The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-07-31
SCHLEy INQUIRY COURT.
Interesting "reminiscences Of the
Men Who Compose 1t.
ADMIRAL BEEHAks EXPLOIT.

About Captain Lemiy.
The members of the Scbley Sampson
court are distinctivoly lighting men.
Each has been connected with a ccle-
bra,ed event 10 naval annals. OF Al
miral Dewey. the hero ~ the battle of
Manila Bay. IL is unnecessary TO speak.
His record is familiar 10 all. Ills as
sociatos. Rear Admiral Kimberly and
Rear Admiral Bcuh9m. are both re-
tired officers The former was retired
in 1892 aud the latter ia 1894. Admiral
Kimberly is "a years of age and Ad-
miral Beuham 90 years. Each saw
over a. years of active service. Both
had fine records during tie civil war
The great event with which admiral
Kimberly name o. associated is ID"
destruction Of The American feet in the
harbOr of Apla. Samoa, during the ter
rilc hurricane which occurred there in
1889. The story OF that great disaster
aud tho hcrOism displayed by the Amer.
lean officers and men. under The dire
tion Of Admiral Kimberly. thrilled the
whole world nnd made an impression
never 10 De- forgotten.
The conduct of Admiral Kimberly
during the storm called forth much
praise from the sonmon who were
where they could see his action. Again
and again. they said he refused 10 put
on life preservor which members Of
his STAFF offered him. thinking probably
that the men would gain confidence by
seeing him thus coolly facing danger
unprotected
"iIe did not seem 10 care about his
own safety" said one OF the Tronton's
survivors. but bis whole thought was
how 10 got the Trenton down 10 the
Vandalia 10 save the men IN her rig
gng"
\ notable incident OF this catastro.
phe was Admiml Kimberly action In
assembling The Trcnton's band on deck
and playing God Save the Queen" as
the British cruiser Cnlliopc with mora
engine power than the other ships pres
out steamed out 10 sea ana safety.
The admiral. whilg.in imminent peril
of his life, with Ns ship grinding 70
pieces on the rcF. recognized the sea
manship and <'ill Of the British ex.
ploit aud liyod up his crew and band
on deck TO- fhecr.
Admlraf Bcnham Is best kn as
the mqn who broke the blockade at
I,io dc Iauciro In the Brazilian rebel
lion OF lS95 and not only enabled Amer
lean merchantmen 10 discharge their
cargoes, but gave the deathblow to the
attempt to rc-cstahllsh the Portuguese
monarchy In Brazil He made fruit
less efforts through diplomatic means
10 secure permission from the rebels
who controlled the navy oC the rcpub-
lie for some American vessels laden
with -four 10 discharge their c1rgocs at
the Rio whnrfs. Finally ne served no.
tice on the rebel Admiral de Cana that
he intended 10 convoy the -four vessels
20 the city. The little second class
cruiser Detroit. under Commander
Willard III. Brownson, now OF the bat
tleship Alabama, started by Benham's
orders TO escort two American mer.
cbantmen through the blockade line
Two rebel battlcships. with shotted
guns and their crews mt quarters, bar
red the way. One Of them fired shot
across the bow Of the Detroit aud
Brownson responded with n shell aim
ed at the hull OF the Brazilian and
shouted over the side that he would
sink her II another shot was fired
This ended the Incident and the revo
luton. De CANA attempted 10 sur.
render TO Benham, but the latter re-
fused TO regard him as an enemy. 9th
er foreign commanders followed the
90 ft.afrrt.I.. ~