The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-06
NED LARIMER HOME
Was on the Indiana With
Captain Taylor.
OPENED ON CERVERA
viii Return to Annapolis For
Another Year.

under the command of Captain Taylor,
engaged in the fight Of July ard. when Ad-
nrA Cervera made his great run for lid
erty and was captured and most of MS
feet sunk, mas returned 70 Wichita on
thirty days leave. Mr.. Larimer is nome to
visit with MS mother. This is the hrst
time he has been home in two years.
he was seen by an Eagle reporter last
evening and piled with many questions
regarding the engagement He said the
man on watch sighted Admiral Ceryera' 5
boats coming out Of the haroor at about
9:35. The order was given Immediately 70
clear the snip for action" Mr.. LarIner
had finished his breakfast and was on
deck attending to his duties Within three
minutes after the word was given every
man was in his position and the firing had
commenced.
The Indiana was about 1000 yards from
the entrance OF the haroor, and one Of
the I3-inch guns opened on the hrsI snip
out, which was the Marie Teresa
When asked who fired the first gun Mr..
Lariner said he did not know. He was
sure his gun crew were a mighty close
second, and may have been first He was
in charge OF the forward turret, lS-inch
gun A gun crew Is composed OF seven
men. When in action the men are strip
ed for the hot work which IS IN front OF
them. They wear trousers ,undershirr a
handkerchief about their necks, and the
officers have on blouses, with the en-
bIem OF their rank on the collar Of the
blouse
When asked If the Indiana was hit, he
said that t was, but that he did NOT know
it Un1u after the engagement was over
There was no apparent tremble OF jar
TO the boat when hit.
He saw the whole fight through the
Sits or cracks made for the purpose
There was no great noise when one Of the
big 13-inch guns were fired, which are
touched off by electricity This OF course
was in the t1rret. AT the muzzel the ex-
plosion would be terrific.
He explained the action OF Captain Tay-
lor in writing TO Admiral Sampson. While
the Indiana was che first boat 20 open on
the enemy, they were detailed after the
engagement % the mouth OF the harbor,
where they stayed for several days. In
fact the report OF Admiral Sampson was
made and it was too late for them to get
into the Official report, after it had been
transmitted to the secretary Of the navy.
The report said that he as glad that
Admiral Sampson was not in it, and show
ed a decided preference for Admiral
Schley.
Mr.. Larimer said that he was sorry
that Admiral Sampson was out of the
fight. He considers him the greatest ma
val man on American boats, excepting
Admiral Dewey. He said that Sampson
was out of range but within signal dis
lance. While he has a great regard for
Schiey, there is no question but what
Sampson is his favorite.
When asked if he or any OF the men
hal any queer. funny feeling when the mr.
Ing opened. he said they had not He ex-
pected that he would, but they were all
too busy TO think about getting gun
scared" as he called IL. He said any one
would cringe when one Of the big shells
came unoomfortably close, but as to- get
ting scared that was out OF the question
Nc lie o. the OIAICCAS u LdAs 6-4On ~ dA-S
disposition in that direction.
He said that quite a number OF the
Spanish shells came very close 20 them.
Several of the men were knocked down
from the rush OF air caused by the 15-inch
guns gong by. One of these shells will
knock a man down IL it comes within four
or five feet Of him.
He said that shells could not be seen
when com ng toward the shop. but they
could easily be distinguished when going
from. the gun. He said he did not know
whether the she'll could be seen or not.
but authority said it was the compressed
air, caused blythe shell which gave it the
appearance Of a blackbird
When asked what the size Of the ships
appeared when they came out OF the ha--
Dor from the distance he was. he smiled
and said that they looked just about as
large as trey did closeup. OF course he
lookeod At them through the telescope.
which he SAID did not magnify them to any
gce4- desree.
When some aston shment was expressed
Ar Larimer said he did not see how It
was possible to miss them When the
wonderful poor gunnery Of the Spanish
was cited. he said that although they were
only nit caos, most OF the Spanish shells
cane entirely TOO close tor comfort
When tie Spanish came out Of the har-
Dor the Indiana was standing still win
steam, up. They started to move in rap
idly, 5uc as they were firing al the time
~ did lot notice IL As 10 the thrab5ing
OF the biE engines on Their response 70 the
rush OF steam. he was unaware.
TIE lows was some :. 90 feet behind the
INDIANA When the engagement opened. ard
they came forward Immediately. firing as
they came They were lit-Ia too far cut
coc accurate shooting when the fight
started
He sajI 70 ore aited Tor orders. that IS
Re does ret remember about orders beiug
given y FIRE Il seemed 70 him that al
n chem began putting hot shot al the
Spanish SHIPS SIS sooa as they got sight OF
ta4'1
NJ. LsTinsr has been discharged from
duty CT hoard the Indiana and vii 70
ha>k u Annapolis where he has another
eight months study before re VII Dc
graduated as ensign
GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY