The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-07-04


The two destroyers We're more than
match for the converted sporting yacht
as men, guns and rapidity of maneu-
vering go. The Gloucester had 500 tons
displacement against $40 in the Furor
and Pluton combined The two Span
iards carried 1873 men and 16 guns
against 90 men and 10 guns on the
Gloucester.
When the fight was over on July 3
and the ribs Of every Spanish vessel ly-
ing on the beach, Commander Dick
Wainwright of the Gloucester said with
grim satisfaction, ''The Maine is
avengedl' To the commander Of the
Gloucester that was no cheap bit Of
sentiment. The Maine was something
to him. He was her executive officer
when she blew up, and no one who was
in his company during the weeks of
tension following could doubt his opin-
ion as to the cause Of the explosion and
the responsibility for the death Of 900
fellow Americans and fellow sailors.
When the reign Of diplomacy came
to an end and the United States govern.
ment relinquished sovereignty over the
wreck of the Maine, Wainwright was
| called to Washington for staff duty
Having fighting sailor blood in his veins
and CALLING score to settle with the
Spanish, the commander Get forth his
temper and wishes bluntly. Said he:
"This business means war With my
rank Iknow cannot expect separate
command Of great Importance, but l
would like to get good little vessel
with capable guns and have crack at
the enemy on even terms"
An ideal captain for the daring aux
Hilary was a Wainwright who talked
like that. For the size Of her decks the
little sea guerrilla had more than her
quota Of Yankee enthusiasm that Sun
day morning when the Spanish came
out to their fate. Being only speck on
the water alongside battleship, with
no parading or cruising record, nor
marvellous armor nor mammoth guns,
the Gloucester had all to win. Vain
wright said the thing which he remem-
bered most after Sunday morning in
spection was the natty appearance of
the ship maintained by the men under
adverse circumstances. He was think
ing about it down in his cabin when a
voice rang down the hatchway, saying,
"They re coming outl"
For this cry the sailors had been on
the qui vive for weeks, and delay had
made them skeptical But they lost no
time when 1t did come, and Vain
wright found upon reaching the bridge
that the business signal had gone below.
"Full speed aheadl" The men were at
the guns, and there was always sup.
| ply of ammunition piled on deck. Bust
ness began at once, for the Spanish flag
ship Maria Teresa was rounding the
point. The speed of the Gloucester was
her strongest card, and this was run up
by forcing blowers to II knots
The range was long at first and the
firing was slow. chiefly to keep the range
of Cervera's ships as they came out.
Finally the four heavy ships of Cervera
We're seen together making all speed
westward Gradually the American
vessels gained, and it developed into a
running fight, in which the Gloucester
would win glory if she chose. But the
Gloucester was to look out for the de-
stroyers known to be in the harbor.
Only for this and the fact that the de-
stroyers were not with the cruisers.
Wainwright would have dashed into
the stern of one Of the fleeing ships to
wreck her steering gear or propeller.
just what to do was delicate ques-
ton for Wainwright to decide. He had
his independent vessel and an enemy
at hand. Sh0Hld he wait for the torpedo
boats and they not come out he would
lose his coveted chance for fight.
Should he join he chase and leave no
fighting scout in wake of the feet the
torpedo boats might slip up under the
cover of the smoke and give the death
thrust to battleship just when she
was winning on the enemy. 1t was
this that Dick Wainwright prevented.
and in doing 1t avenged his murdered
shipmates. The last of the fleeing cruis-
ers was two miles from Moro Castle
when the torpedo boats appeared. Drafts
were increased, and the Gloucester
churned water as never before. Mean
while the guns were pounding away at
the new target with better execution
than upon the heavily armored ships.
The guns of MORO Castle bombarded
the Gloucester. not being disposed to
leave the battle to the two destroyers. A
single shot might have sent the plucky
auxiliary to the bottom, but Morro's
cannoneers were not equal to that de-
cisive shot. Just to think that one
puncture below the water line would
have made 1t possible for the destroyers
to have torpedoed the Indiana, Iowa or
Brooklyn and changed the fortunes of
the day. When the high speed of the
Gloucester had brought her within 500
yards of the destroyers, she and they
held the sea west of the harbor entrance
alone The battleships and cruisers
were making life and death run for ii