The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-03
BULL DOG OF THE NAVY.
Splendid Work of Lieut.. EberIe at
the Oregon's Guns.

After sending the Nizcaya To her
doom we started on our long chase af-
ter the swift Colon. We had stopped
firing, on account of the long range,
but the guns were all ready for busi-
ness. 1t was now noon, and we sent
one watch below 10 dinner, while the
other watch remained at the guns.
our men were wild with enthusiasm,
and throughout the fight their cheers
were ringing through the ship. one
incident seems significant. Just after
firing the shot which caused the VIZ
caya to keel over, the men in the first
division of the Oregon, the only diVi-
sion whose guns would then bear upon
the enemy, seemed completely carried
away with enthusiasm, and for
moment became forgetful of their
work 1t was then that Lieut.. Eberle
said: Remember the Maine, men, and
load her quickly. We have the Nizcaya
going" These words calmed the ex-
cited crew, the 13-inch gun was quickly
and silently loaded. and that was the
shot. that completely destroyed the
Vizcaya and killed so Spaniards. The
Maine had been remembered.
As the oregon steamed after the
Colon, making the greatest chase in
history, nearly all OF our officers and
crew were assembled on deck in the
forward part of the ship, around the
big turret, for. only the guns of this
turret could reach the fleeing enemy.
Capt. Clark was standing on top of
his turret, watching the chase. Lieut..
Eberle asked permission to open his
big guns on the Colon. but Capt Clark
told him to wait till he got nearer.
Finally the Captain sang out "Eberle.
you can try a shot at her The Lieu
tenant aimed very deliberately and
then let drive with one of his l3-inch
guns. A mighty cheer went up from
500 throats az the big shell struck just
astern OF the Colon. nearly five miles
away. and enveloped her I'm a cloud OF
water. Give her another one Eberle.
yelled capt. Clark. and the other big
gun blaZed away. and again loud che ers
rent the air At the third shot Lieut..
Eberle' increased his range and dropped
1i00-pound shell right under the
Colons bow. and the Spaniards took
fright and headed for the beach. our
crew nearly went wild as they danced.
yelled and hugged one another. The
next shot struck the Colons stern and
down came the Spanish flag I'm surren-
der. That was just at 1.l2 .. m. Capt.
Clark yelled: "Eberle. cease firing
sc has surrendered" And the Lieu
tenant who had done such remarkable
get a breath of fresh air.
capt. clark patted the young officer
on the back affectionately. and con-
graduated him upon the excellence of
his work. Then. while the gallant
Captain of the oregon and the gallant
commander OF the first division stood
on top Of the turret the 500 fighting men
or the great hattleship gave three
mighty cheers for CAN'T CLARK, and
then three cheers for Mr.. Eberle. The
young Lieutenant was bare-headed. in
his shirt-sleeves and all covered with
poWder-smoke and grease. and when
the OreEon's brave crew So wildly
checrcd him he hurried back into his
turret To conceal his emotion There he
was met with cheers from his own gun
crew The Oregon's band was soon ON
deck PLAYING The star Spangled Ban
ner. and more exciting scenes than
these are rarely witnessed The can
tain ~ the Colon said the Oregon's big
runs caused him to surrender. and the
Spaniards spoke of the Oregon as the
Yankee deNil' which forced them ia
yiold.-Leslie's Weekly.