"Ten minutes later, the old gunner squinted his eye along the sight,
signalled the man at the training lever to ease off a little, took the
range from the officer in charge of the division, then gave the firing
lanyard a quick jerk. When the smoke lifted, the eager watchers saw a
great yawning hole in the port bow of the Almirante Oquendo. A cheer
came from the men in the turret, and the veteran glanced triumphantly
toward the younger gunner.

"The latter's turn soon came. The Oquendo, battered and helpless,
drifted ashore in flames. The Oregon accompanied by the Brooklyn, sped
on after the fleet-footed Colon. The rapid-fire batteries of both
American ships rattled and shrieked after the fugitive. The eight-inch
guns of the Brooklyn rumbled an unceasing chorus as they belched forth
their shells, and occasionally a deeper roar from the thirteen-inch
monsters of the Oregon would give a mightier volume to the din.

"It was after one of the latter shots that the forward turret of the
Oregon echoed with a rousing cheer. Charley, the young gunner, had
just dropped the firing lanyard from his hand and it was seen the
Colon's conning tower was hit. 'He told me before he pulled the
lanyard that he would fetch it,' exclaimed one of the gun's crew,
admiringly, 'and he did.'"

A proud father, whose son was on one of the battleships during the
destruction of Cervera's ships, said:

"Among the four letters I have received from my son is one which
contains an amusing story of one of the officers of the Indiana. The
officer in question is well known throughout the navy for his
fastidiousness regarding apparel, and even on board his ship, is
always the best-dressed man. He considers it his imperative duty to
appear 'just so,' on every occasion.

"My son writes that when the fight began, everybody had on most of his
clothes, the officers generally being in proper uniform. My boy
started in with a full accompaniment of cap, shirt, coat, pants and
shoes, but says that before the hour and a half was over he had shed
everything except his trousers. The heat was, of course, intense and
the main cause of the boy's throwing off all unnecessary garments. It
has been his duty to carry messages several times from the commanding
officer on the bridge to the rear of the vessel, where our dandy
officer was stationed, and when the fight began he was fully
uniformed. On the second trip back the officer was seen to be the only
person in sight w