The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1909-06-12

Tho mort Of retirement Rear Admiral Bowman Hendry
McCala an American sailor who has been obliged
by the fixed the service to seek land berth for
the of his life He is active enough to go through
more storms and battles for his countrys sake
youngsters must be given chance. and so NC
Gala has slowed away within earshot OF the noise OF
the sounding sea which he loves Heroism during the
Spanish and heroism at Tientsin during the invar
sion China brought honors to McCaa to be added to
the accumulation Of honors earlier and worthiy won.
Years ago Admiral McCala, then a commander, went
ashore at Colon the sthmus Of Panama and backed
by $50 blue jackets and marines thrashed regiment OF
Panama insurgents who were erecting barrcades ana
were attempting interfere with the Central and South
American cable Offices. 1t was said that McCalla
thrashed the insurgents He thrashed them without firing
q shot. He did not to involve his government In
possible farreaching trouble and he took Of
his 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 cable-cutting operations which Admiral McCalla
conducted while in command Of the Marblehead during
the Spanish among the most notable achieve
ments conflict being carried under the heavi
kind of fire not only from the great Of the forts
but from the small and deadly firearms in the hands
hidden Spanish sharpshooters who lined the shore.
During the second week In May 1898, the Marbleheads
commander made up his mind that there was chance
that the cables Of the submarine company In Cuba lead
ing from Cienfuegos harbor might be cut II daring
plan which he evolved could b. carried out successfully
The plan carried out successfully and 1t brought
fame not only to the man VIE conceived IT, but to the
younger officers and to the satmen who dared death
in fact fairly coured deathhs they might obey orders
to the letter.
The Marbehead and the Nashville we're brought within
range of the Notifications Thelr two commanders
stood where for hours they were fair marks for the
enemys guns. On that day McCalla Of the Marbehead
and his colleagues of the Nashville gave their men an
example of heroism that to-day shines the pages
naval history. II they heroic their juniors were
less heroic, and two boats crews Of seamen won
that day the recognition of their being
men ready to dare anything for the flags sake.
Lieut. Cameron McRae Winslow Of the Nashville took
the outfit consisting OF launches
from the Marbehead and its sister ship,
The orders Of the launch commanders were to run in
close Colorados Point and there to grappe for the
cables and to them Just back Of the launches,
ing close they could and to avoid grounding
the Marblehead and the Nashville with the men at the
guns ready to cover the work of the heroes.
Commander McCalla directed that because the men In
the launches probably going to their deaths
should ordered to the duty but that volunteers
should be asked for. Every man on both ships voun
teered for the service The sailors and marines were
told by Lieut. Anderson under the orders OF Commander
McCalla that It was extremely likely that those who
would come back. and that It must be dis
tinctly understood that man was to 60 unless he
wanted to They all wanted to and 10 went in each
boat but not all returned.
McCalla ran the Marbehead into favorable position
and opened fire the rife pits Of the Spaniards which
right angles face of the cablehouse Tle
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
grapped lifted and after extreme exerton was cut
There yet other cables, and the launches started
for the point beneath which was supposed to lie
They found It, lifted II and cut It, when suddenly the
enemy who had been using rifles opened with machine
guns which had apparently been brought in
to message from the cable-house that the enemy
attacking
There was third cable and with the bullets cutting
the about them like hail the the heroic
boat worked Lieut.. Winslow was shot through
the head he paid attention to the wound though u
was severe Robert vos. seaman shot four times
Patrick Reagan Herman w. Kuchmeistsr and Harry Hen.
erickson MORALLY wounded and six other men Of
the command struck voE came back to life after
tho aurga naid h0 m uat 4
The work done and It costly, but naval author
tiles declare that worth the price. All the time
that the operations in the launches were proceeding
Commander McCala standing the bridge Of his yes
sell made the target Of the heavy and the small
guns Of the enemy He psrhaps greater risk than
did the at work in the small boats but death passed
him by.
II was Rear Admiral McCalla. who at that time had
bssn promoted to captancy. who took personal COM
mand Of hundred and marines and started for
the walls Of Tensn. His little detachment OF sailors
and sailor SOLDIER" was the nrs oe the forces Of the
allies 70 arrive the Chinese city For his ssrvices
Tsnsn fight Capt McCalla advanced three numbsrs
gallant and msritorious" the record puts H. At the
In his naval rank He 10 living At Santa barbara
probably rssrstfu that hs days q active dasy ass ~
y sAs pAs1