The record-union., 1899-04-29
THE OREGON'S CABIN BOY.
HE NOW WORKS IN A SACRA-
MENTO STABLE.
The Lad Gives an Interesting Ac-
count of the Destruction of
Cervera's Fleet.

Emil Miller, brave lad of IS, was
ca bin boy on the battleship Oregon dur
ing that great ships phenomenal trip,
and he was aboard during the memora-
BILE battle of July Sd. He is in Sacra-
mento now, however, and has been
here for about six weeks-a helper at
Kent Bros livery stable, on Third
street.
The young man was at the Army and
Navy Leagues celebration on the Dist,
where he was cheered by old soldiers
and young, but he had no opportunity
to tell his experiences there. To Rec
ord Union reporter, however, he gave
an interesting account of the great bat
tie that resulted in the destruction of
Cervera's bottled-up fleet, in which en-
gagement the Oregon was perhaps the
most distinguished ship. He has vivid
recollections of the stirring sensations
of the great naval engagement, the
marvellous chase after the Cristobal
Colon, the Vizcaya and other Inflated
ships of the Spanish fieet-and he tells
an interesting STORY of the day and it's
results.
1T was Sunday morning." said
Miller, land the bugle call had sounded
for Inspection; the officers looked white
and clean in their uniforms, and it
looked as if the long watch would keep
on Well, about $50 the Quarter
master saw a masthead coming, so he
touched a button that sounded the
alarm gongs. That called every man to
the battle stations The next thing was
the hosting of flag which meant a
signal to all other ships that the enemy
was getting away We fired a six
FOUNDER and blew the siren to give the
alarm to the feet
How did this affect the crew." was
asked.
why, the men threw up their caps
and yelled like Indians, for nothing had
been doing for long time, but we
We're in fine shape, for there was plenty
of steam up, which gave us big drop
on the other ships of the fleet
What were your duties?" was asked
"Oh, little. of everything; chiefly
helping to load six-inch gun. You see
enlisted at the Brooklyn navy yard
but I was sent to San Francisco to the
Oregon, and I made the trip around the
Horn to Cuba-and did whatever came
Though Miller does not remember all
the details of the history which the
Oregon helped to make that day (for he
was in the thick of events). he tells a
good story of the great features of the
fight
THE Maria Teresa led them all in the
attempt to run away" he said, 80 we
chased ahead at full speed, with forced
draught, and when she got about OPP
poslte MORO we let fly with an S-inch
gun, which got pretty close to her. By
IO:lO a. m. we dashed between the
Iowa and Texas, firing hotly as we
bounded over the waves We distanced
all of them but the Brooklyn. fairly
jumping out of the waves as we shot
them, say 80 yards away. AS we grew
closer there was a shrek of shells
around us, with the roaring of our guns.
out the men were used to target prac-
tee, SO they We're pretty cool through it
all. The discipline was first class. and
every man~was in his place. and orders
We're obeyed just like cloek-work. each
mans nerves strung high. When the
big guns We're booming there was ter
r1ble quivering of the ship-that's all.
Ensign Miller, whose father is the Sac
ramento banker, had charge of an s.
inch gun during the fight"
| What about Captain Clarke
Inc men adj liked him, for he was
often among them, and knew them all.
During all the fight he was in the thick
OF 1t, much of the time standing on the
carriage of a finch gum
| WHAT about your contest with tor
pedo boats?" was asked
| oh, we soon did up the Pluton with
our hot fire from six-pounders. and
one of our shots from the same guns
| eXpfoded the Terror. believe the Off
clal report shows that we settled them
IN just twelve minutes. and I tell Won
we made hot work of it while we were
at them"
| The young man says no one can ever
appreciate how good every man aboard
felt when the results of the work began
to SHOW At 1910 a. m. the Maria
Teresa burned up, after which lire was
centered on the Oquendo, which was
shattered and battered by forward and
starboard guns. She turned inshore
and put up the wickedest fight of t,e
day, but her shots were in vain. She
was beached half a mile west of the
Teresa Then Captain Clark said.
Look out for the rest
THE next chase was for the Vizcaya -
said Miller, land she was more than
two miles away. l tell you it was a.
hot chase, and we were in great sus-
pense until we were in range; and if
was a joy when the gums began to
| boom again.
The cabin boy was able to see This
fight to fine advantage, for the six-inch
guns were not in use. The firins- bepan
at 5000 yards, and the Vizcaya was
soon struck by a thirteen-inch shell as
she headed for the shore. This made
three ships sunk by the bull dog of the
seas in NINETY minutes
/ The Cristobal Colon acknowledgements
| ing for all that was in her. six miles
away. 1t was 1910, and part. of the
men had eaten in hurried sections
when the ship bounded ahead more
than sixteen knots an hour. An old
boatswain's mate in the fighting ton
got excited and exclaimed. .Oh. Can
tain, / say, can't you give her ,thir-
teen-inch shell for Gods sake."
Ten minutes later Q2:5O Captain
Clark said, TRY a thirteen-inch shell on
her" This was the most thrilling time
Of the fight; officers and men crowded
the forward turrets, and others were
aloft-all straining to see the results of
the days work.
The Colon's shells fell short of the