The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-03-17

teen months 1nat VeSSei was IN the
Hawaiian Islands. During t/lt period
the revolution of 1898 resulted in the
overthrow of the monarchy during
lery in the landing brigade for the pro.
lection of American residents and
property in Honolulu.
He was detached from the Boston
when she was placed out of commits.
sion at Mare Island, and ordered to
duty in connection with the publica,
ton of the naval war records, navy de.
paEtment, and in July, 1896, was or
dered to the U. S. S. Detroit, Asiatic
station, and to the U. s. s. Boston Jan.
uary, 1897. In October of that year he
was ordered to the U. s. S. Yorktown,
and upon the arrival Of that vessel at
Mare Island in December, 1897, was
assigned to the command of the q. s.
S. Alert, and fitted her out for a survey
of the western approach to the Mica
raguan canal. While that vessel was
at Acapulco, Mexico, he was taken
violently i'll with appendicitis and sent
to the naval hospital at Mare Island
for treatment. When discharged from
the hospital in February, 1898, he was
ordered home on sick leave.
Work at Santiago.
When the war with Spain broke out,
he was still on sick leave, but applied
for and was ordered to command the
L. s. S. Hist. After fitting out that
vessel at the New York navy yard, he
Immediately proceeded to join the fleet
under Admiral Sampson off Santiago,
Cuba. Was placed in command of the
little squadron consisting of the Hist,
Hornet and Wompatuck. June 30th,
1898, the squadron attacked the enemy's
forces at Nisaro, silenced the forts
and sand batteries, and sunk one OF
the gunboats. That same afternoon
they fought the battle Of Manzanillo,.
in which the four forts, two sand bat.
teries and rifle trenches were silenced,
several gunbots, armed pontoons and
three transports were sunk or de.
stroyed. This battle was the only ma.
val engagement during the entire wal
in which our forces wer engaged
against superior force. The Hist was
hit eleven times by heavy guns, more
wounds than any other vessel received
during the period Of the war.
F. This little squadron subsequently
engaged the enemys batteries and
land forces at Santa Cruz, Jucaro,
Trinidad, Casilda, and other important
places inside the keys on the south
corner of Cuba from Cape Cruz to
Cienfuegos. Tt destroyed all the
enemy's Telegraph stations, and July
18th located and cut the cable, the
only Geographic communication be-
tween Santiago and Havana, and by
which General Leneres was enabled to
communicate direct with Madrid the
celebrated dispatch that gave him the
necessary authority to capitulate the
forces under his command in the
province of Santiago. The Hist also
took an important part in the battle of
Santiago.
For his services In the battle of
Manzanillo and inside the keys he was
personally complimented by the com.
mander-in-chief and the chief of staff,
and for services during the war, he
was awarded by the department the
highest medal with four bars attached,
and advanced in numbers for extraor.
binary heroism in battle, the second
time that he was advanced for extra.
ordinary heroism, an honor shared by
no other officer on the active list. He
is the only officer on the active lis,
who has commanded a squadron OF
vessels in fight, or who fought
against odds.
Commandment at Havana.
When the Hist was placed out OF
commission at the Pensacola navy
yard, he was ordered back to Cuba,
and for four years was commandant OF
the naval station and captain of the
port Of Havana and in charge of the
entire marine jurisdiction of the Island
of Cuba, for which duty he received a
commendatory letter from the govern
or-general and personal congratula-
tons from the president of the United
States.
For his personal heroic acts in
saving life and property at the risk Of
his own life during the great flood in
the vicinity of Havana, he was highly
commended by letters from the mayor
and city council of Havana.
On being detached from duty in
Cuba, he was assigned as member of
the naval examining board at Wash
ington, and on March 5, 1902, he as
sumed charge of the ninth lighthouse
district with headquarters at Chicago.
He was ordered to and assumed COM
mand of the u s. S. Montgomery, At.
lantic feet, March 5, 1904, and for sew.
eral months was in charge OF the naval
forces on the Isthmus of Panama.
The Bennington Accident.
The Montgomery was placed out cf
commission at the League Island navy
yard and he was transferred to the
command of the u. s. s. Bennington,
Pacific squadron. He was in command
of that vessel at the time OF the serious
accident in the harbor of San Diego
Cal, in 1905, and it was due te his
GOODNESS and skillful seamanship thai
the magazines were flooded just in
time and that the vessel was beached
on a mud fat, by which many lives
and much property We're saved. The
Bennington was placed OUT of commits
sion at the Mare Island navy yard, and
he was ordered to court martial and
board duty at that yard. His last duty
was that of captain of the yard, presf
dent of the permanent general court
martial, examining and retiring and Ia
Dor boards, navy yard.
He was present at the great earth
quake and fire at San Francisco, and
in recognition of his services in saving
life and property on that occasion, was
highly commended by letter from the
secretary of the navy. Was relieved
from all duty at Mare Island Deem
Der Is, 1909, and ordered home on
waiting orders.
Was promoted to the grade Of
lieutenant commander March z. 1899