Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1898-07-15

and he would have been less
than a man had he made any
further sacrifice Of human life
than was made in that feat
full fray. There is something
barbarous about this idea of
throwing away the lives of
brave men when there Is noth~
ing to be accomplished ty it.
What greater evidence of cour-
age could have been given than
Admiral Cervera gave on that
memorable morning when he
sailed out of Santiago harbor Fin
the broad open daylight, to a
most unequal fght-to meet an
enemy of such dreadful destruc
tive force that the humiliation
of his fleet was certain? With
out tremor the gallant, chiv>
alrous sailor-Who had so ad~
mired and applauded the hero
ism of bson-placed himself
upon the altar of his country,
and only hauled down his pens
nant when his flagship the In
fanta Maria Theresa, had been
riddled by the Texas and Brook
Ign and was a6re from the
frightful fusilade Of shot and
shell she had received. 1t
must be recalled that Admiral
Ccrvera could have attempted
his dash for liberty under greats
er advantage to himself and
crews, but with less bravery
could have sailed under the cover
of night, but did not do so, and it
seems to us that he should be
applauded by the Spanish peo-
pie and not subject to blank
criticisms. HOW unlike Blanco
was Commodore Schley, when
he said to his distinguished pris
oner that such a brave deed as
bringing out his squadron On
that occasion could never be
looked upon otherwise than a
most gallant feat. And it is
touching to recount the effect
this magnanimity had upon Ads
niral Cervera. Throwing his
arms around Commodore Schley
he said, from heart full of sor-
row over his defeat and the end
Of his naval career-as it seemed
to him-"Ah! sailors always are
gentlemen" What comfort it
it would have to the brave com
mander had Blanco said, as he
should: "Well done! you did
what you could.
In the matter of who was the
hero of Santiago President Nc
Kinley will cut the gordian knot
by promoting both Sampson
and Schley, and while this is
fair-the latter acting under
the orders of the former, in
SIMPSONS absence Commodore
Schley will 60 down in history
as the actual hero who blotted
out the Cape Verde fleet. It
was an achievement as brilliant
as DeWey's at Manila, and fought
from start to finish by Commo~
dore Schley with a dash and
heroism that pales not in com.
patison with any naval engages
ment in the history of the
world. There is good fortune
attending his performance of
duty that must be born of
courage aud capacity, else such
large and important results
would not follow in the wake of
his efforts. That he has a cool
head and brave spirit there can
be no doubt General Greeley
of the Signal Service, dis a liv
ing monument" to Schiey's de-
votion to duty. II will be re.
called, and we have previously
referred to it, that the Greeley
Arctic Expedition was overdue,
and the government, in looking
about for a capable man to lead
a relief expedition, selected
Commodore Schley. and sent
him north in haste to rescue the
imperiled band fl om their icy
bound prison house. He lost
not a moment, but pushed Oh
and on, reaching the spot just as
the brave explorers were suc>
cum blng to the terrors of the
hopeless situation. They were
carried aboard ship and restored |
and brought home. Commodore
Schley being made an acting
commodore in recognition of his
valuable services. Then when
the Spanish war came On, and
flying squadron was to be formed
for highly important duty, it
was fitting that Winfield Scott
should have been select
ed for its command. He could
be depended upon for speed and
GOODNESS of action, and when a
flying squadron" was really