The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-22
ABOUT CAPT. PHILLIP
Incidents i'm the Career of Com
mandcr of Battleship Texas.

Charles Jewett Swift OF Columbus,
Ca, who is well acquainted with Capt.
John w. Phillip. commanding the bat
tleship Texas, tai ked interestingly con-
cerning him 10 a st. Louis Globe-Dem-
ocrat reporter.
When the United States cruiser New
York first went into commission Capt.
Phillip was assigned to her command.
She was then the finest vessel In the
navy, and in conformity with the naval
custom, Capt. Phillip. as New YORKER,
was appointed TO the command OF the
vessel whose name was derived from
the principal city of the state. MT.
Swift says that Capt. Phillip has al,
ways been popular with his men, ana
enjoyed the most implicit confidence OF
his superior officers. AS indicating tne
trust reposed In him by the navy de-
partment he was placed in command
OF the United States ship Iuscarora
when IL was assigned to coast ana ny.
geographic work on the coasts anu
ports OF Central and South America.
This is the most delicate work which
any vessel may be called upon TO per-
FORM Capt Phillip occupied other I'M
portant and responsible posts on the
Pacific slope. and then came east 10
command the Atlanta. Later ne was
captain of the Charlestown navy yard.
The commander of the Texas rs one OF
the most abstemious men in the navy,
His views concerning religion are not
positively known, but he is very strict
i'm it's external observances on his snip.
If no chaplain is present he invarlaply
conducts the service himself. How
ever, this is a characteristic or nearly
all OF our naval officers.
Capt. Phillip gained much valuable
experience and celebrity in the mer-
chant marine OF the Pacihc coast.
Shortly after the war the Pacihc Mail
Company placed naval oncers al
charge of several of its steamers, ana
the big side-wheeler. the China, recent
ly impressed as a Philippine transport
by the government. fell 10 the iot OF
Capt. Phillip. This vessel made Chinese
and Hawaiian ports. An incident Illus
trating the firmness of character OF
Capt. Phillip is related on one OF THESE
trips. On the return from emma tne
steamer carried two passengers or 1or-
eign nationality. One evening it was
reported that they were smoking IN
their staterooms after prohibited hours
The captain politely warned them
against this practice the next morning
and was answered impudently by one
of the offenders. The infraction OF
rules was repeated the next night. and
in the morning Capt. Phillip ordered
the defiant foreigner handcuned 10, the
upper deck for three hours. The latter
was dire in his threats OF prosecution,
but when San Francisco was reacneo
was informed that 1t would not pay
him to push his case.
The action of the mail company IN
securing naval commanders Tor their
steamers aroused no little bitterness
among the regular shippers of the
slope. On one occasion a San Fran
cisco pilot, who had brought the CHINA
up the bay. was ordered below by Capt
Phillip. 1t was difficult task 10 prine
a side-wheeler to wharf, and, mindfu
of the throng of skeptlcal tars on the
dock, Capt. Phillip proposed to obtain
full credit for the task he was ABOUT &c
undertake. The pilot refused to yielo
his place, and IL required talk or forct
TO persuade him to vacate. capt
Phillip then brought the clumsy vesse
to her moorings with grace and ski
which brought cheers and admiration
even from the enemies assembled or
the wharf. After that he never lacked
a friend among them. assc
When the captain first assumed con
troll OF the Texas. his present com
mand, she was one OF the most lncor'
rigible vessels in the navy. But few
months under his direction surmountet
all of her difficulties and brought on
her good points. Admiral Sampson ant
Commodore Schley are both known L
have admitted that this man-of-war II
the best all-around vessel In the fleet
and that the manner in which she !.
handled leaves nothing to be desired
AS for Capt. Jack personally. he is al
ideal naval warrior. thorough,
equipped for his work. he has a clea
head that does not desert him in tim'
of danger, and he is quick TO see ;
good opportunity and to avail himsel
of It. He may be relied on to carry t
faithful and successful termination
any trust awarded to him. and with tn
splendid vessel now under his comman'
it will be exceedingly surprising IL h
does not come out of this war severa
points higher in rank than when h
entered II. This statement is backe'
by the fact that he is surrounded by
staff as competent and gallant as him
self.