The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-08-07

s;ors!iy high bridge OF the BseoSiyn. ]
locked Ees SaupseR snd the New YorS,
but he was out Of sight. We never saw
him sgain until one long hour after the
surrender Of the Colon.
It is claimed that the Brooklyn ran
from the enemy during the fight, snd
that in that movement Schley display
ed cowardice. At the outset let me
say that the movement Of the ship
showed the greatest good judgement,
and probably saved the cruiser from be-
ing sunk or disabled. When the enemy
was sighted coming out the Brooklyn
moved straight for the entrance at the
rate of about seven knots On hour ana
continually increasing her speed.
THAT FAMOUS LOOP.
The ships of the enemy were NOV
ing out toward US at the rate Of about
II knots an hour, and the distance to
tra7ers vas only Eve miles. We had
opened fire With our port battery, the
guns being trained almost directly for
Rard. The turning circle Of the Brook
Iyn is ! 1000 yards, and if We had turn,
ed in toward the shore that would have
allowed the Viscaya to have gone be:
tween Us and the Texas, and would
have opened our unprotected side to
the concentrated fire Of the Spanish
vessels, and also have intercepted the
fire Of our oWn ships. I stood on the
TOD Of the forward eight inch turret
locking directly over the bow, and !
know that ne were never near enough
to the Texas to hurt her, and We did
not block her fire for an instant.
"lf Capt Phillip backed his engines
when he ssw us turning it was because
through the smoake he could rot quite
tell how We we're moving, and he knew
that be had to follow the motions OF
our ship, an6 not do as be pleased. The
Rsg snip always has the Iisht OF way.
Up to the t;me.w We TUNED We had been
hit only twice. After We turned We
we're hit q times By projscsiles sno %
times by flying pieces, ard after We
turned we left the msrks of f7e'inch
shells upon every Spanish ship.
EULATEs TRIBUTE
"To those who criticise SehleY's turn,
on the ground Of coWardice, | com mend
the statement Of Capt Ealste, Of the
Viscsya: If the Brooklyn had not
made that beautiful manoeuvce IN turn.
ing I could have rsnmed and sunk her.
ITO those who criticise upon the
grou1d that the Texas was stopped for
q miDute or so, let me say that little
later the Oregon crossed the bow Of the
Texas and blanked her fire for ten
minutes, but certainly no one will say
that the Oregon, in view Of her spien-
did fight and chase, was not justified.
When the battle vas over ,Schley
thanked his men and signalled his
thanks to every commander under him.
When Sampson arrived he offered no
congratulations to any man or sny Of
fcer, although he did condescend to
offer congrstulatioa to the public for
the splendid manner in which the fight
that he did not take part in vas conduct
ed.
"Lst me close with, perhaps, new
statement. The men who are respon-
sible foS these vicious attacks are Capt
T. Z Chad Rick, who commanded the
New York the dsy Of the fight she fail
I'd to get in; Rssr Admiral Robley D.
Evans, the only captain in the light
Who hid in the coming tower; Rear
Admiral CroWninshieid, Of the bureau
of navigation, and indirectly, because
be dare not come in the open, Rear
Admiral VIM P. Sampson, who should
be Court-msrtisied for his action be-
fore Santiago, July 3, 1898, in weak
ening our battle line.
"Gsoree.E Graham"