The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1909-06-04


McCaa is old American sailor who has been obliged
by the fixed law of the service to seek land berth for
the of his life. is active enough to through
storms and battles for his countrys sake,
but the youngsters must be given chance, and NC
Gala has slowed away within earshot of the noise OF
the sounding which he loves. Heroism during the
Spanish and heroism at Tientsin during the inva-
sion OF China brought honors to McCaa to be added to
the accumulation of honors earlier and worthily won.
Years ago Admiral McCala, then commander, went
ashore Colon the Isthmus of Panama. and backed
by $50 blue jackets and Marines hrashed regiment Of
Panama insurgents who erecting barricades and
attempting interfere with the Central and South
American cable offices. 1t said that McCalla
thrashed the insurgents He thrashed them without firing
shot He did not to involve his government in
possible farreaching trouble and he took Of
his to teach the troublesome lesson without
shedding their blood Veracous history has it that the
American commander after showing of force. captured
the insurgent leaders and spanked them
The cabe-cutting operations which Admiral McCalla
conducted while in command of the Marblehead during
the Spanish among the most notable achieve
merts of that conflict being carried under the heavi
est kind of fire not only from the of the FORTS
but from the small and deadly firearms in the hands
of hidden Spanish sharpshooters who lined the shore
During the second week in May $685. the Marbleheads
commander made up his mind that there chance
that the cables of the submarine in Cuba lead
ing from Cienfuegos harbor might be cut if daring
plan which he evolved could be carried successfully
The plan carried out successfully it brought
fame not only to the who conceived it. but the
younger officers and to the who dared death
in fact fairly courted deathhat they might obey
to the letter
The Marblehead and the Nashville were brought within
of the shore Notifications Their two
stood where for hours they fair marks for the
enemy's guns On that day McCala of the Marblehead
his colleagues the Nashville gave their men an
example of heroism that to-day shines the pages
of naval history If they heroic their juniors
less heroic, and two boats seamen won
that day the recognition of their being
men ready to dare anything for the flags sake
Lieut.. Cameron McRae Wnslow of the Nashville took
command of the cabecutting outfit consisting launches
its Shi
The orders of the launch commanders run in
close to Coorados Point and there grapple for the
cables and to cut them Just back Of the launches
ing close they could and to avoid grounding
the Marblehead and the Nashville, with the the
guns ready to cover the work of the heroes.
Commander McCala directed that because the men in
the launches probably were going to their deaths,
should be ordered to the duty but volunteers
should be asked for Every man both ships volun-
eered for the service. The sailors marines were
told by Lieut. Anderson under the orders of Commander
McCala, that it extremely likely that those who
Went would never come back, and that it be
tncty understood that go unless he
wanted to They all wanted co. 16 went in each
boat, but all returned.
McCaa the Marblehead into a favorable position
and opened fire the rife pits of the Spanards which
at right angles to face of the cabe-house The
Nashville shelled the chaparral beyond The launches
started toward the beach and reached point 100
feet distant from the breaking surf There cable was
grappled, lifted and after extreme exertion was cut
There yet other cables and the launches started
for the point beneath which one was supposed to lie
Iney lifted II and 1t, when suddenly
enemy, who had been using rifles opened with machine
guns which had apparently been brought up
to message from the cablehouse that the enemy was
attacking.
There third cable and with the bullets cutting
the waves about them like hail the sea- the heroic
boat worked Lieut.. Winslow shot through
the head he paid attention the wound though IL
Robert Volz, seaman shot four times
Patrick Reagan Herman w. Kuchmester Harry Hen.
erickson MORALLY wounded six other men of
the command struck Voz came back to life after
the surgeons said he must die
The work done and it costly but naval author
tiles declare that it worth the price, the time
that the operations in the launches were proceeding
Commander McCalla standing the bridge of his yes.
sell made the target Of the heavy guns
of the enemy. He perhaps, greater
did the at work in the small boats but death passed
him by.
1t was Rear Admiral McCalla, who at that time had
been promoted to captancy, who took personal COM
mand OF hundred seamen and marines and
the walls of Tentsn. His little detachment sailors
and sailor soldiers the first of the forces of the
allies to arrive at the Chinese city For services
Tientsn fight Capt McCala advanced three numbers
gallant and meritorous, the puts it, at the
in his naval rank He is living at Santa Barbara
probably regreful that his days active duty are all
in the past.