The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-06-08
III.

INV ~ SOto W ~ Ou
mas day, at 500 A. III. anchored off the
MORO at San Juan, Puerto Rico, in
nineteen fathoms of water. The adj
miral and his staff visited the Governor
General, and later on the United States
Army Transport sBuford' arrived with
Christmas gifts for US in the shape of
our first mail from home.
Thanks to the extra supply of fresh
meats and poultry taken along from
New York, the majority of mems mes
ses managed to have an excellent din
ner tor this day. Considering the time
already spent at sea, and the warm
weather, the spreads nf meat, fruits,
nuts and pastry was really remarkable
The drapery with flags of some of the
tables and surroundings was as good as
any [ have ever seen on board ship.
The Chief Petty Officers mess on the
gun deck ranked best for variety of good
things, the petty officers came next.
while certain petty officers had laid in
supplies for a private feast, and served
out a "scupper-mess" invitation to
others less fortunate. A notable ex-
ception vas one OF the berth deck
messes which found itself down to hard
tack and coffee on this the day of good
cheer and plenty. In place of the tur-
key they had a pair of boxing gloves
holding the position of honor on the
table, while inuian clubs stood in lieu
of wine bottles. The sinister sign of
the business like boxing gloves, and the
fact that the cook knew well how to use
them, prevented any of the grumblers
from too strongly expressing their
opinion of those responsible for the
feast. Altogether it was such a Christ
mas Day as inevitable at sea-no work,
no drill, the men constrained in their
be%stsclothes, and time hanging heavily
on their hands.
OF all the ports set down in the
schedule for the present cruise, partic-
ular interest is felt regarding the Is.
land of Puerto Rico, especially by the
men who were Oh board this ship dur
ing the late war, and possibly it will be
we'll to set forth here a short history of
this island from the date of its first dis
coverv by Columbus.
But | cannot go on without devoting
a little space to a matter of Importance
to those who were on board this ship,
the Indiana, and others of SIMPSONS
command on the night previous to the
bombardment of San Juan, the 18th day
of May, 1898 The battle of Manila
was certainly a glorious one, but 1 think
for excitement the previous evening,
when Dewey and his men were prepar-
ing to pass by the ports of Cavite and
over possible mines, must have meant
more to the participants, according to
their accounts. Probably just as
, many prayers were said, and as many
little wills and testaments slowed away
in the bottom of dittybags where they
could be foundsin the event of the death
of the owner, as was the case witt
SIMPSONS men off San Juan. The
weary days of slow and interrupted
searching for the enemy, the ripping
and tearing out of all of our wood
work, the uncertainty of the where
abouts of Cevera, and the weakness Of
our monitors and even some of the
other ships, made it a circumstance un
} equalled since the British and French
fleets sought and fought each other il
these same waters centuries ago. The
climax was reached at midnight of the
18th, and never was a fighting vesse.
better prepared to meet the enemy
The probability was that Cevera anc
his ships were inside the harbor. ar
equal match for our ships without the
assistance of their good Notifications
Besides that, there were men forward
who believed in the rumors that hal
J reached us off Cape Haytien, that VIZ
might expect to meet allies of Spain IL
company with Cevera's force. Never
l theless everyone was prepared 10 do hi.
duty. 1t was a night, and the follow
! ing was a day, when all men felt equa
I in the service for their country. Fol
once there was heard no grumblint
4 about the food-and everyone knows il
! was poor, owing to the long absence
from any desirabls port, and although
l all afterwards became accustomed tt
! frequent bombardments off Santiago de
, Cuba, never were guns better trained
] than on the morning of the twelfth. Ii
! the eyes of journalism the affair was
. rather insignificant. as the enemy's
. ships were not there, but Simpsons
. men know, and history will show, thai
: it was the strongest resistance expert
! enced by any United States vessels dur
! ing the Spanish-American War. Ano
l with all odds against us, every heart
was filed with confidence that will
Admiral SIMPSONS Judgment, and the
%tlreless energy of Captain Chadwick to
. rely upon, our small force would have
{ pulled through in a glorious manner.
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