The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-01
AFTER THE BATTLE.
An Incident Related by an officer of
the Indiana.

One interesting occurrence of the mem
orable third of July. which is not altogether
without the ludicrous element, has not,
thus far found its way into print 1t took
place after the battle with Cerveras squad
ron had been fought and won. The Indiana
participated in the engagement with great
Vigor until the entire Spanish squadron,
save the Colon, had been destroyed, we hav-
ing up to this time fired nearly 1900 shots.
Just as we were about opposite the Vizcaya,
which had been driven ashore, we were
overtaken by Admiral Sampson in his flag
was being pursued by the swifter vessels
of our fleet and that we were not needed
to insure her capture or destruction sig
nailed us TO return to our old berth off Nor
no and guard the entrance to the harbor.
In compliance with these instructions we
steamed back and resumed our station. And
now comes the less Somber incident of the
day, although 1t was some time later before
we were prepared to see the humor of what
occurred. Just as we began to recover
somewhat from the tense strain of two
hours terrific fighting we saw the Resolute
approaching from the eastward (the oppO-
site direction from where the battle had
taken place. under full head of steam and
behaving ir a most excited and unusual
manner for staid auxiliary man-of-war.
She was firing an occasional gun, footing
her whistle, 1uttering any number of sig
nails, and calling us uD with a Wig-wag
flag. Out of this multiplicity of signals we
gathered the information that she had seen
a Spanish battle ship heading to the west
ward, and was now spreading the alarm
among our men-of-war. After imparting
to her name, stood resolutely to the
westward to carry the dire news further
afield.
Our commanding officer. Captain Taylor.
decided instantly to go and meet the sup
posed Spaniard. Officers and men were
keyed to the highest pitch of readiness for
battle and eager for a single-handed combat
with a foeman worthy of our steel. With
out delay we headed eastward. full speed
ahead, and 500. sighted the stranger. But
ahead of the battle ship came the great
fleet of army transports which had gone TO
the eastward several miles to be out of the
range of stray shots during the engagement
earlier in the day They, too had sighted
the Spanish battle ship" and were in wild
flight. Sheep never fled before the face of
hungry hound more precpitately than did
these transports al the approach of a
strange war ship. Great clouds of smoke
poured from TT ,ir tunnels. and high white
bow waves marked the advance of each.
The fear OF speedy and awful destruction
was upon them, and they fled as Arabs flee
before the sandstorm of the desert. AS
they passed us ] was reminded of the sensa-
ton experienced when sitting at the window
of swiftly moving car watching the tele-
rear Along with the transports came the
large auxiliary cruiser Harvard. giving the
same information we had received from the
Resolute as to the nationality OF the battle
ship which could now be plainly seen. Her
officers vehemently asserted that the ship
bearing down upon us was surely Spanish
that they had seen her cOlors with their own
eyes and there could be no mistake; and
then, as is in confirmation of their report
then asked What do you wish US to dog"
thus very .pluckily putting their ship
at our disposal. But it was not
to accept this generous offer for the
Harvard. like the Resolute, is but lightly
armed to encounter a battle ship; and
though both of them are commanded by Off
GERS of well-known bravery their presence
in the fight would invite possible disaster
and needless sacrifice. We stood on to the
eastward fully prepared and rather anxious
for the contest, which seemed imminent but
very soon found that the battle snip so
steadily and boldly advancing was not fly
ing Spanish colors. She proved to be the
kaiserin Maria Theresa, of the Austrian
navy Just how she came to be at this par
tcular place at this particular time is,
Kipling would say, another story" To the
Resolute. the Harvard and the transports
the red, white and red horizontal bars In
her flag had seemed the red. yellow and red
of Spain; hence the alarm hence the flight.
opened fire there would doubtless have
suited international compiled lions. We
hove the vessel to. and her captain sent an
officer on board the Indiana on a visit Of
courtesy He conducted to our captain
on the bridge. and was surprised to learn
that we had just been in action. astounded
when informed of the destruction of the
Spanish ships and well nigh paralyzed on
finding that had sustained casualties.
While the ships were lying side by side the
Austrian band was mustered forward and
played our national air. This was answered
by a hearty cheer from the Indiana and
an incident was pleasantly closed which
at one time bore the sinister aspect of war.