The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-04

smoke Of battle and torpedo the battle
ships of SIMPSONS ieetl
WAS the Gloucester hit during the
/ nght?'' I asked Admiral Wainwright
Not once, so far as I could see, al
though a shot or two went through the
masls. 1 was informed afterward. The
Spaniards worked their guns very fast
but were wild. being confused, perhaps,
because we got into action FIRST, and il
! Is the first blow that counts In any kind
Of fight. They had torpedo tubes, but
waited until the battle began before try
( ing 70 put the torpedoes in place. We
shot down two crews Of men who were
engaged in that duty. Still the Span
iards came on, their aim getting closer
all the time. Small rapid-hre guns car
be played much like hose. ard we could
see the water splash nearer and nearer
as the Spanish measured our distance
However. before they could reach US both
desiroyers were on FIRE. One ran in q
circle and sank. and the other ran to the
shore an6 was beached."
No one to Guide the ship.
It is said. but Admiral WsIrwright
evaded giving any information on the
subject. that the boat which circled and
sank was practically unnamed toward
the last. Its guns had been silenced
their crews were either dead or wounded,
and the rudder had no one to guide IT,
How near did you get to the enemy?'
I asked.
within 600 yards. which was rather
close quarters for sea fight"
I'm the meantime" I inquired, what
were you thinking about?"
MY business. OF course. Incidentally
I was amazed that during all the fire.
end It was heavy throughout-not man
on the Gloucester was hit"
80 cash and Workmanship won th'
hght?"
We'll. we got started first But the
craftsmanship was bad, compared with
the Workmanship OF the present Before
the war with Spain we did not know that
! a gun is an instrument Of precision. To-
day, one Of our battle ships, with such
1 officers and men as we have, would do
more damage than was done by all OF
SIMPSONS ships in front of Santiago.
+. Furthermore. my crew was made up OF
new men. with an old hand here and
/ there to give II steadiness."
WAS II a one-sided hghtr'
I'm a sense, yes But many battles on
water are one-sided. The ship that shoots
! FIRST, effectively. the man who strikes
first, effectively, has the advantage that
Is gained through the decentralization that
/ follows"
When he was brought 10 your ship as
/ a prisoner. you congratulated Admiral
Cervera on his gallantry. What did he
| say IN reply7"
He was not in the frame OF mind 10
say anything. He had lost his squadron
and was wet to the skin. having come
/ through the surf twice. Our men were
sure they had passed Cervera from his
ship 20 the shore. standing In a line IN
/ the water. The Spaniards dispute the
statement. Anyway. Cervera was brought
from land to the Gloucester in one OF our
own boats by our own sailors. He was
! shown 10 my cabin"
Sampson n Brilliant Officer.
You were well acquainted with Ad.
/ miral SampsonT'
'Oh. yes. Sampson was a brilliant OF.
dcer and q wise man. but ne suffered
from bashfulness-sensiuven would b,
better word. perhaps-and 10 conceal
his infrmity assumed an austerity OF
manner that caused HIS character 4
be misunderstood. I often saw him or
J business, but every time I came into hi,
/ presence he met me with a reserve OF
! speech and conduct that would continue
/ for several minutes Ny theory is that
he felt the poverty OF his parents and
his humble birth when he first went L
the Naval Academy as a student
! Annapolis Is now a democratic insti
tuition Before the civil war. however
1t was rather exclusive. boys Of famil,
or OF money being usually chosen foi
| appointment. Sampson. entering an at
mosphere that was plainly 0ristocratic
/ put on an appearance OF restraint and
unfriendliness that continued with hin
the rest Of his life His seeming cold
ness was merely mask for a sensitive
ness he felt as long as he lived"
Have you any pleasures7"
Yes. reading. I like fiction. but his
tory suits me better. especially the his
tory OF India, whereia I learn how PEG
/ pie can be governed"
You are also a lawyer"
Il was graduated IN law az Georg,
I Washington University in 1854 I hat
/ been lieutenant for eleven years. anC
I thought I might become Judge advo-
cate of the navy Therefore, studied
law, and then waited ten years for ny
next promotion"
Copyright. 1910. By James B. Morrow