Smyrna times., 1901-07-17
On the aIOWa's" Bridge.


1t had been my good fortune to
serve in the campaign that led up to
Santiago and the close of the war. 1
had seen the great work of our silent
Commander from beginning to end,
and it was also my good fortune TO see
my comrades reflect undying credit on
their country on July third. a stood
on the bridge of the Iowa and saw
Clark send the Oregon at the Span
ish line, bulldog fashion, covered by
smoke from the bursting shells of the
enemy's and his own guns, and then
follow the Colon until he sent her to
her last home down the Cuban shore.
1 have seen Jack Philip, full of prayer
and pluck, handle the Texas in a way
to warm a seaman's heart, and with it
all he had found time to use words that
made the following day more beautiful
than any other Fourth had ever been,
because he loved and honored his
country. have heard Taylor, in the
Indiana, believing away with his 49,
inch guns, as he took to fire all the
Spanish ships in succession, and l
have seen Frank Cook drive his crui-
ser into action at full speed, while his
guns did their splendid work. 1 have
also seen Wainwright, in his paper
shell, go straight at the two Spanish
torpedo-boats, game-cocks surely, and
fight them to the finish.
If the American people could have
stood with me on the quarterback of
the Iowa after the battle was over and
witnessed what took place there, they
would feel with me the following day
was greater than any other Fourth of
July had been because of what the
Navy had done on the third. The Of
ficers and men had fought splendidly;
that is their custom when a fight is
forced upon them; but after the fight
they showed the stuff that was in
them.
"DOn't Cheer! Those Men are DYING
Whe the Spanish wounded began to
arrive, poor chaps, awfully torn and
mangled by shot and shell, the same
men who for few minutes before had
fired the shots and cheered wildly
when they went crashing home in the
Spanish ships, were now most tender
and gentle to them. The care with
which they handled their late enem.
les to avoid giving unnecessary pain
and their words of encouragement, as
they carried them below to the DOCTORS
were beautiful to see and hear, and il
will be good for all Americans to re-
call such incidents on this glorious
day when surrounded by peace and
plenty. The whole day was filed with
evidences of the fine character of men
developed under a system of govern
ment having liberty and respect for the
rights of others as its Fundamental
principles.
The Fourth of July, 1898, off Santi
ago was very beautiful The flee
rolled lazily in the long ocean swell,
while men, tired from their work OF
the previous day, did what they could
to make the position of the fifteen hun
dred Spanish prisoners, officers ant
men as bearable as possib BILE.
In the officers quarters, such fooC
and drink as were on hand were freel,
given and every Spanish officer wa
completely fitted out with [clothing
About the decks, the men were sharing
tobacco and spinning yarns with tn
Spanish sailors. At noon, with ou
beautiful flags flying, each ship fire.
the national salute, and, though L hav
heard it many times before, it sounde,
different on that day.
1t seemed to mean more than eve
before.
Why Use Powder For Salutes.
Our Spanish prisoners had look c
| surprise on their faces that we shouI