The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-12-01

given in his honor last night at the
Brooklyn Club, Admiral Schley told
the story of the battle of Santiago
harbor. 1t was a straight forward
narrative, in which the Admiral told
several things new to history. He re-
peated with emphasis his famous sem
timent that, the victory WAS big
enough for ms all. sssss
Mr.. McKelway made q few remarks,
in which be paid a tribute to Admir-
al Schley, and then introduced the
Admiral, who was enthusiastically
received. The guests rose and cheer
ed him to the echo. When the cheer
ing subsided, Mr.. McKelway called
for three cheers for the Admiral, which
were given with q will. When Ad ,
miral Schley could be heard, he said:
Il am overwhelmed at the recep-
tion which you accord me, the more
as | have been simply e humble in
strument in bringing about q result
which has added so much TO the glory
of our country. I had personally no
ambition which did not include the
highest glory to my profession and
the greatest luSJer TO my nation.
felt after that mOmentous day had
ended that the victory was b g
enough for us all.
1T is curious, however, how little
things often determine nemightyresults.
After q patient and weary watch for
many days under a tropic sun, sur
rounded by the most eXhausting in
fiuences Of climate, imperfectly fed,
vigilant day and night, when the en-
emy moved, it is high tribute to
my profession that il was simultane-
ously discovered by every ship that
had been set to watch that fleet.
"Curiously enough, after the army
had invested Santiago and the battle
Of July had taken place, | was per
sonally impressed with the idea that
a critical stage in the proceedings
mad been reached, and on the Satur-
day night which preceded the Sun
day OF July 3, now so famous in our
history, that the enemy contemplated
q movement. 1t was the fact, and
the only thing that prevented it was
that the enemy, who had occupied
the hills westward of Santiago in Or
der to lose no time in retiring upon
the main column, had abandoned
their block houses, six in number
They we're immediately seized by the
InsuB ents and burned.
that very moment (9.S0 O'clock
at nslht) the Spanish squadron was
ready to get under way; but preceiv-
ing these bl0ck-hOuses burning, they
concluded it was a signal to us, as
there weresiX vesselsin their squadron
and concluded that they would defer
their movement until morning That
was the critical moment in Admiral
Cervera's s life. 1t was a fatal decision.
If he had attempted to come out at
night, he might have saved one yes
sci, but coming in the daytime that
was utterly out of the question.
In one minute and thirty seconds
after they appeared every vessel was
firing upon them. 1t was the most
beautiful sight | ever saw. These
six vessels appeared at the harbor
mouth and came out in column.
That means in line ahead and at cor
rect distance. When they emerged
I was standing on the bridge of the
Brooklyn, and the first impression |
received was that it was q Spanish
bull fight, for they came out tail up
and head down. There was an in
stant movement,
THE Admiral had been called to
the eastward to have a consultation
with Gen. ShafJer. Before leaving
the signal was made to disregard the
orders of the commanderin-ch
which was q practical announcement
to the squadron that the senior officer
was in charge, and that, fortunately
or unfortunately, happened to be
myself. The moment the enemy ap-
peared the signal was hoisted for
close action. 1t was followed by an
immediate forward movement by
the squadron.
SIT was difficult to determine which
of three methods would be chosen by
the Spanish Admiral If he intended
to make fight, it was assumed that
he would avail himself of the protec-
tion of the batteries east and west OF
the harbor. If he attempted to es.
cape, it was supposed that he would
scatter. If he intended to run, he
would take either the eastern or the
western course. 1t was an anxious
moment, and required quick decision
and quicker action.
Fortunately, he chose to run, and
changed his course to the westward
All our vessels had closed in and ter
rife cannonading had begun. Every
thing that had gun seemed to be
firing. The Brooklyn was unques
tionably the point of attack because
she was the fieetest ship. In the few
moments that had to think of the
movements going on around me | was
reminded that the storm of proiectiles
about us resembled a millpond during
a hailstorm. But on such occasions
one has little time to think of him
SELF / was not personally aware that
shot had come within a hundred
miles of us until a man was killed
close to me and a searchlight was
knocked out near by.
"The question to be decided was
whether we were to mask his fleet
during precious ten or fifteen min
utes or to turn out and unmask it, and
the decision was made to turn out.
The result was that in 20 minutes foul
of the Spanish ships had been ami
hilated. The Vizcaya and the Color
were left. He put three miles to port
and speeded to the westward but the