The Washington herald., 1906-11-18

when they reported to me that a Spanish
cruiser was coming out. She proved TO be
the Isabel II. and the guns she carried
were not heavy enough TO admit OF her
coming close enough TO US TO do any
serious damage. So we just lay on and
peppered away at her whenever we got
chance. She soon had enough OF II and
drew away, and pretty soon they reported
another boat coming out. ! had fne
pair OF German glasses. and / soon made
the newcomer out to be the Terror. one
OF the latest type Of destroyers just added
TO the Spanish feet
There was quite heavy sea running,
and the St Paul, owing to her extreme
length, had to keep head-on TO 1t If pos
sible. The Terror was steaming north
east, and / steamed directly north. so that
n the Terror tried TO approach she had
to come In the trough Of the sea. This
made her wallow badly in the heavy seas
and OF all her shots not one touched the
st. Paul. / directed the firing on our
side from the bridge. and we kept pound
Ing away at her with our twelve-pound-
ers. which reached her nicely. We also
fired with the smaller guns, but more for
effect than for any damage we hoped we
might do. Suddenly the Terror stopped.
and Il was IN vain l tried TO make out
what she was doing II turned out after
ward that one OF our shots had gone
clear through her, carrying away her
steering gear" Here the admiral pointed
to picture on the wall, which showed
the engagement as II was drawn from his
description by an artist for a New York
magazine, and putting his finger on the
port beam OF the Terror. where big
hole showed. he said, That is the shot
that won the fight"
At any rate the Terror. mortally wound
ed, made the best OF her way back into
the harbor. She had FIVE men killed and
seven wounded. The st. Paul had not
scratch. The Terror was never more OF
service to the Spaniards during the war.
The rest Of the war was uneventful
as far as I was concerned" continued
Admiral Sigsbee. In 1885 I was placed in
command of the Texas, and in Decem-
Der. 1899. 1t was my sad duty, in the Tex
as, to transport TO the United States the
bodies of the seamen who died on the
Maine"
There came then another period Of shore
service. From January. 1900. to April,
1905. he was Chief Intelligence Officer OF
the navy, and during this period he was
also a member Of the Board Of Construc-
ton and of the General Board Of the
Navy Department. From May 1903, 20
February, 1904. he was commandant OF
the League Island Navy Yard and station.
and the commander OF the Fourth Naval
District From February, 1901, to April
OF the same year he was cOmmander-in-
chief OF the South Atlantic Squadron. and
In April. 1901 he became commander of
the Caribbean Squadron. In 1905 he was
made commander Of the Second squadron
of the North Atlantic feet. and he was
detached with a division Of this squadron
to command the John Paul Jones ex-
pedition 10 France.
1T was an inspiration" says the ad-
miraI. 1.-The enthusiasm with which we
were all received in France. To the officers
OF the expedition all honor was shown,
and the bluejackets. too. were received
with the heartiest accord and enthusiasm.
II was a striking exemDlar Of the cordial
relations that have always existed. and
which ] hope will always exist between
France and the United States. On this
trip I was invested with the cross OF a
commander In the Legion or Honor by the
President Of France
Then came Admiral Sigsbee's cruise in
the Mediterranean with the North Allan
tic Squadron and once again. as forty
years before. he found himself on board
Brooklyn. But this time his pennant as
admiral Of the feet few from her mast
head.
Forty-seven years a sailOr-and now his
work is done. II has been great work,
and II has been honored by the nation
After the Spanish-American war he re-
ceived advancement In numbers for his
conduct in command Of the Maine. for his
action against the Spanish cruiser Isabel
II. and for his defeat Of the Spanish de-
stroyer Terror The terms Of his commits
sion for these actions read. For extraor-
binary heroism.'
Forty-seven years OF service. and during
that time he has commanded the sailing
ships Dale, Constellation, and Portsmouth
and the steam vessels Blake, Rearsarge,
Maine. ST. Paul. Texas, and Brooklyn.
Better than anything-a complete epit-
ONE Of his history is summed up in the
bare facts Of the dates of his various COM
missions: Acting midshipman, 1859. en-
sign, 1853; master 1866 lieutenant 1867;
lieutenant commander. 1868: commander
1852; captain. 1897; rear admiral. 1903. He
will be a distinguished private citizen on
January l. lsJt.
Admiral Sigsbee's wife was the daugh-
ter Of Prof. II. II. Lockwood. and she was
born in the Naval Academy. II was. per-
haps, TO keep I'D the tradition thus estab-
lished that the admiTal's son was also
born IN the Academy. He is a tall, clear
eyed youth now, who, as his father is
about to retire. is getting ready to return
to the place of his birth. He enters the
Academy next year. II was Mrs. Sigs-
bees brother. Lieut.. Lockwood. OF the
army. who accompanied Greely on his
expedition to the Arctic. and who starved
10 death at Cape Sabine.
Forty-seven years Of service. and in
Philadelphia Admiral Sigsbee hauled down
his Dennant and came ashore. Now, sur
rounded by his nieces and his loved ones,
he is on waiting orders"
But / hardly think they viii give me
any more to do he says; my time is up
in January. and 1 retire. I am the fourth
ranking rear admiral now. Admirals
Evans. Sands. and Coghlsn are above
me. but Coghlan retires before I DO.
What am l going to do? Potter about
amusing myself with my hobbies, / sup
pose. At least now can get enough fish
ing. I think I shall go on fishing to the
end"