The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-23
COWLES TELLS OF HEROIC
ACTS ON HIS BATTLESH|P
Commander of the Missouri
Praises His Men in Official
Report.
INSTANCES OF BRAVERY

WASHINGTON, April 22-Capt. w. S.
Cowles, commander of the battleship Mis-
souri,, in his report the disaster which
occurred on his ship, made public at the
Navy Department to-day, tells of the deeds
of personal bravery and of the acts of
heroism which characterized the conduct
of officers and men, and of total disregard
Of danger displayed in the work of saving
the ship and rescuing the imperiled. He
also gives many interesting details not
heretofore published. Captain Cowles says:
AT ii o'clock a. m. April 13. off Pensa-
cola, Fla, while at record practice on
range No. 8. and after the fifth shot from
the left gun, after turret had fired, L heard
an explosion, looked aft and saw a great
flame bursting from the after turret.
Sounding fire and collision quarters. L di-
rected Lieut.. Commander f. X. Hill to
take her into shoal water. He afterward
anchored her in five and one-half fathoms.
The other ships on the range followed us
and offered every assistance, and were
ready to save lives, as they probably ex-
pected us to blow up. l believed the, snip
to be in imminent danger and went quickly
to the fire, found the turret impossible TO
enter. Streams of water were already
directed in it. All entrances were barred
with the dead and dying. Two on top OF
turret, one calling for help, and every one
trying to reach him. Passing around the
turret, L saw Father Glecson, who offered
TO send a wireless for me to the admiral,
and l went below. reached the berth and
splinter deck and found Lieut.. Commander
j. Nj. Orchard directing streams of water
below INTO the upper and thence overflow
ing into the lower handling room in addi-
ton 10 those directed below from the turret
hx Ion &c..
who said: Ma gazines all flooded, fire not
yet under control
Then Lieutenant c.. Davis coming up
the ladder, said: There is a man at the
foot of this ladder who is alive and help
less / went down and felt about, found
j. t. J. Donnelly, ordinary seaman. and
Machinist G. Crofter. a man on the sick
LIST, who had thrown away his crutch Mr..
Davis mentions this man especially.
afterward returned and pulled out three
more men whom | could not recognize,
and finally ordered up Midshpman A. q.
Caffee, who heroically persisted in remain
ing in the lower handling room up 70 his
neck in water and much overcome by the
funes. He had to be led out. He after
wards resumed his place on deck and as
sisted the navigator in very poor condi-
ton. Those three, Lieutenant Davis, Mid
shipman Caffee and Chief Machinist Croft
ton came under my immediate observation.
Lieutenant w p. Scott was first in the
turret, followed by Lieutenant X. Earle
| Lieutenant Marshall and Paymaster Dyer
remaining on top to help get cut the
wounded who came from the turret. Lieu
| tenants Crank and Castleman gave us
water from below, and Chief En-
greer Bieg was at the engines
| and Lieutenant Castleman in the
| fireroom. All the midshipmen were
| busy. Every one was somewhat affected
| by the fumes, Lieutenant Commander Or
| chard and Lieutenant Davis, especially.
| Mr.. Cox was up and down everywhere
| locking out for possible flames where smoke
still continued after the fire was under
control, the fire to be under control at
| such point must be put out. Ensigns
! Hammer, Spotter and Volunteer hard at
work. DR.. Uric and his corps all looked
| after the wounded and dying. Lieutenant
Crank and Midshipnan Halsey helped him
| all night. Surgeon Uric fell down the hold
and hurt himself badly, but no one was
| the wiser until 1t was all over. MiGship-
man Barnette, Midshipman Bagley and
Midshipman Rodgers were all busy at their
| posts. Everyone, officers and men, were
| cool and collected and every one helped
| intelligently."
| 1t is shown by the report that Master-at-
| Arms Elliott died while going to the res
| cue of others and that Shipftter Burgess
| and Electrician Leary were I'M ured while
| from the handling room and were still liv-
| were j. NJ. McDade ordinary seaman; X.
| Starr, seaman; +. c. Schaub apprentice:
w. S. Wells. landsman. The names OF
| the heroic dead are given in two classes
| those who died at their posts of duty in
| the turret, nineteen being named, and
| those who died at their posts in the hand
| ling room twelve being named.