The suburban citizen., 1901-08-03

captured, had set out, some thirty OF
forty of them, in a small sloOp and
were fast approaching, firing upon us
with small arms. A few men returned
the fire with small arms from the Hor
not, but with apparently no effect, ans
when they were within 500 yards OF
the Hornet, one man throwing down
rife on the deck crawled on hands
and knees across the deck in the
midst of escaping steam, and returned
with two six-pound shells (the sloop in
the meantime getting nearer, few on
board the Hornet noticing her, nearly
all hands being busily engaged hand
ling the lines of the Wampatuck,
which had been slgnalled for assist.
ance, and was at this time making
fast on the opposite side Of the ship,
single-handed and alone he cast adrift
and loaded the six-pound gun in the
gangway, and, with cool and deliberate
aim, landed a shell fairly amidships Of
the sloop, which exploded, making a
perfect hash of boat, sails, masts and
Spanish soldiers; those who escaped
with their lives could be seen swim.
ming back to the island. Modesty pre-
vents the writer from mentioning the
name of the man, but he might state
that the case of the siX-pound shell
which hashed the sloop Of Spaniards
is in his possession, held as SOU
venir Of the war.
After lying helpless for fully half an
hour, within 500 yards of the ene-
mics guns, completely at their mercy,
but fighting as gallantly as ever YES
sci fought, the Wampatuck succeeded
in towing the little Hornet out Of the
enemies range Of fire. Much has been
said throughout the length and breadth
Of the land, and many glowing tributes
have been laid at the feet OF "Lieuten-
ant Hobson, the hero of the Merri-
mac" but had not the battle in front
Of Santiago happened so soon after
the battle Of Manzanillo. the names Of
Lieutenants Helm and Jungen. of the
Hornet and Wampatuck, would have
been heralded broadcast throughout
the United States as the heroes of
Manzanillo.
I was rever in my life more i'm
pressed than in the bravery displayed
by Captain Helm. as he stood upon the
open bridge Of the little Hornet, while
shells were flying thick all about him,
as calmly directing the firing of the
guns as though engaged in target
practice, and the sinking of the Merri-
mac by Lieutenant Hobson was no
more heroic than the act of rescuing
the Hornet that day. under the most
CALLING fire imaginable by Lieutenant
Jungen. of the Wampatuck. Although
an hour and fifteen minutes elapsed
from the time the first shot was fired
until we were out Of the enemies
range. during which time It seemed as
though their sole ambition was to see
how many shots they could fire during
a given time, regardless Of where their
shells landed they succeeded in doing
little damage. The Hist was struck
a few times, and the Wampatuck
once, with no more damage than a lit
tie shattered woodwork. The Hornet
was struck four times, and had the
shot which severed our steampipe
been four or FIVE inches higher OF low
CT, it would have passed through, and
we would never have known it until
the fight was over. The casualties
were but three men scalded by the es-
Gaping steam in the fire room Of the
Hornet. The superior Workmanship
of Uncle Sans gunners will be seen
from the fact that the little Hornet
though crippled as she was, succeeded
in sinking two gunboats and a sloop
loaded with soldiers, while two other
gunboats were so badly injured they
were obliged TO run on the beach to
keep from going down. Even the
Spanish press, notwithstanding their
tendency to make light of, and poke
fun at the damage done by Uncle
Sans guns, admitted in their Havana
papers the following day that "All of
the Spanish warships were more or
less injured" About twenty miles dis
tant we anchored for the night and
then, realizing far more the danger
we had been through than we did
when shells were shreking all around
us and the roar Of our own guns near
ly dcafening the crew of the Hornet
talked over the events Of the day, all
agreeing to one thing. that the Both
Cay Of June would live forever in
their memories and be celebrated by
them as "Jungen Day" for had it not
been for the heroism Of Lieutenant
Jrrgen, Of the Wampatuck, they
would have all been at the bottom Of
Manzanillo Harbor, or fighting yet
Richmond I'LL Record