The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-11
THE MARINE GUARD
WORK OF THIS ARM OF THE SER
VICE AT SANTIAGO
GREAT PRAISE Is DUE THE MEN
The Report of Captain Murphy Made
Public-Schley Endorses It-How
They Manned the Tops
Ass ISOLATED Press special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10.-The following
report has been made public by the navy
department:
FLAGSHIP, NORTH ATLANTIC STA
TON, July 1e, 1898, U. g. Flagship Brook
Ign. Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, July 8, 1885
Sir: have the honor to submit the follow
ing report of the part taken by the marine
guard of this vessel on the I'd inst, in the
action which resulted in the destruction Of
the Spanish squadron:
2. At the moment the 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 were 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 setting sights and
aiming If the men had been at target prac-
tice and each striving 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 the secondary
battery must have been most destructive ,o
his men and material, and contributed it's
full share to bringing the battle to an end
so speedily and with so little loss to our
selves. 1t is reported that the Spanish off,
GERS have stated that so deadly was the eff
feet of our secondary battery fire that 1t
was impossible to keep their men at the
guns.
Heroes at the Guns
3. Where all did their duty manfully, 1t
is difficult matter to select individuals for
special mention. There are some, however,
who deserve to be brought to your notice
by name for conduct that displayed in a
conspicuous manner their courage, intelli-
gence and devotion TO duty during the ac-
ton. A cartridge during the action was
jammed In the bore of the six-pounder, and
In the effort to withdraw 1t the case became
detached from the projectile. leaving the
latter fast in the bore and impossible to
extricate from the rear. Corporal Robert
Guy of the port gun asked and received
permission to attempt to drive the shell out
by means of a hammer. To do this ii was
necessary to go out on the gun, and the
undert aking was full of difficulty and dan
ger, the latter due in a great measure to
the blast of the turret guns firing over
head The gun was hot and ii was necessary
to cling to the Jacob ladder with one hand,
while endeavoring with the other to manip-
ulate the long hammer. After brave eff
fort, he was forced to give up and was Or
dered in
Quarter Gunner w. II. Smith was then
sent by the executive officer and promptly
placed himself in the dangerous position
outside the gun port. where he worked and
failed, as the corporal had done. Neither
had been able to get the rammer into the
bore. and there seemed nothing left to do
but dsmount the gun. At this juncture
Private MacNeal, one of the crew, vol
uhteered to go out and make a final effort.
The gun was so important the starboard
battery being engaged, that, as a forlorn
nope he was permitted to make the at
tempt. He pushed out boldly and set to
work. The guns of the forward turret
were firing. the blast nearly knocking him
overheard, and the enemy's shots were COM
ing with frequency into his immediate
neighborhood It was at this time that
Chief Yeoman Ellis was killed on the other
side of the deck. MacNeal never paused in
his work. The hammer was finally placed in
the bore and the shell elected. The gun
was Immediately put in action and Mac
Neal resumed his duties as coolly as if what
he had done were a matter of everyday
routine.
The Battle Orderlies
The battle orderlies we'll merit a place
among those whose conduct Is worthy of
special mention. They were on the move
,l
parts of the ship, and In no instance did
they fail in the prompt and intelligent per-
formance of their responsible duty. The
signal men occupied very exposed posi-
lions during the action and rendered ex-
cellent service. Signal halyards and num-
bers, battle flags and speed cones were rid
died by small projectiles and fragments of
bursting shells-casualties that show in
what zone Of danger the signal men per-
formed their duties. Signal Man Coombs
and Mcintyre and Battle Orderlies Rail and
Davis were so near Yeoman Ellis when he
was killed that they were despatched with
blood.
The following are the names Of the battle
Crderies: To the flag of1icer-Privates Rail-
and Davis. To the commanding officer
Privates Kelly Smith and Sanjue. To the
executive OI1C6f-frVateS 6rennen, u.
Wismer and ODonnell.
The flag orderly, Private Richmond, and
commanding officers orderly. Private
woodruff, were on deck and rendered good
service
The following are the names Of the signal
men: Forward-Privates' Coombs and Nc
Intyre. Aft-Privates Shaw and Allearne.
Boys Behaved Bravely
The music boys, Drummer WeisenDerg
and Fifer Stewart, were stationed on the
main and gun decks respectively to sound
trumpet calls, and behaved manfully.
None showed more unflinchlng courage
that the men in the military tops, who stood
by their guns, delivering their fire with un-
erring precision, undismayed by the pro-
jectiles flying about them and striking In
their immediate vicinity.
Private Stockbridge, the only man on the
sick list, climbed into the maintop at the
signal for battle where he remained to the
end of the action, doing good work at his
gun.
The non-commisisoned officers-Frst
Sergeant Manning, Sergeants Bristow
Montair, ingalls, and McDevett, Corporals
Dittmeir. Doyle and Gray-showed excel
lent soldierly qualities in the management
OF the men and battery.
First SeFpeant MANNING rendered valu-