New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-18
n. O'NEILL e. co.
THE REV. H. w JONES. OF THE TEXAS,
BREACHES ON HIS EXPERIENCES.

THE REV. H. W. JONES OF THE TEXAS.
breaches ON HIS EXPERIENCES.
The Rev. Harry w. Jones chaplain OF the battle
ship Texas preached before an immense congre-
CATION In the Lexington Avenue baptist church
last night Despite the hot weather there was
not standing room IN the big church when the
chaplain began his talk. Chaplain Jones is ar
present n patient In the Navy Hospital at the
BROOKLYN Navy Yard He among those VINO
were brought home aboard the ST. Louis from
Santiago \ bursting shell fired from spanish
gun on the day before the destruction Of Cervera 5
fleet Injured the chaplain and tho surgeons ordered
him home for treatment. lie has almost entirely
recovered however and has asked the Navy De-
partment to send him back to his ship as soon
possible.
The chaplain was member o, the Lexington
ave church before his assignment, 10 the
Texas and when the Rev. Or. Campbell the pas
tor asked him 70 speak last night he accepted
DESPITE the advice OF his physician. Mt Jones
made no effort at oratory. but during the recital
Of the bravery OF the American soldiers ana sail
ors before Santiago handerchiefs were freeiy useu
IN the congregation. ,-,..,o -, cha
blockade OF Santiago and the night patrol that was
established He said that the men and ofhcers on
board the Texas sure that there would be
battle and many OF them had intrusted letters ana
k.opsakcs 10 MIN 10 be delivered In case they We're
killed After a stay off Santiago. he continued
after the landing Of the first troops and he went
ashore there to perform the last sad rites over the
bodies OF Or. Gibbs and the others Killed there
Describing the burial services. the chaplain sa1d
that the bodies Of the dead had been arranged IN
a row in the rlhc-pits
Il had Just taken my position at the head OF the
row" he said when / heard what thought was
a whistle turned TO Colonel Huntington AMI
asked him II he rad whls;ed He said. No ana then
informed me that the Spanards had begun an at
tack from ambush Three companies were ordered
TO fall in 70 dlsodge tho gueras-that Is what they
were-and was ordered to get into the rifle PITS
70 avoid being an open mark for Spanish bullets
After a lit,le while il was decided to 20 on WIKI
the services SO with all 81 the men lying on their
stornachs In the rifle pits. and with the bullets
whistling about Ike rain the last rites were
said over the remains % the first American sol
ders that were Killed AMI buried on Cuban soil
"On the Monday following this the chaplain
continued another man was killed board the
Texas He was buried AT After the remains
had been consigned TO their watery resting place
Captain Philip turned to his men and said: Men
we have blank shells. Let every man OF you
slip cartridge into his piece and face the
Spaniards \ salute OF three volleys shall be fired
for our lost comrade. II by chance Spanlard IS
hit on shore all the better
The chaplain said referring 70 the stories OF
nlutiation that Sergeant Smith was so close TO the
Spanish rifle that killed him that his entire face
had been blown OFT. In this way the stories were
started. He told how the Texas engaged the enemy
while General Shafter landed his men and said
that the ship under fire for three hours AID
hall In that time there one man killed and
eight wounded.
The chaplain said that he well enough 10 30
on deck and witness the capture OF Cerveras fleet.
however. and he gave a graphic description Of the
scene 1T was at $40 o'clock that the Texas fred
her irst gun he said. AT 10,oG o'clock Captain
Philip and the navigator were on the bridge. sud-
denly the captain was summoned below. lie had
not left the bridge A minute when shell from one
OF the enemy's guns swept the very spot whore
he had been standing the bridge. At 1910 o'clock
the first OF the spanish ssels torpodo-boat went
to the bottom and Just minute later the second
ono followed. At 1927 o'clock tho Maria Teresa was
Ere and at II % o'clock the Nzcayl had started
head-on for the beach, I'm flames. When this te-
came apparent 10 the boys on board no Texas they
began to cheer wildly. Captain Piiiip commanded
silence. and turning 10 his said: Men. those
poor fellows are dead or dying. In such an hour d
not give voice 10 your feelings of victory
After the battle had been fought and victory
won said the chaplain. Captain Philip summoned
his men on deck and said. Men. IN this our hour
or glorious victory. | want all of YOU who can 10
uncover with and offer up a silcn; prayer 10 ,h
Almighty FOR His protecting grace. While our enc
mics have lost hundreds We have lost but ono man
In this hour He has been our protector"