The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-09
STORY OF CAPT. M'CALLA
ONCE SERIOUSLY-MALIGNED NAVAL
OFFICER NOW IN CHINA.
He Likes a Fight, and Was Disap-
pointed Because the Mnrbiehead
Could Not Assist at Santiago.
New York Letter in Baltimore Herald.

United States received a friendly" docu-
ment from a great labor organization, in
which. among other things. Ii was said:
"He is a disgrace to the navy that we
help to support. He is opposed to US In
politics. Unless you dismiss him from the
service your responsibility, we fear. will
be brought TO the attention of the voters
next fall"
Across the face of this particular piece
of executive correspondence this was writ
ten in blue pencil by the President:
Subject treated received my earnest at
tention. 1 consider naval officer referred 20
one of the most fearless in the whole serv-
ice. Much-abused man. If for no other
reason than that he is of different politics.
must decline to interfere with court-mar-
tial findings"
It seems but the day before yesterday
when this was written. The whole coun-
try was alive with what were termed the
horrible c~ruclties to the crew of the En-
terprise. The name of Bowman Hendry Nc
Gala, commander, L. S. N, was erased
from club books here and abroad. Its own
er wasn't worth a half-boiled egg wherever
the language was spoken. Bluejackets or
the American navy did not care to be seen
on the same side OF the th~oroughfare with
the man who bore that name. The waiter
of an unknown restaurant knocked on
work in the middle of his watch rather
than serve him. Men came TO blows In
barrooms and barracks when his name was
brought up, and over in New Jersey. where
he was born, his neighbors used TO tack
or wear ship to sheer off as he move In
sight. Bowman McCalla shut his teeth ana
kept silent through Ii all. II ever a man
suffered in silence more than another, ne
is entitled to that number of the mess. but
that was the day before yesterday.
Yesterday morning the historian OF a
great sailors union turned 10 ne rupp.
mis- eyeglasses with a piece of bunting mat
lay on his starboard hand. and AFTER care
fully adjusting them aloft fshed out
tween decks OF his desk a pen nd tha rar ws5
alongside of him and laid a record on the
desk. Ii was a big book and IL was Wen
freighted with big and little names. After
marks, and at the end of the book there
was a Key to tell what these secret chaI-
acters meant. The pen went into the INK
pot and once. twice ana a third TINE. Was
drawn through the first name in the book.
clearing it out from knighthedc 10 stern
post, as II were. Then the book was CLOSED
and the name of Bowman h: McCalsa was
no longer shipmate with those of big
listed mates and masters who whip sailors
HAS A VERY BAD TEMPER.
And the historian chuckleG to himself
and finally said to the boy:
John, If you ever meet a chap of the
lame of McCalla and he talks fight jump
overheard rather than get in his way. He's
a good fellow, but my. he has a mighty bad
temper. Don't forget the name, John.
McCalla. Bowman II. McCalla, u. S. N"
When Rear Admiral SIMPSONS fleet was
anchored off and i'm the harbor of Key West
waiting for Congress to throw down the
hat Captain McCalla was commanding Off
Ger of the unprotected Marbleheaf. The
latter isn't a Kearsarge or even an Iowa,
and a well-aimed shot from an ordinary
Mauser would have no trouble In gong
through any of her upper plates. The
morning that the battleship Oregon reached
the bar outside Key West after her famous
Paul Revere gallop around the Horn The
New York, Indiana and Iowa. the princi-
Ial ships of Simpsons fleet, had gene TO
Dry Tortugas to coal. In their absence the
officers of the Oregon were very anxious
to know TO what extent the ships of the
fleet had been cleared for action, and they
Sug all Of the details possible from the
correspondents. I'VE want 20 get down
70 tie skin with the best of them they
said In explanation as the boats and stuff
marked Not wanted" We're sent ashore.
HIS BOAT READY FOR ACTION.
About that time the Marblehead, bound
out, In all the grandeur of her war paint,
came close aboard the anchored Oregon
and while the cheering to the newcomer
was going on Captain Clark. with binocu-
lars leveled at the third-rate cruiser. said:
1T beats the very mischief how that
boat is stripped. I never saw anything like
it before. Why, she hasn't got a stitch on
her that isn't wanted. Look at her, Mr..
- and faka a laccop from, NfcCoIo CAo
looks like a bulldog on deck and yet a per-
feet deerhound along the water line. No
use talking. Well have to get overheard
hundreds of our old ~standbys to clean out
Everybody else with a nautical mind said
the same thing. Not another vessel of
SIMPSONS fleet was stripped for action as
thoroughly as was the Marblehead. The
man who shut his teeth on the verdict of a
court martial superintendent the whole
thing. He did not leave the details to his
executive officer, but dug right in. fire.
quently labelling the "go ashores' himself,
and on a number of occasions before the
war started ordered tags marked "over-
board to be placed on unnecessary things
that he found below decks. II don't want
an inch of unnecessary woodwork in this
ship" was his command, and it was obeyed,
as all his commands are. Subsequently
bigger and stouter ships were shamed by
the clean-cut appearance of the Marble
head, and so perfect was she that had she
gone down In action, as many predicted
for McCalla was just dying for a fight-not
a scrap of floating wreckage would have
been found above her.
GUANTANAMO BAY.
Between the day before yesterday and
yesterday i'm the career of McCalla came
Guantanamo bay, the first real fight of the
war by the valiant marines. under the d.
rection of the gallant commander; the
quick. blood-thrilling dashes Of the Marble
head after the enemy in the midwatches,
when lights were masked and hooded and
guns all ready for the snap Of the breech-
lock; the cutting of telltale cables, with
the shells OF the enemy bursting alongside
and the commander looking on with dig
nifty, and the hundred and one gallant
deeds which he personally performed dur
ing the Spanish war.
That he did not participate In the destruc-
ton of Cervera's fieew was no fault of his.
Among the vessels that had sought the
quiet Guantanamo bay for repairs and rest
the morning Of this great naval battle was
the Marblehead. Guantanamo. then newly
conquered. lies thirty-nine miles To the east
or Santiago. Colonel Allen, OF the signal
corps. climbed aboard the Marblehead and
told McCalla that Cervera and his fleet
had escaped.
Captain McCalla rushed TO the bridge
like a tornado. and I'm a twinkling there
was a click of the steam capstan and
bright flags were futtering to the signal
yard. At the same time the impatient
crack of a six-pounder called the attention
oils, Dupont. Foote and Porter, all
anchored there 10 the hunting aIoff Five