New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-05

In alleviatlng the condition CT the soIdiers and
sailors and Of the society formed 10 relieve the
families Of these brave defenders O. their coun-
try. Major Byrne remarked: II may say that
we have formed grand amy OF reserve be-
hind these gallant sailors and soldiers who are
so nobly doing their duty at this time. America
has always produced man for the occasion.
We have witnessed this In Manila (cres OF
Three cheers FOR Dewey" which were given
with the utmost enthusiasm and again in the
waters Of Cuba. In those waters there was one
who indvidualized American valor American
chivalry, American courage and brancy and
one who electrified the world by his achieve
ment on the deck Of the Merrimac. prolonged
cheers)
THE HERO INTRODUCED.
Major Byrne closed by remarking that he now
resigned the deck to Lieutenant Hobson. and as
the hero Of the Merrimac stepped to the front
of the stage the scene of unrestraned enthusi
asm that marked his entrance was repeated.
The whole audience jumped on one impulse to
their feet and gave vent to the fullest power
of their lungs Flags fans and handkerchiefs
waved in unison to the strains Of Dixie" which
played by the band For a full three min
utes the enthusiastic clamor was continued,
while the object of it all stood, self-contained'
admiring countrymen.
When there came n little cessation In the
cheering Lieutenant Hobson. raising his voice,
endeavored to secure quetness by shouting
! Wont you now avast, Yankee Doodle?" the
| audience, however. misunderstood. and, THINK
! ing that he was calling for the song of yankee
! Doodle" they responded as in one voice to the
! accompaniment of the band. Finally. when the
people sunk back in their seats Lieutenant
Hobson, speaking in a clear and resonant voice,
said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: The deck has been
| turned over to me- but | take Objection 10
| lkening this situation to the deck Of a man-o
war Laughter) AS you all know. the sailor
abhors words. II you followed his routine
from the time ne turns out in the morning until
taps at night you would hear but very few
words. He has the simple pipe OF the whistle
for most of his orders or the blast of the bugle
Even for those commands and communications
which control all the forces that make up
vessel for directing the engines. for controlIing
the battery he will have simple signals, and now
that the deck Is turned over 10 me- and am
called upon to use words-words In abundance
| am on an unknown Q-aughter) | must
| confess, however. that knew that should he
upon the unknown sea when consented to APP
! pear here tonight but sailors before have gone
into unknown seas when causes adequate have
called them Qoud oheers) and II any cause
! could appeal 10 me more than all other causes
il is that which works to the interest Of the
sailor and soldier, for have been associated
|
| years. yet long enough to know him.
AN INCIDENT OF A PRACTICE CRUISE.
My first experimentation the only thing
the sailor can talk about is a few little incl
dents and experiences OF his own-was while
on practice cruise just after entering the
| Naval Academy. one day several of the cadets
were swimming toward the Constellation. which
anchored about three quarters Of a mile
from the shore Most of the cadets had reached
the ship, but one Of them was seized with
cramps, and he sang out for boat TO be
lowered to take him aboard. Immediately a
rush made to hoist out boat. but sailor
who heard him jumped overheard To his assist
ance. Then another went overheard then
from the boom. from the quarter and from the
bridge other sailors followed in such numbers
that actually the captain had 10 give the order
in stern tones. and his orderly passed 1t along,
that NO more men jump overboard. daughter
and cheers)
| | have seen the same spirit exhibited when
in a heavy gale lifeboat had been called for
| 1t was with the same old Constellation. She
running free before half a gale, with close
| reefed topsails. when man fell overheard
| Without waiting to bring her to the wind, so
that the launching would be easier under the
ships lee. the life crew lowered the boat. 1t
rescue. He fell from the crosstrees. and struck
the water apparently lifelcss While the life
| boat getting away she was swamped by
| heavy wave, and it was no longer a question
| of saving one man. but seven. Another life
boats crew was called away; 1t was not neces-
sary to give the order for the call They were
already there 1t was not necessary TO muster
the crew. Each man was in his place, and they
| lowered the lfeboat without hesitation. (Cheers)
| This was my first introduction to the acquaint-
| ance of the sailor he whom we call Jackie.
| A number of years passed, and every year or
association with Jackie" confirmed the first
| conclusions l had drawn of him, and recently,
friends, | have had occasion to see Jackie
where he was sorely taxed. l feel that certain
| features of the recent incident in which Jackie
played his part so well should be referred to.
| Ii is known that when the call was made FOR
volunteers to go on the ., hous
of the Merrmac")-literally the men fell
over each other in their eagerness to volunteer
Renewed cheering) The list on the New York
ran above hundred, and the Iowa sent
over the signal that 40 would volunteer,
before the order was passed hat no more voiun-
teers were needed When the few out OF this
number had been assigned to stations on the
Merrimac the direction was given to them TO
| lie fat on their faces alongside the particular
| piece OF duty they had TO perform. TWO were
| stationed by the anchor gear, and others ny the
| torpedoes, while two were in the ergine-room
The directions were that no man should pay
anv attention TO the fire Of the enemy 1t was
agreed and understood by ALL that they should
not even look up over their shoulders 10 see
fell. they should pay no attention to them II a
| man was wounded he was to give no attention
10 It, but to place himself in a sitting kneeling
posture in a posture so that when the slehai
was given each mar. II wounded. could perform
his simple duty; nd. friends they lay there
each man at his post. until the little duty OF
each was performed
UNDER CONTINUOUS FIRE.
And l may tell you that five out OF the seven
torpedoes that were attached to the ship had been
shot away the steering gear had also been shot
away and the projectiles that were being hurled
at ia came more SC a continuous stream than as
Individual projettiles. Yet those "jackies' lay
there without moving, each one ready to do his
! duty AK he had Eesn instructed. Then again,
| when the duty was done and the boys had as
| sembled at the rendezvous on the quarterdeck
! when the vessel began to sink slowly. because
there were only two remaining torpedoes of the