The Elbert County tribune., 1909-06-04

of his active duty cruise and is In
the port of retirement Rear Admiral Bowman Hendry
McCalla is old American sailor who has been obiged
by the fixed law Of the service to seek land berth for
the of his life He is active enough TO go through
storms and more battles for his countrys sake
but the youngsters must be given chance and SO NC
Gala slowed away within earsho Of the noise OF
Spanish and heroism at Tien-tsn during the nva-
sion of China brought honors to McCala to be added to
the accumulation OF honors earlier and worthily won
Years ago McCalla, then a commander. went
Colon the Isthmus of Panama. and backed
by blue jackets Marines thrashed regiment OF
Panama insurgents who we're erecting barricades
attempting interfere with the Central and South
American cable onces. 1t was said that McCaa
insurgents thrashed them without firing
a shot He did not to involve his government In
possible farreachng trouble and he took means of
his teach the troublesome lesson without
shedding their blood veracious history has 1t that the
American commander after showing of force captured
the nsurgent leaders and spanked them.
The cable-cutting operations which Admiral McCalia
conducted while In command OF the Marbehead during
the Spanish among the notable achieve
ments of that conflict being carried under the heav
kind of only great guns forts
but from the small deadly firearms in the hands
of hidden Spanish sharpshooters who lined the shore
During the second week in May s9s 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 II daring
plan which he evolved could be carried successfully
The plan carried successfully and It brought
fame not only to the who conceived It, but to the
younger officers and to the seamen who dared death
In fact fairly courted deaththat they might obey orders
to the letter.
The Marbehead the Nashville brought within
range of the shore forhcations Their commanders
stood where for hours they fair marks for the
enemy's On that day McCala OF the Marblehead
and his colleagues of the Nashville gave their men an
example of heroism that to-day shines the pages
OF naval history II they heroic their juniors
none less heroic, and two boats Of won
that day the recognition of their being
ready to dare anything for the flags sake.
Lieut. Cameron McRae winslow Of the Nashville took
command Of the cablecutting outfit consisting launches
from the Marbehead and its sister ship.
The orders Of the launch commanders to run in
close to Colorados Point and there grappe 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
ready to cover the work OF the heroes
Commander McCalla directed that the men in
the launches probably were going to their Deaths no
should be ordered to the duty but that
teered for the service The sailors marines were
told by Lieut. Anderson under the orders
McCalla. that 1t extremely likely that those who
went would never come back. and that 1t be
tnctly understood that to go unless he
wanted to They all wanted CO. went In each
boat, but not all returned.
McCalla the Marblehead into a favorable position
and opened fire the rifle pits of the Spanlards which
right angles face of the cablehouse The
Nashville sheed the chaparral beyond The launches
started toward the beach and reached point only 100
feet distant from the breaking surf There cable was
grappled. lifted after exertion was cut
There yet other cables. the launches started
for the point beneath which supposed to lie
They found It, lifted 1t and cut 1t, when suddenly the
enemy, who had been using rifles opened with machine
which had apparently been broght up response
10 message from the caDle-house that the enemy
attacking.
There was third cable and with the bullets cutting
the waves about them like hail the sea- the heroic
boat crews worked Lieut. Winslow shot through
the head; he paid attention to the wound though il
was severe Robert Volz seaman shot four times
Patrick Reagan Herman W. Kuchmeister and Harry Hen
erickson were mortaly wounded six other men OF
the command were struck. yoz back life after
the surgeons said he must die
The work done and it costly. naval author
tiles declare that it worth the price. All the time
that tie operations in the launches proceeding
Commander Mccaa. standing the bridge OF his yes,
sell made the target of the heavy guns and the small
guns of the enemy He perhaps greater risk than
did the at work in the small boats death passed
him by.
1t was Rear admiral McCala. who at that time had
been promoted to captaincy. who personal COM
mand of hundred seamen and marines started for
the walls OF Tientsin His little detachment sailors
and sailor soldiers" the first OF forces OF the
allies to arrive e. the Chinese city For his services
Tentsin igEs Capt McCaa was advaoced three numbers
gallant and merorious the puts It, at the
in his naval rank. He is now living Santa Barbara
probably regretfu that his days Of active duty ali
in he paat