Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-14
THE NAN BEHIND The Gun
His Skill and Devotion Wins Great Naval
Victories for America,
ACCURACY OF AIM AsToUNDED sPANlARDs
PecuIinrities of the Jackic who Man
the Big Gums of Our FIects-Some
of Their Rcmnrkable shots
mt the Enemy.

The other day a little girl living on one
OF Brooklyn's streets, glanced from the win
dow, then turned and, clasplng her hands,
called out Papa, papal quick! There goes
a man in blue clothes with a great rolling
collar and a round cap. And he has one Of
his arms tied up. Who is he?"
The father saw that 1t was a wounded
man man brought north from San
tiago for treatment. He answered his child
and there was a catch in his voice as he
said gently: THAT is one of the nations
heroes, little one. He has fought for us
and suffered for us and he helped to win
our battles. He was one of the men be-
hind the guns"
This is only one of many recent in
stances illustrating the changed attitude in
which Jackie is viewed by the folks on
shore. A few months ago these tars trod
the streets singly and in pairs without re-
ceiving a cheer, a wave of the hand or even
a glance except from some citizen who ac-
companied his look with a shrug and the
words, spoken contemptuously, "Humphl
some more sailors ashore. l suppose they
will be in the lookup before morning"
The magic of war and it's victories has
worked this transformation. Glorious tri-
umph in combat! Bravery in battle. Sacri-
flee and suffering! Honorable wounds re-
ceived while fighting for the flag! These
have made heroes of the men whom many
worthy citizens were half-inclined to de-
spise a few months ago.
There is an old gunner's mate on the
battleship Oregon who has been in the serv-.
ice for over thirty years. He polished and
cared for the nine-inch smooth bore guns
of the old navy, transferred his affections
to the wicked sixty-pounders when they
were in vogue and has finally adopted as
his pet and pride one of the monster thir-
teen-inch beauties of the Oregon. He can
not read a word, and signs the pay masters
rolls with a cross, yet he knows the intri-
cate mechanism of a breechloader as a
scholar does the alphabet and he can hit
a canvas bulls eye 1000 yards away with
an eleven hundred pound projectile as easily
as an expert pool player can make a pocket.
The Oregon's Decisive shots.
When the Inflated ships of Admiral Ger
vera's feet poked their noses past Moro
| Castle in their desperate and theatrical at
tempt to escape from Santiago harbor, this
grizzled old gunner's mate was engaged in
his usual task, that of lovingly shining up
| the glossy coat of his thirteen-inch pride.
When the cry went up that the enemy was
| escaping and the drums and bugles and
| gongs hastily sounded general quarters, he
| gave a few finishing touches to the muzzle,
| then quietly took his station in the turret.
Presently turning to a young seaman gun
ner next to him he said: Charlie, I'll bet
you a months pay that l make a better shot
at the Dago beggars than you. What dye
| say?"
Done" was the prompt reply. Ten min
utes later the old gunner's mate squinted
his eye along the sight, signaled the man at
the training lever to ease off a little, took
the range from the officer in charge of the
division. then gave the firing lanyard a
quick jerk. When the smoke lifted the
eager watchers saw a great yawning hole
in the port bow of the Almirante Oquendo
A cheer came from the men In the turret
and the old veteran glanced triumphantly
toward the seaman gunner. The latter's
turn soon came. The Oquendo, battered and
helpless, drifted ashore in flames. The Ore
gon, accompanied by the Brooklyn, sped or
after the feet-footed Colon. The rapid-fire
batteries of both American ships ratified and
shrieked after the fugitive. The eight-inch
guns rumbled an unceasing chorus as they
belched forth their steel shells and occasion.