The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-28
REPORTS OF the FIGHT
Encomiums Of the Officers and
Men Of the Fleet.
DESERVE HIGHEST PRAISE
Details of the Battle % Told by Captains
Chadwick. Taylor. Philips and
Evans and Lieutenant Com
mandsr Wainwright.

wick Of the New York. in his report,
says:
The officers and crew, a. they have
always done. acted In the most en-
thusiastic IND commendable manner.
They have worked int such a condi-
ton that The ship IL almost ~instantane-
ously ready for action, and while all
ere deserving Of commentator, I think
It no derogation from the deserts of the
others to particularly name Lieutenant
Commander Potter, to whom. as execu-
tive officer. so much of the ships eff
cheney Is due, and Chief Engineer Nc
Connell, who has kept the machinery
In the admirable order which has en-
ab'ed us at all times to develop the
Ships full speed"
Captain Taylor Of the Indiana, after
cexcribing the engagement. says:
During this action we used no ar
mor-piercing shells except the smoke
less powder ~six-pounders and the good
enect of the common shell is shown by
the effect on h enemy's ships and the
short time tnken to disable them with
out piercing their armor and with al
NEST no injury to our ships. The guns
worked we'll, only two failures of cleo
trio primers noted.
THE conduct of the officers and crew
wos in every respect commendable,
Goodness and good discipline prevailed,
coupled with a marked enthusiasm.
This desirable condition of affairs is
greatly due to the efforts of the off,
GERS, and l desire to commend to the
ccmmander-in-chief the executive off,
Ger Lieutenant Commander John A.
Rodgers, n all the officers of the ship
for the part taken by the indians in
bringing o this great victory and
the complete destruction of the enemy's
squadron"
Captain Philips of the Texas, after
dealing with details, closes his report
by saying:
Il have the pleasure of stating that
the entire battery of the Texas is in a
most excellent condition and ready for
any service required by the command
er-in-chief; especially calling attention
to the eff ciency of the w turret guns
due to the alterations recently made
by Lieut.. T. w. Haeseler of this ship.
The bearing and performance of duty
OF all officers met with my entire APP
prevail"
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright
OF the Gloucester says:
All the officers and nearly all the
men deserve my highest praise during
the action. The escape of the Glouces-
ter was due mainly to the accuracy
and rapidity of the fire. The efficiency
OF this fire, as well as that of the ship
generally, was largely due to the INTEL
lieent and unremitting efforts of the
executive officer. Lieut.. Harry p. Huse.
The result Is more to his credit when
1t Is remembered that a large proper
tier of the officers and men We're un-
trained when the Gloucester was COM
missfoned. Throughout the action he
was on the bridge n carried out my
orders with great coolness. That we
were able 20 close in with the DESTROY
erf-and until we did so they were not
seriously i~ntured-was largely due to
the skill of Passed Assistant Engineer
George w. McElroy, Lieutenant Wood,
Iieut. George H. Norman. jr., and En-
sign John I. Edison not only controlled
tho fire of the guns I'm their divisions
and prevented waste of ammunition,
but they also did some excellent shoot
ing themselves. Acting Assistant Sur
guns and fired II himself occasionally.
Acting Assistant Paymaster Alex
Brown had charge of the two Colt
guns. firing n himself, and they did
excellent work Assistant Engineer
A M. Proctor carried my orders from
the bridge ard occasionally fired a gun
when / u 1t was not being served
quite satisfactorily. All were cool and
active at q time when they could have
had but little hops of escape unin-
jured.
"Lieutenants Wood and Norman. En-
siSh Huoosl anu aSSlStdnI EnKfneer |
Pre- ctor were in charge of the boats
engaged in saving lives. They risked
their lives repeatedly in boarding and
remaining near the two destroyers and
the two armored cruisers when their
guns were being discharged by the heat
and their magazines and boilers were
They showed great skill in
landing and taking off the prisoners
through the serf.
of the men mentioned in the sew
eral reports, I would call special at
teEuon to Jchn Bon, chief boatswain's
He would have been recon-
mepded to the department for promo
ticn, prior - his gallant conduct dur
ing the action of July 9. / would also
recommend your attention to r. P. len
nings. chief machinist. mentioned in
tie reports OF Mr.. McElroy. 1 believe
IL would be well to recognize the skill
o. men. / would also recommend that
the acting appointment of those men
mentioned By the officers in their divis-
lens be made permanent"