New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
BROOKLYN,S TERRIBLE FIRE.
HOW HER SECONDARY BATTERY RID
DIED SPANISH SHIPS

airy battery fire Of the BROOKLYN really ter
ribie 1t drove my men from their guns. and
when YOU at close range did frightfu
work" SAID captain Eulate two days after the
destruction of the Spanish squadron and res
cued officer Of the Almirante Oquerdo said that
nearly orc-half OF the terrible damage 10 that
ship was done by and 6 FOUNDERS which con-
st!tute the secondary battery. The Board Of
Survey ordered by the Commander Chief
found forty-six G-pounder holes In the Almiraute
Oqucndo above her armor belt. and evidence
that nearly all had entered ana exploded.
In the Nizcaya there were eleven G-pounder
holes. and dozens Of l-roCndcis. and on these
two ships the tattoo Of death-lcalinc shells
must have been appalling The terrb" work
Of the secondary batteries on The Almirantc
OQuendo is somewhat explained by the fact
that she was the las, ship out and nearest the
torpedo boats. and the Brooklyn. the Texas
and the Iowa simply riddled her she at
tempted TO defend the two dcstroycrs The
work on the Nizcava was apparently done 10y
the Brooklyn alone. because no other ship was
near enough 10 her 20 use the small guns.
GOOD WORK BY MARINES
The men who man those batteries ma
rnes and they fight them in the most exposed
parts Of he ship. with little or no protection.
Captain Paul ST Clair Murphy, Of the Brook
n.
ships tina, did the nrhtinr on July ,. and h.
highly commended the work done 10y the mon
Of his corps Speaking of the men on Tho
Brooklyn. he tells one thrilling incident II"
says.
The men were full Of enthusiasm but there
was no excitement OF disorder. and apparently
no concern for personal safety The battery was
handled with admirable GOODNESS and deihera-
tion. Greater care could not have been taken
in getting sights and aiming II the men had
been at target practice and each striving 70
make a record score. Considering the fact that
the enemy within effective range through
out the greater part Of the action. the fire of
the secondary battery must have been most
destructive TO his men and material and con
tributed its full share to bringing the battle
10 an end so speedily and with 50 little loss to
ourselves
INSTANCES OF GArI.ANTRY.
when all did their duty manfullv it IS
difficult matter 70 select individuals for special
mention There are some however VINO deserve
TO be brought TO notice by name for conduct
that displayed in conspicuous manner cour-
age intelligence ana devotion 70 duty. During
the early part Of the action cartridge became
TANNED In the bore Of the starhoard forward
6-poundor. and in the effort to withdraw it the
case became detached from The proJectilc ioav-
Ing the latter fast in the bore and impossible
to extract from the rear.
corporal Robert Gray. Of the port gun asked
and obtained permission to attempt To- driv" tho
shell out with the rammcr TO DO this. II was
necessary to go out on the gun. hanging over
the water. and the undertaking was full OF DIFF
ncultlcs and danger the latter due in great
measure 10 the blast of the S-inch turrct guns
firing overhead The gun was hot. and it was
g adj
one hand while endcavoring 10 manipulate the
long ramrner with tn, other. After brave
effort he was forced to give up. and was or
dered in.
Quarter Gunner Smith Their came. sent b.
Executive Officer Mason. and promptly placed
himself in the dangerous position outside IN"
gun port where he worked and failed as the
corporal had done. Neither had been abl" 70
get the hammer into the bore ana there seemed
nothing Icf, to do but dsmount the gun.
PRIVATE MACNEAIs FEAT
at this juncture Private MacNeal. one
Of the guns crew. volunteered 10 20 out and
make a final effort. The gun was so Important
the starboarl battery being engaged that, as
a forlorn hope he was permitted 20 make the
ATTEMPT lie pushed boldly ont and got To work
The guns OF the forward S-inch turrct were mr.
ing. almost knocking him overheard ana the
encmy's shots were coming Win I'I"'H'| ''''
his immediate ncighborhood At this time the
chief ycornan was Killed on the other side Of
the deck MacNcal never paused In his work.
The hammer was finally placed IN the bore. and
the shel; elected. and MacNeai resumed his
dutlos as coolly as If what he had done were
a matter Of everyday routine
"Tbc battle orderlies viii merit place among
those whose conduct IS worthy Of special mon
,ion 'rhev were on the move constantly, bear
inc hattie orders from Commodore Schlcy ana
Captain Cook and in no instance did they iail
in the prompt and Intelligent performance Of
their responsible duty The signal men occu-
MED very exposed positions during the action
and rendered excellent service Signal haIyar"s
and numbers and sp"cdcones were rudieu "H
small projectiics and fragments 81 pursuing
a,,ou casualties tina. show in what zone OF dan
Ger the signal men performed their duties
Si.nalmen Coombs and Mclntire and Battle
orderl!cs Rall ard Davis were so near Woman
ruis when he was killed that they were spat-
tered with blood.
TIE MEN IN THE TOPS.
.xoro showed more unflinching courage than
tho mon i'm the military tops. who stood by their
guns delivering their fire with unerring pre-
c,sion undlsmaycd by the projectiles that were
Giving about them and striking IN their I'M
mediate vicinity. Private StockbridSe the only
man on the sick list. climbed INTO the maihtop
NJ the signal for battle where he remained
,,,,.n tho end Of tho action. doing good work at
his gun 81. So
ooant Manning Sergeants Brstow Montsir'
ingalls, and McDeviit. and Corporals Dittmeier'
Dovle and Gray-showed excellent soldierIy
Qualities in the management of the men ana
rendered