Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1902-01-18
THE BATTLE OFF SANTIAG 0


uent, VINO hnu eNceptlonal 1acllltleS
for gathering materials, as he was
on board the Brooklyn during the
fight with the Spanish feet, and thus
in position to- tell the story Of
Santiago without fear or favor"
The book is said to have the unqual-
flied Endorsement of RearAdmiral
Schley, who read and corrected the
proofsheets. When President Roose-
welt was governor of New York he
was present when Mr.. Graham gave
an account of the battle to state Of
ticials and members of the legisla-
ture, and said;
81 am sure you feel as pleased at
having listened to Mr.. Graham as l
do, for ! have listened to the best
account | have ever heard or read
of the naval fighting during this
war"
This book is the first and only
complete story of the work Of the
flying squadron, commanded by
Schley. Mr.. Graham was assisted by
his camera. which enabled him to
add many interesting Illustrations
and the account he gives of the
movements of the fleet and the bat
tie is evidently sincere. 1t is free
of virulent and personal attacks; the
aim is to give a truthful statement
of every occurrence. IN connection
with the arrival Of the New York,
Mr., Graham says:
"Thc commodore reached over to
me, took my glasses, and looked
scarchingly to the cast, saying slow
ly as he did so: There is the Texas
and there is the Vixen, but ! don't see
the New York And then, as he kept
the glasses up, in an instant he had
evidently found her, for he remarked:
Yes, there she is. ! can tell her by
her smoke
This was at 1:4j o'clock, and the
Colon had gone ashore at 1:15, while
Capt. Cook had received the surren'
der at 1:4j. At two o'clock. just as
the New York got where we consid-
cred her in signal distance, Commo
dore Schley ordered the signal
raised "A glorious victory has been
achieved. Details later This sigma.
replaced the one which we had been
flying for nearly three quarters OF
an hour, The enemy has surren'
dered,' and which the New York
had not answered.
"Vainly the signal officers on the
bridge watched the New York fol
even the courtesy of an answering
pennant showing that she under
stood our signal. None was displayed
and then it apparently dawned .upor
Commodore Schley's mind that
SIMPSONS flag capain ON the Now
York was probably intent upon ig
noring him Picking up the mega
phone, Commodore Schley did thu
cue thing that day for which / have
always criticized him, lowered his
dignity sufficiently to plead with the
commander of the fleet that he
might have the honor of receiving
the surrender of the ship whose es
cape had been frustrated by the
Brooklyn and the Oregon, thus MAX
ing complete the days victory.
"I request the honor of the sur
render of the Cristobal Colon' he
said. in clear, distinct voice, anC
from the commandcr-in-chief's flag
ship came waited back the insolen
answer from a cadet, 'What?'
81 request the honor of the sur
render of the Cristobal Colon, agaiI
called the commodore, and this tint
his voice trcmbled slightly, VT
watched the bridge of the New Norl
closely waited intently for an an
swer; but none came. And tina
message, as had all the others pre-
ceding it since the destruction OF tht
Spanish feet which had been ad
dressed by Schley to the New York
remained unanswered.
"Somebody raised broom at on
masthead on one of the penHan
halyards, and the crew of the Oregon
followed suit and then gave tbre
cheers for Commodore Schlcy. Ol
the Texas the men all lined up OF
the forward deck, and at the reques
of somebody aboard presume o
Philip himself-gaye three cheers TO
Commodore Schley. The little Nixel
circled around three or four times
her crew yelling themselves hoars
for the Brooklyn, for Schley and TO
the victory. But from the New IorI
there came never a sound of joyful
ness and never q cheer"