Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-24

merly the yacht Corsair, in which he served
during the war with Spain.
ON July s. iS'S was IN the engagement
off Santiago bay, in which he attacked SIN
sie-handed the Spanish torpedo-boat destroy
ers Piuton and Juror destroying both With
out losing a man. and capturing their flags.
He also, on July -. 1898. led the fleet into
the Bay of Guanica, Porto Rico. and land
ing his boats crews, captured the landing
and block house. driving the Spaniards to
the hills and securing safe landing for the
troops Of General Miles
After the war he was ordered TO the
Naval Academy. his present place of duty.
1t is said by th"s" who knew Capt. VAIN
wright, father # Commander Wainwright.
that in courag" and simplicity OF manner
the son inherits tie qualities Of the father.
which ranked HIM among the able officers
of the civil waY.
His Father With Fnrrayut.
The following reference To Capt. Vain
wright on the Hartford with F-arr4.ut in
the diary of man serving on the Hartford
when the vessel was on fire near Fort Jack
son, reads almost as if it were a dcscrip-
ton Of the conduct of the present VAIN
wright
The ship seemed to me lost and | fol-
lowed the example # the mate. intending
to jump overheard with the grating when /
could no longer endure the te4-. 1 had
made but few steps FORWARD, through the
crowd OF excited men when / heard Il COM
mandlng voice %DnNe ali the an and con-
fusion. Turning. | could jGsr distinguish
through the smoke the tan form of Capt.
Wainwright. lie MOVED forward among he
excited men. ind called through Il speaking
trumpet Take y"l;r places at fire quar-
ters. lie v ou:d t.4,, tnIs one on thj. snaul-
der. and cal! INA; nne by name. always re-
peat1ng fire quarters Ills distinguished
bearAis and ciir.iI. fearless manner :is!u an
insta ntaneous erect on the men. calming
the tumuit, reslprirg confidence. and almost
making on. ASHAMED of his fears. farra-
gut was walking at his side and Lieut.
Thornton was IndustrinuSly placing the
men and directing their work. The cap
tains order was quickly taken mp by the
men and passed through the ship so that
in a few minutes every man was at his sta
ton and doing his best to combat the
flames
Just at this time shell exploded in the
cabin, starting fire. which was not dis
covered until il had made c0nSider;ib bic
headW2y. The old ship seemed doomed,
and it looked as if only a miracle could
save her She was so hard aground that
the engines. with all their power. could af-
ford no relief in flames from the water to
the masthead from the fire raft: the cabin
abiaZe from the exploded shell. and the YES
sci the center of terrible storm of shot
and shell. l overheard conversation be
tween Capt. Wainwright and Mr.. Purdy
who was in charge of the engines in which
the captain ordered purdy to increase. the
power of tnt engine by reducing the water
at the risk Of bursting the boiler-to do
anything to get the vessel afoat. In Il few
minutes the ship began to jump SO that
one could scarcely stand deck; but she
came off and
Cleared the Fire Raft
at the same time, calling forth Il spGnta-
neous cheer from ev.iy man aboard. The
men fought the fire with renewed vigor and
soon had it eNtinguiShc'l, and were again
i'll their places i, the guns. We all fel:
that the safety of the ship and crew was
Wholly due to Capt. VAIN wright. His pow
crful voice claimed the attention Of the
men: his tai form and commanding pres
ence, and his cool fearless manner in
spired all who saw or heard him with his
own courage, and made men feel that with
such Il leader there WAS nothing TO fear.
From this time ill his death he was the
IDOL OF MS crew. A. We headed up stream
we came close unon the Brooklyn. just
passing Fort Jackson. The flashing guns
from her sides brought a hearty cheer from
the Hartford. We soon emerged from the
smoke and came upon
The EncmH's Fleet.
at was warm work still, but seemed only
fun compared with what We had just been
through. We continued firing just tine same
"a anything and everything that did not fly
our flag. Our attention was particularly
claimed by large river steamer crowded
with soldiers. She was approaching US APP
parently with the intention of boarding us
Capt. Wainwright hailed her and demanded
her surrender. We delayed our fire for an
answer and when it came, No, never
a full hroadSide WIS reply. ard il sent
her drifting ashore in flames. The enemy's
fleet was now being worstcI at all points
All the vessels seemed anxious TO cScape
to the fort or 10 the city. except the Ma
nassas, which was making harmless at
tempts to strike our vessels they came
up. She struck at the Brooklyn and cross
ed our bow. The admiral signaled the Mis-
sissippi. which was directly astern of US. TO
engage her and run her under. The Old
Mississippi headed straight for her AL
tnough the Manassas escaped being struck
she received terrible broadside at close
range. The Mississippi commenced turn
ing to follow her, pouring broadSid,. into
her at the same time. Seeing no way of
escape the Manassas was run alongside the
bank, and was set affre by her crew. She
soon drlfted down the river in flames"
THE GLOUCESTER.S CsREEp