The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-22
A PORTLAND BOY THERE.
"A, Dirwanger Who Served ON tn,
Mecaiioch at Manila at Home Again. :

"AoS.hoeh NJ MahAn a. mono again.
Mr. Joseph Al Dirwangsr OF this city
has recently returned home from Manila.
Sincs February. 1893, Mn aDirwanger
has been around the world twice, particle
patsd In the battle Of Manila Bay on the
U. >. revenue cutter Mccullough and re-
turning in her to San Francisco at The
end OF the war made another trip to
Manila In the U. S. transport Sheridan.
Few men have had as many stirring
events crowded into a few months
as has MIR. Dirwanger. De is a very
modest young man and not at all dis
posed to relate his experiences. but what
be has to say IL extremely interesting.
just before the revenue cutter McCulloch
sailed for San Francisco sometime late In
the winter of 1898 before war between
this country and Spain was dreamed OF
MIR. Dirwanger was In Philadelphia. he
decided that he would like to make the
trip round the cape to the Pacific coast In
the new revenue ship and so enlisted in
her Professionally. The McCuiloch started
ON her long voyage and when at Hong
Kong. much to the surprise of all on
beard she was turned over to the navy
department and her commander ordered
to report to Admiral Dewey. This was
more than the McCulloch's crew had
bargained for but every man on board of
her was Just as anxious to get at the
Spanish fleet in their little ship as were
the men In the big cruisers. The McCul-
loeb WAS armed with six FOUNDERS and
long before the entrance to Manila bay
was made her crew were we'll drilled. a
Me- Dirwanger's story Of how the Mo-
Cuilough steamed Into Manih bay on the
memorable night before ths big battie, Of
how Just ss she was passing the batteries
on the island Of Csvite at tbs rear Of the
column her smoke stacks took fire and
sent . long stream OF ire higii In the air.
when the smoke stack took Ore, -
said Mr.. Dirwanger. ''the batteries on
shore opened nre. was pretty nervous
at first and the shells which wen
screaming over us made fellows hair
stand on end. We gave them a shot or
two with our tiny six Founders and the
Boston and Concord returned the lire too.
We were Obliged to signal the nag ship
by the use of an incandescent light
which one of the boys used to wig wag
with. tell you 1t made some of us feel
pretty shaky to see the little light wag-
ging back and forth for 1t furnished a
tine target for the gunners on shor,.
''The McCullough's men were told to
get all the sleep they could and laid down
at their stations on deck. In the morn.
Ing when Admiral Dewey engaged the
Spanish feet he held the Mccullough in
reserve with orders togo 10 the assistance
Of any .ship which might be disabled and
10 keep an eye open for torpedo boats
which might try TO get ont of the river
The MeCulloch's men had fined chance
to view the fight, though they took no
acttve part In IT. slAs soon as the fight
was over the Mccullough was sent to
Hong Kong with dispatches and on her
return made another trip to Hong Kong
and back. The revenue cutter then stayed
at Manila long time and participated
In the Irene affair which caused someill
feeling between the Germans and Ameri-
cans In Manila.
Then the revenue cutter sailed for San
Francisco and from there Mr.. Dirwanger
journeyed across the continent reaching
New York in the middle of winter. He
thought it would be too cold down in
Maine for him during the winter and
shipped on the U. s. transport Sheridan
and made another trip to Manila The
transport returned to San Francisco re-
Gently and from there Mr.. Dir wanger
came home.