The evening times., 1899-10-27

| Tne proposition TO present sword OF
honor to Commander Richard Wainwright,
U. s. N. native and resident of Wash
ington. in recognition Of the skill and
courage he displayed In the naval battle
off Santiago, has met with general favor.
Commander Wainwright was in command
Of the converted yacht Gloucester. which
attacked and defeated the Spanish destroy
ers Furor and Pluton.
During the long blockade of Santiago.
the auxiliaries Gloucester and Vixen lay
close to the land. and nearer the harbor
entrance than the larger ships Of the
American feet. The station Of the G.ou-
cester was to the eastward Of the entrance
to the bay. and the Vixen to the westward.
| In an ofiicial report OF the battle 1t Is
observed that the skillful handing and
gallant fighting Of the Gloucester excited
| the admiration Of everyone who witnessed
IL. and merits the commendation OF the
| Navy Department. She was lying about
two miles from the harbor entrance to
| the southwark and eastward, and immedi-
ately steamed in. opening fire upon the
large ships of Admiral Cervera's squadron.
| Anticipating the appearance OF the Furor
| and Pluton, the Gloucester was slowed,
thereby gaining more rapidly high pres
sure of steam. and when the destroyers
| came out she steamed for them at full
| speed, and was able to close to short
| range while her fire was accurate, deadly,
| and Of great volume During this fght
| the Gloucester was under the fire Of the
| Socapa battery"
Within twenty minutes from the time the
| Furor and Pluton emerged from the har-
| bor of Santiago their careers were ended
| and two-thrds Of their crews had bsen kill
| ed. 1t has been said that the destroyers
| probably suffered some injury from the
secondary batteries Of the Iowa. Indiana.
| and Texas, but the cause Of their speedy
| destruction was the fire at close range of
the Gloucester's battery. After rescuing
| the survivors Of the destroyers the Glou-
| oester Is reported to have done excellent
| service in landing and securing the crew Of
| the cruiser Infanta Maria Teresa.
Commander Wainwright made his formh
| report of the engagement on July 6, three
days after the battle. He stated that none
| of the officers or crew of the Gloucester
was injured; that the ship was not dam
aged either in hull or machinery. and that
| the battery was ready for instant service.
1T was the plain duty of the Glouces-
/ ter" said Commander Wainwright ito
look after the destroyers, and she was held
back gaining steam until they appeared at
| the entrance. The Indiana poured in a hot
| destroyers, but Captain Taylor's signal,
'Gunboats close in, gave security that We
would not be fred upon by our own ships.
| Until the leading destroyer was injured,
our course was converging. necessarily:
but as soon as she slackened her speed We
headed directly for both vessels. firing both
port and starboard batteries, as the occa-
| sion offered.
"All the officers and nearly all the men
deserve my highest praise during the ac-
tion. The escape of the Glouceste. was
due mainly to the accuracy and rapidity
Of her fire. The efficiency Of this FIRE. as
we'll as that of the ship generally, was
largely due to the intelligent and unremit-
! ting efforts O. the executive officer, Lieut.
Harry P. Huse.
THE resul: is more to his credit. when
it is remembered that a large proportion
OF the officers and men were unframed
when the Gloucester was commissioned.
Throughout the action he was on the
bridge. and carried out my orders with
great GOODNESS. That We were able to close
in with the destroyers-and until We did
so, they were not seriously injured-was
due largely to the skill and constant at
tention of Passed Assistant Engineer
George w. McElroy. The blowers were put
on and the speed increased to seventeen
knots without causing a tube to leak or a
brass to heat. Lieut.. Thomas c. Wood.
Lieut. George H. Norman. jr., and En-
sign John T. Edison. not only controlled
the fire of the guns in their divisions, and
prevented waste of ammunition, but they
also did some excellent shooting them
selves. Acting Assistant Surgeon J. F.
Bransford took charge Of one of the guns.
and fired 1t himself occasionally Acting
Assistant Paymaster Alexander Brown had
charge of the two Colt guns firing one
himself, and they did excellent work. AS
81 mt nyin r;zI
orders from the bridge, and occasionally
fired gun. when / found it was not
being served quite satisfactorily. All were
cool and active at a time when they could
have had but little hope of escaping un-
injured.
'Lieutenants Wood and Norman, Ensign
Edison, and Assistant Engineer Proctor
were in charge of the boats engaged in
saving life. They all risked their lives
repeatedly in boarding and remain .ng near
the two destroyers and the two armored
cruisers, when their guns were being dis
charged by the heat, and their magazines
and boilers were exploding. They also
showed great skill in landing and taking
off the prisoners through the surf.
"Of the men mentioned in the several
reports, I would call special attention to
John Bond, chief boatswain's mate. He
would have been recommended to the de-
partment for promotion prior to his gal
liant conduct during the action of July 3.
l would also recommend to your attention
Robert p. Jennings, chief machinist. men
toned in the report of Mr.. McElroy.
believe it would have good effect to rec
ognize the skill OF the men, and the danger |
incurred by the engineers force. would
also recommend that the acting appoint
ments of those men mentioned by the Off
GERS in their reports be made permanent.
1.-The wounded and exhausted prisoners
were well and skillfully tended by Assist
ant Surgeon Bransford, assisted by En-
sign Edison. who is also a surgeon.
Admiral Cervera, his officers and men |
were treated with all consideration and |
care possible. They were fed and clothed |
as far as our limited means would per-
nit"
1t was at 9:43 on the morning OF July 3,
that the men Of the Gloucester were called |
TO quarters, on the signal that the Spanish |
squadron was coming out of the harbor |
Fire was opened at $500 yards. This was |
soon reduced to eco yards, and at 1876 |
the Pluton slackened her speed, showing |
evident signs Of distress, and the fire Of the |
Gloucester was then concentrated on the |
Furor. The Pluton was run on the rocks |
about four miles west Of Moro and there |
blew up. The Furor began to describe cir |
cles with a starbosrd helm. and 1t became |
apparent to those on the Gloucester that |
she was disabled white flag was waved |