The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-11
Took Conspicuous Part In the
Great Naval Battle.
HOT FOR THE SPANIARDS
SECONDARY BATTERIES De
MORALIZED THE ENEMY.
Official Report On the Conduct of the
Marine Guard of Schley's Flagship
Handled Their Guns With Great
Goodness and Performed Many
Acts of Bravery.

Washington, Aug. 1O.-The following
report has been made public by the
navy department.:
United States Flagship Brooklyn
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, July g.
1898:
''Sir-I have the honor to submit the
/ following report of the part taken by
the marine guard of this vessel on the
/ Bird inst. in the action which resulted
! in the destruction of the Spanish
squadron 81.
! AT the moment7the alarm was given
that the enemy's ships Were coming
out of the harbOr, the guard was at
quarters, ready for inspection. 1t was
Immediately dismissed and the men
sent to their stations for battle. The
men were full of enthusiasm, but there
was no excitement or disorder, and
apparently no concern for personal
safety. The battery was handled with
admirable GOODNESS and elaboration.
Greater care could not be taken in set
ting sights and aiming if the man had
been at target practice and each striv-
ing to make a record score,
Considering the fact that the enemy
was within effective range during the
greater part of the action. the fire of
most destructive to- his men and ma
terlal, and contributed it's full share to
bringing the battle TO an end so speed
lily and with so little loss to ourselves
1t is reported that the Spanish officers
have stated that so deadly was the
effect of our secondary battery flre
that it was impossible to keep their
zen at the guns.
Where all did their duty man
individuals for special mention. There
are some, however, who deserve to be
brought to your notice by name for
the conduct they displayed in a con-
spicuouS manner, and the courage in
tell1gence and devotion to duty during
the action. a cartridge during the ac-
ton was caught in the six-pounder,
and IN an effort to withdraw it, the
case became detached from the pro-
Jectile, leaving the latter fast in the
bore and impossible to eXtricate from
the rear. Corporal Robert Guy of the
port gun asked and received permits
sion TO attempt to drive the shell out
by means of q hammer To do this
IL was necessary to go out on the gum
ana the undertaking was full of diff
Guilty and danger, the latter due in a
great measure to the blast of the tur-
ret guns firing overhead. The gun
was hot, and it was necessary to cling
TO the Jacob ladder with one hand
While endeavoring with the other to
manipulate the long rammer. After
brave effort, he was forced to give
up and was ordered in.
Quarter Gunner w. H. Smith then
was sent by the executive officer and
promptly placed himself in the danger
Gus position outside the gun port where
he worked and failed as the corporal
had done. Neither had been able 10
get the rammer into the bore and there
seSmed nothing left to do but dismount
the gun. AT this iuncture Private Mac
Neal. one of the crew, volunteered to
go out and make final effort. The
gun was so important, the starboard
battery being engaged. that as for
lcrn hope he was permitted to make
the attempt. He pushed out boldly and
set TO work. The guns of the forward
turret were firing, the blast nearly
knocking him overheard, and the en-
emy's shots We're coming with fire.
quency into his immediate neighbor-
hood. 1t was at this time that Chief
Woman Ellis was killed on the other
side of the deck. MacNeal never paused
in his work. The rammer was finally
placed in the bore and the shell eject
ed. The gun was Immediately put in
action and MacNeal resumed his duties
as coolly as if what he had done were
a matter OF every day routine.
The battle orderlies well merit place
among those whose conduct is worthy
Of special mention. They were on the
move continuously bearing battle or
Divers TO all parts of the ship, and in
no instance did they fail In the prompt
and intelligent performance of their |
responsible duty.
The signal men occupied very ex-
posed positions during the action and