The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-08-25

land Naval hero-tiis Hethod OF
Handling Battleship too Much fof
the Enemy, and a Constant Sur
prise to His Men-Bold and Coura-
geous, aud a Hard Fighter. Yet
Gentle and Considerate Toward
Those Under Him.
A Boston boy who has been in
active service on the United States
cruiser Brooklyn, Commodore
Schley's flagship. during the block
ade off Santiago, and has just re-
turned home, gives. in the Boston
Herald, the following glimpses of life
aboard the cruiser:
The pride of every jackie's heart
aboard the Brooklyn is the good ship
herself, and no one can gainsay from
her record that the admiration is
we'll placed. Dating from our ar
rival off Santiago, the Spaniards
atloat and ashore considered her
speed and battery a formidable foe,
and concentrated their efforts in
every engagement to destroy or
disable her. In every combat our
position was in the hottest line of
fire at close range, where our guns
were able to do terrific damage, yet
on "cease firing" we retired without
serious damage to any vital spot.
The destruction of Cervera's fleet is
no exception, for although the Brook
lyn was hit over forty times, not a
single shot had disabling effect.
All on board except poor Ellis must
have borne charmed lives, for in
action the water around us fairly
boiled with misplaced shells.
PAST MASTER IN MANEUvERING.
Luck was by no means the sole
element of our safety; the mag
nificent handling Of our ship by the
Commodore is entitled to greater
credit. He is a past master in the
art of maneuvering; his methods and
dodges would rattle the gun captains
of the ablest foe. Even to those
under his command the unexpected
was always occurring. Under the
most trying circumstances he never
for an instant forgot the limits with
which a gun can safely be fired, the
comfort of his men and the pro-
lection of the engines, the heart of
the cruiser.
In action the Commodore is an
inspiring figure. Naturally of a
nervous and energetic temperament,
under fire he exhibits the opposite
characteristics, and is the coolest
and most phlegmatic man on the
ship. Discarding the customary
station in action, the forward bridge,
the Commodore chose to direct the
Brooklyn and other ships under his
command from the forecastle, most
exposed and dangerous position
Accordingly, under his personal
supervisor the ships carpenter built
him a circular platform, four feet
high and three feet wide, around the
coming tower. From this elevation
our gallant commander, fearless OF
his own safety and with rare com.
manding presence, won glory and
distinction for the Brooklyn by
decisions rapidly made and never
altered.
"NoT FAR FROM SICK BAY"
Being questioned one day by
Captain Evans as to why he chose
such peculiar position, he laugh
ingly replied: "It's handy to tall
business with Captain Cook in the
tower and no great distance from the
sick bay, which in war time, my
friend, may receive our unwilling
attention at any time.''
He by no means confined himself
to this little structure, and his
orderly was more apt to find him
close to the side, watching events
through the glases or dodging the
forward eight-inch gun as it trained
from side to side. This gun was alst
located on the forecastle, and tn.
turret drew a great deal of the fir'
owing to its exposure, adding greatly
to his danger.
During the bombardment of June
16 he was standing on the starboart
side of this gun, when the turret
officer, Lieutenant Simpson, decided
to refrain almost directly aft il
order to drop shell on Quay Smith
In the scramble for safety as thu
gun swung around the Commodor'
ran into the senior medical officer
who was standing behind him al
interested spectator of the shooting
The Doctor sprawled fiat, while the
Commodore managed to keep hi:
feet. Turning to the breathles:
surgeon, he said: doctor, l an
very sorry, but just the same it i
pleasant to have such positive evi
dence that you are near at hand i
needed"
FIGHTING AT CLOSE RANGE.
Commodore Schley is a lover o
close fighting. On the trip dowl
from Cienfuegos to Santiago. whel
we momentarily expected to sigh
the Cape Verde fleet, the Commodor
and navigator were engaged in con
versation on the bridge.
II suppose you will fight at abou
5000 wards if we meet, queried tn
| navigator.
Hardly" replied the Commodore
If they don't run, it will be 100
yards or less"
The men, hearing of this from tn
quartermaster on watch, who ha
caught every word said, delegated
spokesman to inform the Commodor
'.if 900 yards is too long range t
put them out of commission, W
unanimously agree, with your pei
mission, to make it hand-to-han
fight"
This pleased him very much
though his reply was simply, Il al
with you"
..All the way or not at ALL" h
said once about a question of tactics
but it well applies to his motto i
every move he makes.
| A word from him was sufficient t