Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-06-10

range announced by the sublieuten-
ant in the foretop as the fleets rapidly
neared each other. II touches the
heart to think of the solitary young
American facing death far away from
his friends and his country, surrounded
by aliens in whose sight he was merely
fighting machine. The ordeal before
him and his men was more terrible
than soldiers had been called upon to
face in regular battle since the begin
ming of human wars. That McGiffin
fully realized the situation he ha:
shown us in letter written to his
brother upon starting TO meet the
japanese ships. You know" he said,
at is four killed to one wounded since
the new ammunition came in. 1t is bet
ter so. don't want to be wounded. !
prefer to step down or up and out OF
this world" Not extraordinary words,
but splendidly expressive of soldier
like way of facing fate.
The closing lines of this letter were
sadly prophetic. McGifln wrote: 81
hate 10 think Of being dreadfully
mangled and then patched up with half
my limbs and senses gone"
There was no sound but the painting
of the ship under forced draught. The
men, grouped quietly at their stations,
did not venture TO speak even in whis-
pcrs. "Fifty-two hundred meters" the
range was called. Then the great yel-
low flag Of China was raised 10 the
main truck, and the quck-iring guns
opened fire and the fight began.
1t is estimated that McGiflin's ship
was hit 400 times and l20 times by large
shot or shell. The rain of projecties
visited every exposed point of the ves-
sci. Early in the fight shell exploded
in the fighting top, instantly killing
every one of its inmates. Indeed, all
such contrivances proved TO be death
traps. Five shells burst inside the
shields of the bow six-inch gun, com
pletely cutting the place. Though the
carnage was frightful, the Chinese sail
ors, with their commander TO encour'
age them, stuck to their posts. A chief
gunner was aiming his gun when shell
took off his head. The man behind
him caught the body, passed it back
to his companions, calmly finished the
lsigk,ing of the piece and fired it.
re Chen Yuen gave as hard
knocks as she received, and until her
ammunition ran low her fire was rap
id, and more effective than that of hcI
adyersaries. One Of the last shells
fired under McGiffin's personal direc
tons from l2-inch gun, disabled thC
13-inch gun on the enemy's flagship
the Matsushima, and exploded the pow
der on.deck, killing or disabling mor'
| than 100 japanese officers and men
Then McGifiln's Cinnamon cheered JOY
fully.
The five hours strain on the com
mander Was terrific, for there was nt
subordinate who could relieve him ant
his presence was required everywhere
While the fight was hottest fire brok,
out in the superstructure above th'
forecastle. 1t became necessary to rur
out hose in the range of the starboGrt
guns which had been ordered to fir
to port across the forecastlc. The mol
refused to do this until McGilin callet
for volunteers and offered to lead them
Word was sent to the head gunner n
the starboard battery TO train hi
pieces ahead, and McGifIin and his vol
unteers started with the hose for tn
forecastle. Half of the men were sho
down by the enemy. AS the captain
stopped over to grasp the hose sho
passed between his legs, burning hi
wrists and seyering the tail Of his coat
A fragment of shell that had burs
against the tower wounded him sec
Ond time.
Meanwhile men at the forecastle GU
were falling rapidly and the head gun
ner was killed. The man who took hi
place, not knowing that his comrade
were in front of his guns, discharge
cne of them. The explosion knocke
the captain and his men down an
killed several Of them. At the same In
slant another shot struck McGiflin.
lie would probably have RENAME
there unconscious II water from gas
in the hose had not revived him. Iii
first glance on coming to his senses wa
into the muzzle of the starboard gur
1t was slowly moving into position fc
firing. what an ass am to sit her
and be blown TO pieces" thought M
Giiiln. So he flung himself from the 81
perstructure and fell eight feet TO th
deck below With blood pouring frol
his mouth he crawled into the supe
ttructure and told the men to carr
MIN aft. In few minutes he wa
fighting his ship again.
McGifiin stood very near the larg
gun when it exploded. He was almol
blinded. His hair and eyebrows wei
burned off and his clothes torn and S,
on fire. There was series OF gasht
inshis trousers extending their entil
length. Throughout the fight his ca,
were stuffed with cotton, as were thos
Of all the gunners, but after the day
fighting his ear drums were found
be permanently injured by concussio
Several times he was wounded |
splinters, which he extracted himself.
4 With 40 wounds in his body, hol
! iag an eyclid up with one hand, tb
: man of iron nerve led the fighting {
his ship until the japanese vessels ga'
, up the contest, and he alone of all Il
} Chinese commanders kept his ship
S its proper position throughout the tlgh
$ thus protecting the flagship and sa
+ ing the feet from total destruction.
After his great battle Capt. McGihi
a mental and physical wreck, came
: America TO die. lie met death as
: brave man should, with but one regrc
: which we may share with him. I
{ wished that lie might have had OIL