The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-25
Commander Wainwright.


American naval achievements, the star Of
Richard Wainwright's action in the sea
battle off Santiago will be seen as long as
this country has a history. The sword of
honor. presented at the Columbia Theatre
yesterday TO this gallant Washington boy
by his fellow citizens, was in fitting rccog-
milton OF deed which reflected immortal
honor upon the recipient. his native city.
and his country
Commander Richard Wainwright as read
ers of The Times will remember. was the
executive officer OF the Inflated Maine,
blown up in Havana HarboT in a time of
profound peace by the diabolical treachery
Of the Spanish colonial authorities in Cuba.
II was natural that he. especially, should
remember the Maine" when opportunity
presented itself. and he did remember 1t
splendidly in connection with and contri
button 10 Schley's victory over the Spanish
squadron under Admiral Cervera.
At the time of the Santiago engagement
Commander Wainwright was In command
of J. Pierpont Morgan's old pleasure yacht.
Corsair transformed into the auxiliary
gunboat Gloucester. The character Of the
vessel he sailed is important in estimating
the value of his accomplishment. The
Spanish squadron. which made its break
for liberty from Santiago Harbor on the
third day of July. 1898 included two tor
pedo-boat destroyers. the Furor and the
Pluton. These serpenis OF the sea created
more terror along the coasts OF the United
States. when it became known that they
had steamed for western waters. than all
the other craft on the enemys naval list
did or could For years the growing opin-
ion of experts in sea warfare was that tor
pedo- boats. and the higher type of the
same class. tcrpedo-boat destroyers. would
be found when hostiliues between mari
time nations should next occur. yeritable
demolishers OF ba;ileships and cruisers.
Naval inventive and engineering ability
the destructive power of these new engines.
They did not demonstrate their useful
ness in the Japanese Chinese war which
first followed their general adoption. and
they were absent from The next one. be
tween Greece and Turkey. But when hos
tilities broke out between the United States
and Spain the general expectation was that
they would prove one of the most impor-
tant factors II not the dominant factor. in
the sea fighting.
Not until the encounter outside OF San
Iiago HarboT did these terrors of the deep
find chance 10 try conclusions with Amer
lean bravery. seamanship. and the IMAM
behind the gun" But, on that occasion.
Richard Wainwright with his
yacht Gloucester waded in and
destroyed and sunk both the Furor and
the Pluton 1t was an adventure worthy
TO be classed with the greatest deeds OF
our own or any other navy-worthy OF
Nelson. John Paul Jones, Fsrragut. or any
other hero OF the main.
The community which so well knows. ap- /
preciates, and honors Wainwright has done /
well TO express its feeling for him in the I
way It has. Washington and the whole |
country look upon him as one who has 4
added fresh laurels TO the crown OF Amer
lean glory; perhaps the sentiment is |
because a contemplate effort has /
been made TO detract something from the !
credit due him. when the Furor and the |
Pluton were disappearing beneath the |
waves, Sampson emerged from the eastern
horizon and claims TO have dropped shot
or two from some miles away in the di-
rection of the vessels the Gloucester had /
riddled. The presumption is that Sampson
will ultimately claim the honor of sinking 1
them. which is quite likely, as he has 1
claimed everything else connected with the 1
the men who actually achieved it.