The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-11-26
.SCHLBY TELLS OF
SANTIAGO FIGHT
He Was in Command When the
Battle Occurred.
WAS BIG ENOUGH FOR ALL
The Highest Ambition He Cherished
Was to Bring Honor to the
Flag. and Motto Seek Vain
Personal Glory.
WAS BIG ENOUGH FOR ALL

New York, November 26.-Rear Admiral
Winfield s. Schley was teadered compli-
mentary dinner in the Brooklyn club to-
night by its members. When Admiral
Scbiey arose to speak he was greeted with
prolonged cheers, which were renewed at
intervals during his telling of the destruc-
llJt - CeIt04tt ntet.
sit Is high tribute to my profession,
he saia, 10 stay That one vessel OF the
Spanish fleet escaped u.s..
The other speakers were Chauncey M.
Depew and BENZ. L. Tracey.
st. Clair Mckelway introduced Admiral
Schey, who spoke as follows:
IT am overwhelmed by the reception you
accord me, the more so because | have been
simply humble instrument in bringing
about a result which has added SO much
tc the glory of the nation.
II had no personal ambition whlch dld
not include the highest glory to my pro-
fession and the greatest lustre TO my ma
ton. | felt after that momentous day that
the battle was big enough for us. AT all
events it seems to have been big enough
for the country and big enough for the
world.
ut is curious how little things change
results After the army had invested San
tiago and performed prodigies of valor, L
was impressed that critical Saturday
night which preceded the historic July B. L
may say that l was confident that the
enemy contemplated movement 1t proved
to be true.
1.-The Spanish forces to the westward had
abandoned six blockhouses which were I'M
burned AT $3.50 o'clock that night the
enemys ships were all prepared to get UNI
der way to make a dash in the night.
They thought those. burning block houses
was a signal to us. There were six block
houses. as 1 have said, and the enemy had
six ships. o,
THAT was critical moment in Cervera
life. In the night time there was possl-
bility of one vessel escaping. Coming out
in the day it was simply an utterly lmpos-
sibiity The enemy thought we We're at
quarters So we were. In one minute ana
about thirty seconds from the time ne APP
peared at the mouth of the harbor every
one of our vcsseis was firing upon him. 1t
was the most beautiful sight ever saw.
There was a burst of laughter and eX-
carnations of fright you are Il say so
frankly" Admiral Schley went on.
1.-The ships appeared in column. l was
standing on the bridge of the Brooklyn
ana the first impression made upon me was
that it was like "a Spanish bull fight. They
came tail up and head down
1.-THE admiral had been called to the east
ward to confer with General Shafter. Be
fore leaving he signalled to disregard the
orders of the commander-in-chief This was
an announcement that the senior ofhcer
was left in charge. Fortunately or untor-
tunately, that happened to be myself. The
/ nal for close action. i-- ~
Is 'sThe enemy could choose one OF three
methods. He could elect to. tight apdS@ xsib
himself of the s'.-e~s.'eii oI tue anu pst-
as a flock of cartridges when it is flushed.
Or he could attempt to run, choosing either
the eastern or the western. course
sit was anxious moment while we
were waiting to see what he proposed do
ing. 1t required quick decision and quick
er action. Fortunately he chose to run,
and took the course to westward. All the
vessels closed in with al terrible cannonad-
ing The Brooklyn was the butt of attack,
because she was the fleetest and the flag
ship. The storm of projecties around
about reminded me of mill pond in a hail
storm, but until man was killed near me
was not aware that there was a shot
within a hundred miles of me.
Furious onslaught was made in the
tactical diameter of the enemy's fire. We
could not move in or out. OF course we
moved in and within 20 minutes four of the
enemy's ships were absolutely annihilated.
1.-THE Colon and the Vizcaya were the
last They put their helms to port and
speeded to the westward. There was
INNING fight of 81 minutes.
Admiral Schley described the fight and
the destruction of the Vizcaya leaving her
to the Texas to dispose Of
"We went on after the Colon. l felt as
did Nelson at Trafalgar, that the victory
would be incomplete if one ship escaped. 1
told Captain Cook to go below and have
dinner. as~we would not come up with the
Colon for forty-five minutes. He went
down to dinner and during that time we
were under heavy fire. but we did not reply
because it did us no HARM.
Admiral Schey pictured the surrender of
the Colon and he caPitulated the results of
the battle. He spoke Of Dewey's victory
al Manila and referred TO his own work
in Porto Rico. Then he added some modest
1T. ~ 1nxr II
tremendous cheering