The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-08-18
JACK COMES HOME.
JACK HILL, CHIEF MECHANIC OF
THE TEXAS, VISITS HIS PARENTS.
TELLS OF BRAVERY IN BATTLE
The Battleship Texas Bore Her Part With
Honor and Has Wiped Out tire Stains
Against Her Name-Relics From
the Spanish Squadron.

Jack Hill who was one of the
famous sailors on the United States
battleship Texas, is now in Kenosha
visiting his parents. The boys of the
Texas all have a seven days furlough
and Chief Mechanic Hill is spending
his with his parents. Jack reach, d
the city Sunday night and ever since
his home coming he has been bust y
engaged in telling his friends of how
the Texas fought and bore herself
amidst the rain of shot and she'll from
Spanish batteries and Spanish gun
boats. Jack tells many an interesting
story of the fun at Santiago and seems
to enjoy nothing better than telling
how bravely the boys fought under the
stars and stripes when the Spanish
feet attempted to rush past the Amer
lean ships to liberty. There was no
excitement among the Americans, said
Jack; they had always expected to
whip the Spaniards and when the time
came nearly every ship was ready to
blast forth it's shots at the fleeing
Spanish vessels.
There was a good reason why the
Spanish ships did little damage to tie
Americans, tor when they were exam
ined after they had been cast on tie
shore the guns were all set for range
of 1000 yards and the American vessels
were fighting at range Of 500 yards
and several times during the contest
the men on her had orders to ram.
Every soldier, said Nh. Hill, is proud
that he was on the Texas. Although
she had been called the American
hoodoo, she bore the heaviest fighting
of the war and while she was sailed
into dry docks her second floor was all
that kept her af0at. At Camerenura
the Texas had The most dangerous eX-
plot of the war. She had been ordered
to this bay in order to secure a place
for landing of Skaters army. rs
harbor had been mined in a very COM
plete manner and when the Texas en-
tered the bay she was greeted by great
crowds on shore who had come down to
see the " Yankee pigs" blown out of
the water. But Divine Providence
interfered and changed the riOtous
laughs of the Spaniards to funeral
dirges. Barnacles had so covered the
mihes that they failed to explode and
the Texas passed safely over them and
opened a fire on the fort which killed
hundreds at every shot. The entire
town was wiped out. So great was
the slaughter that when the Marble
head sought to enter the bay two weeks
later they were unable to do so on &C
count of the stencil from the decaying
bodies.
Chief Mechanic Hill has with him
many interesting relics, taken mostly
from the decks of the Oquendo. Sew
eral of these relics are long swords
which undoubtedly not long ago were
worn by Spanish officers. The officers
and crew of the Texas have been high
| lY honored since their return and New
York has showered its highest favors
upon them. Jack says that the boys
are all glad that the war is over and
many shout will ring from the Amer
lean boats when these tidings are re-
ceived. The boys have borne count
less privations, but they have done it
in a heroic manner Food has been
scarce and fever has claimed many a
victim, but the boys have always
fought for their country and had little
time to think of the hardships which
they we're forced to endure.
Chief Mechanic Hill will remain in
Kenosha until Thursday morning.