The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-12
scHLEY,s UNfOUGHr BATTLE.
One of the Most Daring Deeds Of
That Famous Date, July s.

That Famous Date, July o
Harry Barrett Chamberlin in Chicago
Record: Here is an incident which
shows more clearly than anything else
just what the navy is ready to do. and
how delicatelg balanced is the chip on
the shoulders Of our sea fighters. w hen
Schley had enriched our history on
July 5, and every ship il these waters
under the royal banner of CASTLE mad
been shattered. he was sailing east 10
resume station before Santiago. word
came to him that the Peiayo, the pride
OF the Spanish navy. had reached the
Caribbean. and he was directed to en-
gage her as soon as eound. TO naval
experts the suggestion that cruiser
fight battleshlp is insanity gone mad,
but, nevertheless. the Brooklyn started
Oh her errand.
Near Santiago 4 battleship was sight
ed, heavily armored and turreted, but
al such a distance that her colors could
not be distinguished under the glass.
Toward her the Brooklyn started. Com
rnander Schley and Captain Cook stood
ON the forward bridge as the biz
cruiser fairly leaDed forward TO give
battle.
She is white-an unusual thing in
war time" said the commodore, watch
ing the stranger through his glass. Il
don't believe she is Spanish he re-
marked a moment later. AID then, con-
sUlting the picture of sister ship TO
the Pelayo suddenly exclaimed: BY
Jewel 1t is the Pelayo, after ALL"
ON the signal BRIDGE" shouted Cap
tain Cook. Can you make out her col
ors?"
Not yet. sir" came the answer, fol-
lowed a moment after by: We have
raised her colors. sir. and she is Span
iSh."
Send your men TO quarters, Cook
said the commodore, "and start an s.
inch shell for her when 1 give the
MCr6'
On went the Brooklyn, fast closing
the distance between herself and the
stranger-a big battleshiD of modern
type and with her flag aft-two stripes
of red on each side of yellow, as it APP
peared. and the crown in proper place.
The bugle sung TO quarters" and the
men, although they had been fighting
all morning, rushed to their guns with
a cheer For a moment the commodore
hesitated. '.On the signal bridget" he
called. Are you certain the stranger
is a Spaniard?''
Certain. sir" came the reply. Il can
see her colors distinctly"
The commodore had his glasses on
the battleship. Turning to the captain
is not at quarters. His guns are turned
away from us. He is not W TO snuff.
Watch him closely. and the moment he
sends his men TO quarters or moves a
turret. let drive. Give him everything
you have. We will sink him in 20 min-
utes, unless he gets a shot under our
belt"
Just then the officer on the bridge re-
ported that the battieship was signall-
ing with the international CODE and
soon translated the message: This is
an Austrian battleshio."
Half an hour later the commander of
the Maria Theresa (Austrian) was
seated IN Commodore Schley's cabin
IF you had sent .-our men to quar-
ters or moved turret l should have
raked you: it was a narrow escape"
said the commodore during the CONVEX
sation. Your flag is so like S.oain's,
saving that you have a white stripe
where she has yellow, that it is hard
to tell them apart at any considerable
distance. and l came very near letting
drive at YOU"
I'VE know that" returned the Aus
TRAN. and we We're very much worried
We signalled long before you answered.
We had no wish to be troubled. We
have seen the wrecks along the coast
But" he inquired. as he rose TO leave,
do you send cruisers to meet battle
shios?''
The commodore smiled as he an
swered: I'VE always make fight with
the first ship we have at hand. We
never wait because we are outrated.
We try to win with what we have"
You Americans are very remark
able" said the Austrian, as he went
over the side to his boat