The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-24

Spouse to a question regarding to whom
the honor was due, said: Admiral
Sampson undoubtedly deserves the
greatest part OF the glory for the defeat
of the Spanish squadron. He formulat-
ed the plans by which the action was
fought and issued the orders which
were carried out by our ships. When
the feet came out of the harbor, we
were on our way to GOAL, but when the
first shot was fired we changed our
course and with all possible speed re-
turned to the scene and were in it
shortly after the ships started out of the
harbor. Admiral Schley deserves some
of the credit but Admiral Sampson de-
serves the bulk Of the glory.
go forward and speak to some of
the men; they viii tell you the whole
story" said another officer when asked
what he thought of the fight.
A number of the men were lounging
about the deck talking of where the
ship would likely go next and wonder
ing if they would ever get a chance at
Havana, off which harbor they had
spent SO many weary days. When spo-
ken to regarding the fight one of the men
who had appointed himself spokesman
for the crowd said: "Ah, if it wasn't
for Sampson Schley wouldn't be in it
for a minutel We did the whole bust
ness. We were on the left of the line
when the firing commenced, but it
didn't take us long to get where the
scrap was, and when we did we staid
there to the end. The Brooklyn was
out at sea, and we thought she was run
ming away. We didn't know where she
was going. We pushed the Colon into
shallow water after she surrendered,
while the Brooklyns outfit looked on.
The fight belongs to Sampson and
there's no marking that out. Those fell
lows on the Brooklyn will tell you they
were the whole thing, but don't you
believe it, for if it wasn't for the orders
given by Admiral Sampson to close in
the dagoes would have got away"
While he was making his speech the
men standing around nodded approving
ly and broke in with ''That's right
On board the Brooklyn it was differ
emit The officers refused to discuss the
affair, and when asked about it would
say: "Just look over the sides of the
ships and count those red spots and
look at the dents. They will tell the
story. Each one represents a Spanish
shot. We were hit more times than any
other ship, and it goes to show where
we were when the fight took place.
There is no disputing where we were
when the last shot was fired.
The men forward were ready to an
swer all questions put to them regard
ing the fight and the part they took in
it. When the New York was mention
ed, they We're ready to fight battle
all over again, using the crow Admi-
raj Sampson's flagship in pi Of the
Spaniards. The men to a MS declared
that Schley won the battle, and the
New York was never in it. The sp0kes-
man for the BrOoklyn's crew was a strap
ping big Seaman. He was from the sec
ond gun division. "Sampson' 6 all right,
but he's got lot of Holsters in his crew.
They are talking of what they did.
Well, I'll tell you what they did, and
it IS gospel truth. Amt it. felIers?'' He
turned to the men who were standing
around him, and from their appearance
they were ready to back up everything
he said with more than words.
"When those ships came out of the
harbor, - said he, admiral Schley was
aft locking inshore. We didn't wait
for any orders, bat Fan to our quarters.
1 could see tina whole. business from my