The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1909-06-04

MCCala American sailor ODugou
the xed law of the service seek land berth for
the rest of his fe He active enough go through
more storms and more battles for his country's 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. Herosm during the
Spanish war and herosm at Tentsin during the inva-
sion of China brought honors to McCaa to be added to
the accumulation of honors earlier and worthy
Years ago Admiral McCalla, then a commander, went
ashore at Colon tho Ishmus of Panama, and backed
by $50 blue jackets and Marines thrashed regiment of
attempting interfere with the Central and South
American cable Offices 1t was said that McCala
thrashed the insurgents He thrashed them without firing
shot. He did not to involve his government in
possible farreaching trouble and he took means Of
his to teach the lesson without
shedding their blood Veracous history has that the
American commander after showing Of force captured
the insurgent leaders and spanked them '"-~' ~
The cable-cutting operations which Admiral McCala
conducted while In command of the Marblehead during
the Spanish war were the most notable achieve
ments of that conflict being carried under the heav
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 1893 the Marbeheads
commander made up his mind that there was chance
that the cables of the submarine company Cuba
ing from Cienfuegos harbor might be cut II daring
plan which he evolved could be carried
The plan was carried out successfully and brought
fame not only to the who conceived it. but to the
younger officers and to the seamen who dared death
in fact fairly coured deahhat they might obey orders
to the letter. ''' '''''
The Marbehead and the Nashville were brought within
range Of the shore Their two commanders
stood where for hours they fair marks for the
enemy's guns. On that day McCala of the Marbehaad
and his colleagues of the Nashville gave their men an
example. Of herosm that to-day shines on the pages
of naval history they heroic their Juniors were
none less heroic and two boats of seamen won
that day the recognition of their government being
men ready to dare anything for the flags sake.
Lieut. Cameron =McRae Winslow of the Nashville took
command of outfit consisting OF launches
m md tic SfnN ek{v
The orders of the launch commanders were to run in
close to Colorados Point there grappe tor the
cables and to cut them Just back of the launches
ing close they could and to avoid grounding vera
the Marbehead and the Nashville with the men at tho
guns ready to cover the work of the heroes.
Commander McCala directed that because the men in
man should be ordered to the duty but volunteers
should be asked for. Every both ships volun
teered for the service. The sailors marines were
told by Lieut. Anderson under the orders of Commander
McCalla that 1t was extremely likely that those who
went would never come back that it must be dis
tinctly understood that to go unless he
wanted to They all wanted to TO- and Is went in e.ch
boat but not all returned.
McCalla ran the Marbehead into favorable position
and opened fire the rifle pits of the Spanards which
ran at right angles to face of the cabehouse Tho
Nashville shelled the chaparral beyond The launches
started toward the beach reached point only 100
feet distant from the breaking surf There cable was
grapped lifted and after extreme exertion was cut
There were yet other cables launches started
for the point beneath which was supposed to lie
They found it, lifted it and it, when suddenly tho
enemy who had been using rifles opened with machine
which had apparently been brought up
to message from the cablehouse that the enemy was
attacking
There was third cable and with the bullets cutttnx
the waves about them like hail sea- the heroic
boat crews worked Lieut. Winslow was shot through
the head he paid attention the wound though II
was severe Robert Volz seaman was shot four times
Patrick Reagan Herman W. Kuchmeister and Harry Hen
erickson were MORALLY wounded six other men Of
the command were struck Volz 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, All the time
that the operations in the launches were proceeding
Commander McCalla standing the bridge of his ves
SELL made the target of the heavy and the small
of the enemy He perhaps greater risk than
did the at work in the small boats but death passed
him by. =,
1t Rear Admiral McCalla, who at that time had
been promoted to captancy who took personal com.
mand OF hundred seamen and marines and started for
the walls Of Tentsn. His little detachment of sailors
and sailor soldiers was the first of forces of tho
allies to arrive at the Chinese city, For his services
Tientsin fight Capt McCa advanced three numbers
gallant and meritorous," the puts it. at the
in his naval rank He is living at Santa Barbara
probably regretul that his days active duty are
in the past.
= - :: .....~. .:.... /
+N nh E V