The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-30

rectlon OF the fire and the handling of the
ship. Lieutenant Stanton assistant CHIEF
of STAN; Lieutenant Commander Potter ex-
ecutive officer Of the ship, and Lieut.. >.
Roller, TIE navigator, all were on the bridge
and as busy as they could be. Three men
were at the wheel and the usual staff look
places. The coming tower, with its heav-
lily protected sides, was without an occu-
pant. The whistling of shells could not
drive the men who direct the fighting squao-
ron from their unprotected point of van
tage. Directly beneath the bridge on the
sqperstrpcture just aft of and -, slightly y
above the forward turret, stood Chaplain
Royce, ready to give the last consolation.
The chaplain and the three doctors were
hoped they would have no work to do. Near
the chaplain stood Richard Harding Davis,
representing the London Times; Ralph ID.
Payne, representing the Philadelphia Press.
and the correspondent of the Associated
Press. All others on board were at the reg
uiar stations. directing the gun crews, rush
Ing up ammunition from below or standing
patiently In their engine room waiting. to
back or go ahead as the telegraph signaled,
The way the jackies worked at their guns
was splendid Many of them were stripped
to the waist. The muscles stood out on
their bare, tattooed arms; the perspiration
ran down their faces, and, mixing with the
over their skins. When cease firing" sound
ed disappointment was written visibly on
all their faces. But the decks were quickly
swept, the guns cooled and washed, and at
dinner. when the band played THE Stars
and Stripes" there were few signs to show
that the flagship New York had been into
action for the first time in her career.
ABOUT three hundred shots were fired dur
ing the bombardmeat, 104 Of which were
natl did wonderfully quick and rapid work
with her batteries. The monitor Puritan
probably fired fewer shots than the others,
apparently not using her rapid-fre guns,
but taking careful aim with her twelve-inch
mortar at Quntas da Recreo.
10 those on board the flagship who had
was firing both batteries at once and who
had never heard the shells whistle through
the experience was not so bad as antici-
pated. The noise OF the guns deafened
some slightly, but timely application of
Wool TO the ears deadened its effect and,
taken all in all. the shock of the broadside
was not so great as had been expected.
inc town of Matanzas at no time was in
Danger from our fire. 1t lies we'll to the
had any. killed it must have been in the
iortlncatlons Several persons on board be-
Iieve the Spanish loss was severe and adj
vance more or less plausible theories. Rear
Admlral Sampson and Captain Chadwick
venture no statement the subject
Inc Inc most CHARACTERISTIC incident of the
VIII go down in history as an Instance of
"a ank e pluck, occurred in the sick bay on
iisfeningg snip ta tb III sailors We're lying there,
Deck, Suddenly, as if moved by a common
impulse mp Ell four of them sprang from their
another high fever, but their ailments
were forgotten as they rushed out to their
gun olVlslons and took their usual stations.
DeSplte their entreates to be allowed tn
stay tney were ordered back to the sick
pay pay. IL Is hardly necessary to say that
h tnSse TOUR splendid specimens of 1.-THE man
breach of discipline. -'A
IT; IT was reported to the flagship on it's re-
turn 10 the Havana station that two tor
pedo boats had endeavored to rim the b,ooI,-
ade during the day and had been forced
PACK aG INTO INTO Havana harbor by the Wilmington
ana Iowa. A sharp lookout was Rent
throughout the night lest these inv craft
s1 l0l Try to repeat the attempts.
I'm Inc torpedo boat Winslow arrived from
Inc marines, was put on board the flagshin
ne Wlnslow proceeded to her station Tie
noemr was quiet and no incident of interest