The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-14

| volume entitled Battle Snip Indiana and
! Her Part in the Spanish-American War
| a work of real value and worthy place
| IN every Hooser library. This report in
| its detail of drills, exercises and target
| practice, involving all kinds Of disciplinary
! maneuVerS devised and employed 10 form
! and shape each man for his place and to
! harden all for the endurance of toll or pro-
! longed endeaVOr covers the period of night
| ly vigil and exposure on the blockade be-
| fore Havana, the perils of the bombardment
| Of San Juan, Porto Rico, the excitement of
| the pursuit Of Ceryera's squadron, the
| search for the phantom feet reported TO be
| lowering Havana, the responsibility of
| conveying Skaters transports to Daiquiri,
| the ANXIOUS nefVe-settlng watch at the en-
! trance to Santiago harbOr, relieved only by
| eXhilaratlng engagements with the forts
and batteries, the sudden, maddening reali-
| cation that the enemy was coming out, the
| springing of the crew with a cheer from
sunday morning quarters to stations in
action, the closing in on the enemy, in
obedience to Admiral SIMPSONS order, with
out thought or fear OF possible conSe-
quences, the roar Of the thirteen-inch guns
firing 1,100-pound shells with $50 pounds of
powder. the eight-inch guns firing more fire.
quently 25O-pound shells with 125 pounds Of
powder, and the never ceasing clatter of the.
small caliber rapid-fire guns, the keen
lookout for results and the glad knowledge
that very large per cent. OF the shots
were taking effect on the fleeing enemy, too
cowardly 10 come into the open, fight like
men, and, If need be, go down like heroes,
each ship as she emerged in turn from the
entrance receiving the compliment of a hot
and effective fire from the Indiana, and one,
possibly two, getting then and there her
INDIANA AT SANTIAGO.
THAT day before Santiago was a great
| and glorious occasion for the United States
navy, a day of honor for officers and men,
and for none more than the heroic COM
mander, the gallant officers and the brave
crew Of the Indiana. The position of the
ship was fortunate in the beginning; she
lost no advantage in the conflict and stayed
with the enemy until the battle was prac-
tically over and she was ordered back to
guard the entrance, having fired a total
of ], $40 shots as her contribution to the hail
OF death under which the Spanish squadron
sunk to rise no more.
In the great fight the Indiana was
struck only twice, and without injury to
snip or crew AT midnight July the Reina
Mercedes attempted to escape from the har-
Dor. but was quickly sunk just within the
entrance by the Massachusetts. which was
lying close by. The Indiana cleared for
action and drew in. The Moro and Socapa
batteries were keeping up hot fire on the
Massachusetts,, but missing her, of course.
An eight-nch mortar shell, however, weigh
ing $50 pounds plunged from Socapa on to
the quarter deck of the Indiana, penetrated
1t and exploded with deafening noise and
incredible force between decks just outside
the cabin pantry door, the destructive force
extending to the cabin and wardroom quar-
ters. Hatch covers were riddled ladders
converted into kindIng wood bulkheads
torn and bent, furniture broken, bookcases
and lights extinguished by flying fragments
but the crew was at general quarters and
not man was hurt.
THE PUNCH BOWL STRUCK.
"a fragment of the shell, weighing about
two pounds, skipped along the cabin deck
penetrated one of the oak chests contain
ing the silver service, and struck and dent
ed, but did not penetrate, the massive punch
bowl just where the seal of the State forms
| &1ar1 -
Key West, the first preparations for active
warfare were being made by the removal of
all kinds of woodwork and combustibe ma
terial it was suggested that the silver
service be sent ashore for safe keeping, but
Captain Taylor had an impression that the
donors would prefer that it hazard the for
tunes of war with the ship, and retained it
aboard. The honorable scar will never be
removed, but, having been suitably in
| scrbed and the fragment of the shell
properly mounted as an addition, the bowl
will occupy a place of honor in the reno
waited cabin of the Indiana, its value thou
| sand times enhanced by its honorable dis
| tinction as q memento of the battle ships
participation in the war with Spain
The Santiago fight left Spain ruined and
| helpless on the sea, and practically COM
PEELED her to sue for peace. After the sur
| render of the Spanish army at Santiago the
| great fleet rendezvoused at Guantanamo
| bay, delightful anchorage, and awaited
| the order to sail for Spain. 1t never came.
| Instead, the battle ships and cruisers were
| Mr. Elliott closed with a high tribute to
| the courage and ability of Captain Taylor,
! and said that he had hoped this officer
| would have been here in person to present
! these trophies to the State. He referred to
| his extreme modesty and said that this was
! what must have kept Captain Taylor away,
/ and in closing he presented to the State, on
! behalf of the officers and crew of the In
| diana. the flag and gun.
AS Mr. Elliott referred to the flag, the i'm
mense banner was swung clear of the wire
| and fell almost to the heads of those below.
! The band struck up The Star-spangled
| Banner" and all the members of the Legis-
| lature and the invited guests rose A great
! burst of cheers greeted the banner The
! flag is thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide.
| 1t is slightly torn and shows a number of
| places where it has been patched. One cor
ner of it is blackened, but it is in better con-
dition than the majority of those present
| removed from the gun while Mr. Elliott was
speaking, and it was an object of great in
| tereSt
OVATION TO MIR. RILEY.
Then came the great ovation of the morn
ing. Admiral Brown presented James Whit
comb Riley, who came forward just when
| the audience was filed with enthusiasm.
Mr.. Riley was greeted with round after
| round of applause. Admiral Brown re-
| quested complete silence while the poem
| was being recited but the request was I'M
necessary and every word was distinctly
| heard. Mr.. Riley never was in better voice
and never recited better He, in a few
| words, returned thanks for the honor shown
| him and said his poem was a homely poem
| to the dear flag, a homely tribute by a voice
| from the crowd" With this brief prelim-
| mary Mr.. Riley commenced, and with all
! the fire and enthusiasm of his nature gave
his production. His Who gave you the
name of old Glory who?" was addressed
straight to the battle-stained flag above
! him, and as the last word of the poem died
away the applause commenced with a clap
| ping of hands. From this it grew to cheers,
and in a moment the members of the Cen
| eral Assembly were on their feet cheering
and waving their arms. Mr.. Riley bowed
| repeatedly and was compelled by the pro-
| longed cheering to rise and bow time and
| again. There was no cessation in the cheer
ing, and finally Mr. Riley was compelled to
come to the front again and say, II have
nothing else I can offer you. | thank you
again and again"
The following telegram from Captain Tay
Tor was read:
1.-The officers and crew of the battle ship
Indiana send their heartfelt greetings and
good will to accompany the trophies that
are delivered to you to-day"
The exercises were closed by the singing
of America by the chorus and audience
and the members of both branches of the
Legislature filed back to their halls.
STORY OF FLAG AND GUN.