The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-19

The IIIustrzous Deeds of Anderson and
Wfns1ew Must no1 be Overlooked.
Hero NewcOnss should Also Live In
History and all be Promoted.

History and All be Promoted.
The Washington Post Of Tuesday
well says:
In the interest OF history and of |
we should like to call attention |
to two of our naval officers who have /
been strangely overlooked in the gen. I
eral jubilatiOn, but who nevertheless |
performed the most gallant act Of the
entire episode. We refer to Lfeuten- |
ants E. A. Anderson, OF the cruiser
Marblehead, and Cameron Winslow, Of
the cruiser Nashville. who, early in
the war. were ordered to cut the Span
ish cable leading put of Cienfuegos, on
the southern coast Of Cuba.
AS will be remembered, 1t was part
of our war policy at that time 10 sever
all the communications betwee Cuba
and the outside world, and the Glen
flegos cable was one Of the most i'm
portant Of all these, since that city was
in direct railway and telegraph COM
munication with Havana. It was
among the first to receive our atten-
ton, therefore, and the cruisers Nash
Vile and Marblehead were detailed to
perform the duty. These vessels o
a. position off the harbor, and to Lieu
enant WinslOw and Anderson was
assigned that work at once so impera-
tive and so dangerous. How they dis
charged their desperate commission
Was & uto at lC IIIllC LII ihhSA
boats lowered from the ships under
the full glare Of the sun. without the
smallest protection Of any kind, these
gallant young men rowed themselves
within easy range of the forts and be-
gan their difficult and dreadful task. I'm
der the same appalling conditions, az
ter hours of labor and exposure, they
fulfilled it. They demeaned themselves
as though everything were propitious.
There was no opportunity for DASH, for
self-defense, for theatrical display.
They simply remained there under
that whitening fire, grappled for the
cable until they found and cut it, and
then, after having destroyed it's use
fulness for the Spaniards, returned,
sorely wounded, bleeding and exhaust
ed to their respective ships. Ander-
sons injuries were so critical that he
was scent to a hospital. WinsloW's brok-
en- bones and lacerated flesh were
nursed into health and strength aboard
the ashvi
I'VE think tina an incident so bril-
liant, SO illustrative of American val
or and devotion, shOuld not be over
looked by a grateful country. 1t was
followed quickly by other displays of
unselfish courage-the whole history of
our war is a bewildering pageantry of
prowess and achievement-but we
know of nc exploit so distinguished by
patient, modest heroism, so characte-
rized by indOmitable pluck, GOODNESS,
and courage. WinslOw and Anderson
are not to be overlooked in the ac-
clamation with which we now celebrate
the shining deeds of our champions
and defenders. They belong in the
front rank of the glittering array"
The Messenger and the numerous
friends of our tOWnsman Lieutenant
Anderson are much gratified at what
The Post says about him and Lieuten-
ant Wi1slow. No deed of any of the
heroes who have made our navy il
lustriOus exceeds their achievement at
C~ienfuegOs. Our readers are familiar
with the account of the incident and
The Post recalls it sufficiently in the
article above to cause their herOiSm
not to be forgotten by a grateful ma
ton.
When we come to think of it, and re-
call the many deeds of daring by
ember of our navy, the whole Unit
ed States navy is composed Of heroes.
While the more conspicuous deeds are
being remembered, however, the in
cident at Cienfuegos stands out boldly
among them and it's heroes should not
be overlooked.
The Messenger heartily and earnest
ly joins The Post in recommending
that Lieutenant Anderson and Lieuten-
ant Winslow should DE promoted for
their brave and gallant deed under the
fire of the enemy at Cienfuegos. While
we do so, we also wish to call atten-
ton to another deed and another hero
that rivals any during the war. We
allude to the act of Lieutenant New
comb and his brave officers and crew
of the Hudson, when the lamented
Worth Bagley lost his life at Cardenas
under the murderous fire of the Span
ish batteries. When the torpedo BOAT
Winslow had been disabled and was
helpless under the guns of the enemy,
it will be remembered that the Hud-
son stood by her for an hour and a
half, under fire, and got a line to the
WinslOw and tOwed her away. No
deed Of daring during the war sur
passed that, no more unselfiSh and
reckless bravery was displayed, and no
achievement of our naval heroes is
more worthy to live live in memory or
history than that magnificent deed of
Lieutenant NeWcOmb and his men of
the Hudson, which, it must be re-
membered, was but a frail tug with no
protection but a light covering of thin
plates of steel over her boilers and pi-
lot house. We hope Lieutenant New
comb and his brave men will also be
remembered.
1t will be recalled by Wilmingtonians
that hero NewcOmb once served on the
revenue cutter Colfax at this sation.
Elk cursiOn