The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-05-21

was fred from the bow Of The spauaAs
gunbcAt. marked BY a clear pa. Of
bite smoke This shot. Uhsch pass
ed over the VinslgR. was at onre -
pied 20 by that ship and wss ins
slgna! Tor the from
the beach Of a rapidly sustained IRE.
characterized primarily b. = total at
seuce u smoke ~ the commence
maent Of this firms ! received a dess
wound in the left thigh As The &C
ton advanced. "a cloud 81 hare col
Iected on shore - the location of his
battery. and wh~u closest d~tac.ea
one N tRo gan flashes from among
The buildings but az no time could |
detect the exact position " the runs
NJ uHc~rtaintS Is ~ the position II
The enemy waR atteEted 70
b. the commanding officer OF the
Hudson ana by Officers commanding
gun divisions on the Wilmington. Th3
enquired OF me shortly after the &C
ton what | made ont 20 he the enc
my : exact position.
5 Al this time the wind was blow
ing from TIE shipa toward the shore
The first shot that pierced the Wins
low rendered Ier steam and hand
steering gear imperative and damag-
Cd her beyond repair. Efforts 70 work
b hand steering gear from az, xere
frustrated by the wrecking Of that
mechanism ana the rupiur. u both
wheel ropes relieving tackles failed
10 operate the rudde For a short
time the vessel was held in her bows
on position by use OF her propeller.
She then swung broad side 10 the
enemy. A shot now pierced her en-
CINE room. rendering one ngine mop
erative, / directed my attention 10
maintaining fire from her l-pounder
guns. To keeping the vessel constantly
IN. movement. 50 as to reduce the
chances Of her being hit. 10 e~udeavor-
Ing 10 withdraw from close range and
TO keeping clear OF the line Of fire 81
the Wilmington and Hudsop. h US.
Of the remaining engine. however. had
the erect Of throwing her stern to-
wards the enemy upon backing while
going ahead threw her bow IN the
same direction. Under the heavy fire
Of the Wilmington the fire Of the
enemy slackened, the Spanish gunboat
was silenced and put out OF action
early IN the engagement.
:. The Winslow now being prac-
tically disabled. | signalled to the
hudson to tow US out OF action. She
very gallantly approached us and we
succeeded in getting a line to her.
Previous TO this. the alternate rapid
backing and steaming ahead Of the
NinslOW had had the effect OF work
ing her out from under the enemy's
batteries. and in his way a distance
~ 1c'dt v SoA0N e. poiIti III
ing that we were working out in this
] directed Ensign Bagley 20
concentrate his attention upon the
movement of the ship, watching the
vessel so as to keep her out OF the
WilmingtOn'S way and to direct the
movements of the man at the revers-
ing gear. mechanical communication
from deck to engine being Impractical
BILE. This neceSitated Mr.. Ragley's
making repeated short trips from the
deck to the foot OF the engine room
ladder. While directing the vessels
course and at the moment Of being
on deck. he stood abreast Of the star
board gun, close to a group Of men
who had been stationed below. but
who had been sent on deck from the
disabled machinery. A shell hitting,
| believe, a hose-reel, exploded in
stantly. killing Ensign Bagley and two
others and MORALLY w~ounding two.
This accident. which occurred at the
close of The action, was virtually its
but was soon completely silenced by
the heavy firing OF the Wilmington.
The conduct OF Ensign Bagley. and Of
the men With him as well as that OF
the crew who survived the fight. is
beyond commentator. After seeing
the dead and wounded removed from
the Winsiow and conveyed on board
the Wilmington, l turned over the
of the ship to Gunner's
Mate G.. +. Brady. my own injury
preventing me from performing ac-
tive duty for the time being.
l have the honor 70 remain sir.
Your obedient servant.
JOHN b BERNADOU,