Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-24

sn Euiatc two days after schley's ds-
n Vi the spanish squadron: and n res
ee ohcer OF the Oquendo said that
| ,hat one-haif or the terrible damage 10
W.T., e"p was done by l. and e-pounders.
| "nNn constitute the secondary batterv '
me Board OF Survey ordered I,v a..
eoihmanoer-in-chief found forty-six a.
| FOUNDER hoies in the oquendo above her
/ srnor-oeit, and evidence that nearly al,
mad entered and exploded. %"
| IN me Vizcaya there were eleven G.
| posnoer hoies and dozens of l-pounders
%nu On 'nese TWO ships the tattoo OF death
TTeanng smells must have been appalling.
'eilioie work OF secondary batteries
III '"s oIuenoo is somewhat explained by
and nearest the tcrpedo-boats. ana tbs
Srookiyn, Texas, and Iowa simply rid
uIed her, as she attempted to defend the
TWO uestroyers. The work on the viz
Seya was apparently done by the Brook
yh aIone, because no other ship was near
enough to her TO use the small guns.
Tue men on board the ships who man
enese secondary batteries are marines.
anu .hey nght them in the most exposed
lection. "0 nv
VALIANT WORK.
Captain Paul st. Clair Murpbv Of .be
brooklyn. was the senior marine officer
present on the ships that did the fighting
on july 20, and he commends greatly rbe
Vanant work done by the men i'm his
corps. Speaking Of the men on the Brook
iyh' he tells one very thrilling incident.
ne says: THE men were full of enthu-
sissm, but there was no excitement or
disorder, and apparently no concern for
personal safety. The battery was handled
with admirable GOODNESS and Deliberate
NITG1lHr a - 10
sights and aiming If the men had been at
target-practice, and each man striving TO
make a record score. Considering the fact
that the enemy were within effective
range during the greater part Of the ac-
non. the fire of the secondary battery
must have been most destructive to bis
men ana material, and contributed rs
full share to bringing the battle to an
END so speedily, and with so little loss
TO ourselves
when all did their duty so manfullv II
is a difficult matter TO select individuals
Tor special mention There are some, how
ever who deserve to be brought to notice |
by name for conduct that displayed in a |
conspicuous manner courage. intelligence.
and devotion to duty. During the early |
part or the action a cartridge became !
Jammed in the lore of the starboard for |
ward 6-pounder, and in the effort to with |
the projectile. leaving the latter fast in |
the bore and impossible of extraction from |
the rear.
CLEARING A GUN.
Corporal Robert Gray, Of the port gun.
asked and obtained permission TO attempt |
to drive the shell out by means of the |
To do this ii was necessary 10 |
go out on the gun hanging over the water,
and the undertaking was full of difficulty |
and danger, the latter due in great mea-
sure to the blast of the S-inch turret guns
firing overhead. The gun was hot, and .t
was necessary to cling to the Jacobs
ladder" with one hand while endeavoring
with the other to manipulate the long
rammer After a brave effort he was
forced to give UP and was ordered in. |
Quarter-Gunner Smith then came, sent
)y EXecutive-O officer Mason, and prompt |
y placed himself in the dangerous posi-
ion outside the gun-port where he work
I'd and failed as the corporal had zone.
Neither had been able to get the hammer
nto the bore, and there seemed nothing
eft to do but dismount the gun. AT this
uncture Private MacNeal, one of the
runs crew. volunteered TO go out and
make final effort. The gun was so i'm
the starboard battery being en-
aged, that as a forlorn hope he was per-
nitted to make the attempt. He pushed
nut boldly and set TO work. The guns or
he forward S-inch turret were firing, al
most knocking MIN overheard, and the
nemys shots were coming with frequency
nto his immediate neighborhood. 1t was
[ this time the chief yeoman was killed
n the other side Of the deck. MacNeal | {
ever paused in his work. The rammer ,
vas finally placed in the bore and the ,
hell elected, and MacNeal resumed his
uties as coolly as If what he had done
we're a matter OF everyday routine"