The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-16

with scarcely a mouthful OF food. nad.
however, kept my men well supplied with
whisky and water I gave each a small
drink about every twenty minutes.
After we had Withdrawn and the clouds
Of smoke had lifted enough so that we
could see, Admiral Dewey signalled the
ships 70 report the number killed and
wounded 1t would have done your heart
good to have heard the shouts and cheers
that went up as ship after ship ran up the
signal 10 indicate that she had no killed
and none wounded worth reporting. II
the entire battle.
1t was wise move on Admiral Dewey s
part in withdrawing at that moment, for
our men were rapidly becoming exhausted.
For my own part. do not think could
have held out another half hour, and
neither could my men. We were not only
wearied physically, but the nervous strain
was something awful 1 called my men
into the gun room and served each with
a good stif drink Of whisky and told them
TO take all the rest they could get. went
into the chart room, as it was about the
coolest place on the ship and threw myself
on the chart table. I was too nervous TO
sleep and too exhausted 70 move. l just
lay there sort of dazed.
When Captain WiIds, who was still on
the bridge, sent for me, I made an effort
to go to him, but could not and returned
word that If he wanted to see me he would
have to come to me. The captain entered
the chart room and his presence seemed 10
revive me. I told him that my end OF the
ship would be ready for work again IN an
hour In the meantime the men had been
served with coffee and had had fair
breakfast I drank plenty of coffee myselt
and ate wei land resumed my duty. Mean
time 1 paid a short visit 10 my room and
found that a shell had exploded in it, and
strange to say, of all my personal effects
the one thing that suffered most was my
shaving set. I have pieces OF 1t yet, but
that is all. There were pieces on pieces.
Soon after 10 o'clock we advanced again
and the Baltimore opened the fight. As
many of the Spanish ships had been dis
abled what we feared most now was the
forts. The Baltimore sailed right into
the very teeth of the guns, any one Of
which could have annihilated her, and
only bad craftsmanship of the Spanish
gunners saved her from destruction and
she did not retreat until she had prac-
ticvally silenced the fort.
1t was not until y o'clock that the
Spanish flag was lowered and the first
battle of the war fought and laurels add
ed to the Stars and Stripes.
My ship, the Boston was perhaps struck
oftener during the battle than any of the
American ships, but in every instance
il was small shot or shell, making
CHANGING blow that did no particular
harm. After the first hour or so of the
battle if we had received a damaging
shot the chances are that we would all
have gone down, for out of all the ships
boats only two were of any value, the
others having been shattered to pieces.
The Boston did her best work against
the Isle de Cuba after the Spanish adj
miral had transferred his flag to that
ship.
We were circling in line with the other
ships when the Isle de Cuba swung
around to give US a broadside. The guns
in the port battery got the range on the
Isle de Cuba and sent in a shot that
struck in amidshfps and made her trem-
BILE from stem to stern I was watching
at the portfolio at the time. The other
guns of the Boston followed the example
of the port gunner, and for few min
ues it seemed as though the Isle de Cuba
was crumblng to pieces like falling
building in an earthquake. We turned
and the starboard guns did equally good
work. and when the Spanish flag came
tumbing down we let out yell that was
heard around the world, fguratively
speaking. if not literally.
I can never forget the scene after the
battle The forts were smoking, and
scattered all through the bay were the
hunks of once magnificent Spanish ships
Some were drifting helplessly about. Is
though the men on board seemed not 20
know what 10 do and had lost their heads
entirely. Rigging was trailing in the
water and only remnants remained Of The
lifeboats Over at the edge OF the bay
was the wreck of the once magnificent
Reina Christina. Further along were
smoking huIks. and here and there could
only be seen the masts and rigging above
water.
To add 10 the horror Of the scene. hun
dreds Of corpses came floating by. and il
seemed as though the bay was fun Of
dead Spaniards, although 7 believe less
than a thousand were killed. I really
think that the sight IN the harbor thai
afternoon impressed men more with the
horrors Of war than did anything which
occurred during the actual battle.
II would take volumes to tell the little
incidents OF the battle; but ali through
the dght my men acted as though they
were only on inspection. and were work
ing for time honors." 10 see when crew
could hoist the ammunition and get {. IN
place the quickest L was no. Until s.
was all over and we began 70 recount the
incidents az the fght that any % Is
realized the danger We had passed
through.
During al the fight ny men. except for
lizzie while during the interval s7r
breakfast, were stripped 70 TIE bare
skin. and wore only cheiE sz9es The
thermometer vas over 10. and 20 th-s
was added the beat q tza FIRE % re
guns. until II made ores blood fairly bs-l
after the battle secured 3 small span
ISL flag which came floating BY and watch
had belonged % Admiral zEon-et1'z
launch. n attendance On the flagship
Resua Christina regard il as zsaoz;
priceless
To ne. one OF the funniest Incidents q
the who,e hEht wzs when 1sx- Gay tAe
Spanish admiral seat w5r5 70 Captain
Wills q ;he Bssioo that vale ~ had
surrendered. tee Spanish Sszers. ela4asa