Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-01
pecial Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
ANNAPOLIS. Md, April 80. 1910.
THE Duke of Wellington's famous
epigram that the battle Of Water
loo was won on the cricket fields
Of Harrow and Elton may be paraphrased
some day to read that some great naval
battle was won on the gridiron and dia
mond at Annapolis if the work done il
gunnery and kindred branches by officers
who were notable athletes at the Naval
Academy is an indication. Perhaps it 4:
only coincidence that the gunnery ON.
GERS Of the three vessels which ranked
the highest in the annual battle practice
this year were prominent athletes In
more than one line of sports, or a fact
so significant will be taken by many al
an indication that the GOODNESS. Quickness
of action and self-control engendered by
athletic sports will show themselves when
the same qualities are essential in the
gun turret or coming tower.
The gunnery officer of the Vermont, the
pennant winner of all of our great battle
ships and fine armored cruisers. was
Lieut.. Commander Luther NJ. Overstreet
tackle of the foot ball team and member
during the years OF 1896 and 1897. The
first star" ship, as those ships which
secure IS per cent or more of the score
made by the pennant winner. was the
Tennessee. and its gunnery officer was
Lieut.. Commander Michael J. Mccormack
He graduated from the academy two
years ahead of Overstreet. and during
nearly the whole time In the institution
was famous end on the foot ball team
and outfielder on the base ball nine.
-
The third, and only remaining, star
ship was the Maryland. whose gunnery
officer was Lieut. Robert w. Henderson
Of the class of 1907, Of a more recent
body Of Naval Academy athletes, blu,
even a more notable character in the an.
mails of its athletic history than either
Mccormack or Overstreet. Henderson
was great batsman and fielder on the
base ball re. good foot ball player
who coul logn soaring punts. and g
fast man he track, holding the acad.
envy recol.- in the sprints for a number
of years. All OF these gunnery officers
received special letters Of commentator
from the Secretary OF the Navy.
The work done by former athletes as
gunnery officers in the recent annua
contest is probably the most remarka BILE
example Of what the former navy stars
are doing in the real work Of their pro-
fession, but 1t is by no means the end OF
the llSt or the nOtaDleS OF grlQlfOn, Qla-
mond and track who have obtained spe.
cial eminence In. their profession. Com
mander Joseph NJ. Reeves. one of the
greatest tackles who ever played for the
academy, and also a member of its first
crew after the revival Of shell rowing
who was head coach of the team two
years ago, stands at the very top in the
service as a theoretical and practical ex-
pert In gunnery and ordnance.
Lieut.. Commander Henry c. Muslin, q
fine quarterback on the teams of 1894 and
1895. and bow oar on the crew. has de-
vised the great gun sight which has
practically supplanted all others In our
navy. Lieut.. Hilary Williams. one Of the
best small arm shots In the navy, who
has handled the Naval Academy team
this season and last, was plunging half
back at the Naval Academy and was
catcher and captain of the base ball nine
in 1897, his graduating year. Lieut.. Will
iiams is attached to the department OF
ordnance and gunnery at the academy.
and among his associates in that depart
ment are two former academy foot ball
players. Lieut.. Commander Martin e.
Trench. CAPTAIN of the team OF 1892. and
Lieut.. Frank G. Berrien. at present head
coach Of the Naval Academy team.