The times., 1898-07-14
BOUNTIES FOR SEA SOLDIERS.
Heavy Rewards for the Destruction
OF CerYeIa's Fleet.

Bounty to the amount of about S200, 900
will be distributed to the officers and
men of the ships under command of
Commodore Sampson. as reward for the
destruction of Cerveras fleet.
Under a law passed by Congress in
1864 1t is provided that the officers and
men of United States ship shall be en-
titled to bounty to the amount of slO1
TO each man on a vessel of the enemy
sunk or destroyed by them, in case such
vessel shall be adjudged to be of inferior
force to the vessel sinking or destroying
it. and to the amount of 500 per man
in case the enemy's vessel was OF equal
or superior force.
While it might be that some of the
American vessels under Sampson were
not of superior force to individual yes
sells in Cervera's fleet, there is no ques
tion that the American feet was supe-
rior. and the bounty will therefore be
at the rate of 500 for each man on the
Spanish vessels.
The most reliable estimates based on
the returns of the Bureau of Naval IN
telligence, and on official reports of the
nubmer killed. wounded and captured,
make the total personnel of the Spanish
fleet foot up 10 from 2050 TO 2.1S0. so
that the bounty to be divided among the
American fleet will amount TO more than
s2OO. 900.
The law provides that this bounty shall
be distributed and paid in the same man.
ner as prize money. and the law pre-
scribes very minutely how prize money
shall be distributed. An interesting ques-
ton may be raised if the Government sue
ceeds in saving any of the Spanish yes
sells.
If they are saved they will not come
under the head of destroyed vessels. but
of prizes and the officers and men will
then be entitled TO prize money for sucn
vessel instead of bounty
Not only will the vessels that actually
participated in the battle and fired AZ
the Spanish ships. but every armed YES
sci of the navy that was within signal dis
tance, will share IN the prize. As Tar
as can be judged by the reports thus lar
received this will make the list OF 2aF-
ticipating vessels include the New York,
Brooklyn, Iowa Indiana. Oregon, Texas
Gloucester, Vixen. Ericsson and Resolute
The law gives 10 the commanding ofi-
Ger of a feet or squadron one-twentleth
part of ali the prize money or bounty
awarded 20 any vessel or vessels under
his command, and this will give TO Com
modore Sampson more than $4,000 as his
share Of the S20o 900 that will be distrib-
uted 10 the feet. The commanding Off
Ger of fleet or division is entitled TO
one-6ftieth of the total and this will
make Schley's share more than 5000.
After deducting these two amounts the
remainder will be divided among the
vessels entitled TO participate, in propor-
ton to the number of men IN their crews.
The crews of each of the four battle
ships and two armored cruisers are ap-
proximately the same. and It is probable
there will still remain nearly $4,000 to
be divided among the seven large ships.
The commanding officer of each ship is
entitled to one-tenth OF the amount al
lotted TO his ship and this would make
the shares of Captains Chadwick. Cook.
Evans. Taylor Philip and Clark approx
imately s., 800 each.
After making all these deductions the
remaining bounty VIII be distributed
among all officers and men doing duty
on the ships in proportion 20 their rates
of pay in the service. It is impossible 10
estimate what the prize money for any
of the Spanish ships would amount 10,
as. if they should be saved. their value
would have TO be appraised and the yes
sells of Simpsons fleet would be entitled
TO one-haIf of their appraised value