Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-07-09

several times it was necessary to
swing the big guns from the opposite
side across the deck to assist those
next to the enemy. The vessel would
lurch and quiver from stem to stern
at each discharge. While the fight
was at its hottest, Captain Phillip, who
up to that time had been on the bridge,
ordered the ship to be run from the
coming tower, and ordered all of bis
officers and men from the bridge and
pilot house. No sooner had the move
been safely made, than shell struck
the pilot house and burst. Five min
utes before it would have killed the
man at the wheel and every man on
the bridge. At the time, Captain Phil
lip, Executive Officer Harper, Navi-
CATION Officer Miner and Cadet Rey-
nolds were standing on top of the
coming tower in a position that was
just as exposed as the ope from which
they had retired. Another shell struck
the ash hoist and exploded in the
smokestack, but without injury to
officers or men.
At 1910 o'clock the Vizcaya was
seen to be on fire. The men of the
Texas set up cheer, and Immediately
Captain Phillip turned his attention to
the Maria Teresa. 1t was then that
the Pluton and Furor came up. GAIL
small guns on the torpedo boats" or
dered Captain Phillip, and within a
few minutes a shot exploded the boil
er of the foremost boat. The Glou.
cesters finished the second. By this
time a white flag went up on the
Maria Teresa, and "Cease firing" or
dered Captain Phillip.
Next the Texas steamed west to
finish the Oquendo, which had been
badly crippled by the Oregon and
Iowa, while they were hurrying to the
assistance of the Brooklyn. The
Oquendo was already burning, and as
the Texas got within easy range OF
her, she blew up with terrific explo-
sion. The men of the Texas set up
a wild cheer. "Don't cheer" shouted
Captain Phillip, "because those poor
devils are dying" After that the
Texas Joined in the chase of the Cris-
tobal Colon; but reached an effective
range only in time to see the Spanish
flag come down, and Commodore
schley going in a small boat to receive
her surrender.
1t was Immediately after this that
the hero of the day developed. Re-
turning from the Cristobal Colon,
Commodore Schley approached the
Texas, and called out cheerily to
Captain Phillip: "It was a nice fight,
Jack; wasn't it?" Captain Phillip
agreed, and invited the commodore
aboard. The men of the Texas lined
the rail and sent up three cheers and
a tiger for their old commander. Then
Captain Phillip called his brave veter-
ans to the quarter deck, where he
stood with barred head. All knew what
was coming and every hat was lifted,
A moment of silence was broken by
the firm, clear voice of the captain.
He said:
"I want to make public acknowl-
edgement here that / believe in God
the Father Almighty, and I ask you,
officers and men, to offer silent thanks
from the bottom of your hearts to Him
who gave us this victory!'
For a few moments the light waves
dashing against the sides Of the ship
and escaping steam from the now rest
ing boilers, were the only sounds to be
heard. But the overwrought feelings
of the sailors had to find vent in some
way, and presently there went up
three terrific cheers for the beloved
captain of the Texas.
The only man wounded on the Tex
as during the fight was sailor named
Scarm, who fell through hatch and
broke his leg. The other vessels men
toned above, of course, all did their
part, and the story of their fight is
glorious but we give more fully the
account of the doings of the Texas,
because of the more especial interest.
And taking all the circumstances
into consideration, our readers will
agree with us. The hero of the fight
is Captain Phillip. He leads all he
roes in the history Of the American
navy. There is no possible duty to
which he would prove unequal. 1t is
not possible that his heroism can be
excelled.
THE ADVERTISING MATTER.
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