The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-07
HUMORs OF THE WAR.
Hichborn's Claim to He the Hero Of
the OregOn-s Achievement.
Nan, VorL T,rfhnnn


New York Tribune
The war with Spain would scarcely have
had a genuine American flavor IL II had
not evoked its full share of humorous in
fu Quota With the trasedy and patbos
which attended the lowering of the Spanish
standard I'm this hemisphere there VIII be
Joined always in the minds OF Americans
the recollection of the brave but fantastic
dons. naughty in their rhetoric and Wild
eyed in their shouting. conducting modern
ment comparable 10 those Of the famous
Manchan knight.
The war had but begun when the cap
ture Of the big liner Panama by the pigmy
tender Mangrove sent a ripple of laughter
over the continent. Then the first man
to reach the crest Of San Juan hin" APP
peared, and the grin broadened as his
numbers grew from q single file 10 pla-
toon, company and a regiment. The gum
battleship: Skaters expedition held up
by spook fleet OF Spanish warshfpe,
the lieutenant of the regulars who failed to
see why Russia's military attache should
not join in his qualification that the war
had soldif1ed the two branches OF the
A Anglo ;xo; racesthose and dozens Of
of people which in far darker days had
found time and inclination TO laugh with
Artemus Ward.
Naval officers in Washington are chuck
ling quietly over the latest addition 10 the
humorous history OF the Wharf.-The claim adj
born's friends that to him is due the real
credit for the Oregon's presence at San
tiago and hence for her great share in the
sweeping that Admiral schley VIII have to
recall the famous saying, There Is glory
enough for the newest acquisition to the
ranks OF the naval heroes. Captain Clark
and Chief Engineer Milligan will be
bays will encircle the brow OF Chief Com
structor Hichborn. The friends OF the con-
structor assert that the Oregon's success
just previous to the war ordered her in
dry dock TO have her bottom "scraped and
sandpapered," thus increasing her speed at
sea- is IL possible that In unguided ignor-
ance the Nation has been worshiping a
false idol? IL would seem from this die
tum. The real hero OF the warship. appar-
entity, is not tho man behind the gum not
even the man before the furnace IRE. but
the man I'm the overalls who scrapes the sea
growth of her bottom.
A slight flaw Is developed In the argument
which supports this claim made for the chief
ccnstructor-that he has no authority, name
~. TO order any commissioned snip Of the
navy into dock. That Is the prerogatiye OF
others. He simply sees that her bottom II
cleaned when she gets there But II is further
asserted that on the occasion OF the battle
ships now famous docking the chief con-
struction also had bilge keels fitted Ito rem
der the vessel steady for a gun platform"
The Oregon fought OF Santiago. however.
she found no need OF bilge keels Their sole
effect. in fact. was to reduce her speed and
thus delay the surrender OF the Colon
Scraping ship bottom and fitting there
on appliances wnich-however serviceabIe
at other times-actually retarded her IN
action seem scant grounds on which 20 base
claim for transcendent glory, and one. too.
days and sitting nights, guided and
steamed the ship 10 her final victory. The
nan behind the barnacle scraper win hard
man behind the stocking shovel as the real
author OF cervera's destruction