbal Colon, being much faster than the rest of the Spanish ships, went rapidly to the front in an effort to escape. In passing the Iowa the Colon placed two six-inch shells faírly in erar starboard bow. One passed through the cofferdam and dispensary, wrecking the latter and bursting on the berth-deck, doing considerable damage. The other passed through the side at the -water line within the eofferdam, where it still remains." "As lt -was now obviously impossible to ram any of the Spanish ships on account oí theiT superior speed, the Iowa's helm was put to the starboard and she ran on a course parallel with the enemy. Belng then atireast of the Almirante Oquendo, at a distance of 1,100 yarde, the Iowa's entire battery, including the rapid-fire guns, was opened on the Oquendo. T&e punishment was terrific. Many twelve and eight inch shells were seen to explode inside of her and smoke came through her hatches. The Oqueado seemed to stop her engines for a moment and j loet headway, but fihe immediately resumed her speed and gradually drew anead of the Iowa and came undfr the terrific fire of the Oregon and "At this moment the alarm of 'torpedo boats' was sounded and two torpedo-boat destroyers were discovered in the starboard quarter at a distance of 4,000 yards. Fire was at once opened on them with the after battery and a twelve-inch shell cut the Btern of one destróyer squarely off. As the shell struck a small torpedo boat flred back at the battleship, sending a shell within a few feet of my head. "Well up among the advanclng eruisers, spitting shots at one then another, was the little Gloucester, shooting first at si cruiser, then at a torpedo boat and hitting a head wherever she saw it. The marvel was fchat she was not destroyed by the rain of shells. In the meantime the Vizcaya was slowiy drawing abeam of the Iowa and for the space of flfteen minutes it was give and take between the two ships. The Vizcaya flred rapidly but wildly, not on shot taking eöest on tú Iowa, white the shells from th Iowa wore teaxing great rents in the sides of the Vizcaya. As the latter passed ahead of the Iowa she came under the murderous fire of the Oregon. At this time the Infanta Maria Teresa and the Almirante Oquendo, leading the enemy's column, were seen to be heading for the beach in flamea. The Texas, Oregon and Iowa pounded them unmercifully. They ceased to reply to the fire and in a few moments the Spanisli cruisers were a mass of flames and on the rocks with their colors down, the Teresa flying a white flag at the fore. "The crews of the enemy's ships tripped themselves and began jumping oyerboard, and one of the smaller magazines began to explode. "Meantime the Brooklyn and the Cristóbal Colon were exchanging compliments in lively fashion at apparently long range and the Oregon, with her locomotive speed, was hanging well on the Colon, also paying attention to tfle Vizcaya. The Teresa and the Oquendo were in flames on the beach just twenty minutes after the first shot was fired. Pifty minutes after the first shot was fired the Vizcaya put her helm to port with a great burst of flame from the afterpart of the ship and headed slowly for the rocks at Acceraderes, where she found her last resting place. "As it was apparent that the Iowa could not possibly catch the Cristóbal Colon and that the Oregon and lyn undoubtedly would, and as the fast New York was also on her trail, I decided that the calis of humanity should be answered and áttention given to the 1,200 or 1,500 Spanish offlcers and men who had struck their colors to the American squadron commanded by Admiral Sampson. I therefore headed for the wreek of the Vizcaya, now burning furiously fore and aft. When I was in as far as the depth of water would admit I lowered all my boats and sent them at once to the assistance of the unfortunate men, who were being drowned by dozens or roasted on the decks. I soon discovered that the insurgen-t Cubans from the shore were shooting men who were struggling in the water, after having surrendered to us. I immediately put a stop to this, but I could not put a stop to the mutilation of many bodies by the sharks inside the reef. These creatures had become excited by the blood from the wounded mixing with the water. "My boats' crews worked manfully and succeeded in saving many of the wounded from the burning ship. One man, who will be reeommended for promotion, clambered up the side of the Vizcaya and saved three men from burning to death. The smaller magazines of the Vizcaya were exploding with magnificent cloud effects. The boats were coming alongside in a steady string and willing hands were helping the lacerated Spanish offlcers and sailors onto the Iowa's quarter deck. All the Spaniaiís were absolutely without clothes. Some had their legs torn off by fragments of sh-ells. Others were mutilated in every conceivable way. "The bottoms of the boats held two or three inches of blood. In many cases dead men were lying in it. Five poor chaps died on the way to the ship. They were afterward buried with military honors from the Iowa. Some examples of heroism, or more properly, devotion to discipline and duty, could never be surpassed. One man on the Vizcaya had his left arm almost shot off just below the shoulder. The fragments were haaging by a small piece of skin, but he climbed unassisted over the Bide and saluted as if on a viait of ceremony. "Immediately after him carne a strong-hearted sailor whose left leg had been shot off above the knee. He was hoisted on board the Iowa with a tackle, but never a whimper carne from him. Gradually the mangled bodies and naked men accumulated until it would have been almost diffieult to recognize the Iowa as a United States battleship. "Blood was all over her usually white quarterdeck, and 272 naked men were being supplied with water and food by those who a few minutes before had been using a rapid-flre battery on them. Finally came the boat with Capt. Eulate, commander of the Vizcaya, for Whom a chair was lowered over the side, as he was evidently wounded. The captain's guard of riñes was drawn up on the quarterdeck to salute him, and I stood waiting to welcome him. "As the chair was placed on the deck the marines presented arms. Capt. Eulate slowly raised himself in the chair, saluted me with grave dignity, unbuckled his sword belt, and, holding the hilt of the sword before him, kissed it reverently, with tears in his eyes, and then surrendered it to me. "Of course I declined to receive it, and as the crew of the Iowa saw this they cheered like wild men. As 1 started to take Capt. Eulate into the cabin to let the doctors examine his wounds the magazines on board the Vizcaya exploded with a tremendous burst pL flame. The captain, extending his hands, said, 'Adiós, Vizcaya. There goes my beautiful ship, captain,'' and so we passed on to the cabin, where the doctors dressed his three ■wounds. "In the meantime thirty officers of the Vizcaya had been picked up, besides 272 of her crew. Our wardroom and sieerage officers gave up their staterooms and furnished food, clothing and tobáceo to the naked officer from the Spanish veseel. The paymaster iïsud uniforma t th naket sailors, and ach was gh'en all the corned bf, coffee and h.rd tack he could tai. TIm war aaswued anotha aanect."