The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-04
WIDOW WILL
HAVE $50 PENSION
In Speech in Her Behalf, Senator Rayner Lauds
and Defends Hero of Eattle of
Santiago.

Washington, June Ex-senator Ray
day that the famous order for what is
known as the loop OF the cruiser
Brooklyn IN the battle OF Santiago
given upon the spur OF the moment and
In tho heat of battle. decided that con.
f!ct and saved the day for American
arms. Senator Rayner sought TO make
inns point clear in Il speech accompany
ing an amendment which he offered TO
the pension appropriation bill so as TO
provide pension OF $3.50 month, in
stead OF $50 month. TO the widow of
Admiral Schley.
Senator Rayner said that the govern
ment Is now paying nearly s2G0.000.co0
year in pensions. He said that Ad-
miral Schlcy's widow was in dire need
OF the pension and lacked even the
means OF erecting a suitable memorial
al the adm!rars grave. Mr.. Rayner
eXcoriated critics OF Admiral Sch.ey.
saying that Il critic generally Is per-
son without reputation. who expects TO
rise in public estimation upon the ruins
of those whom he attempts TO humil-
late. lie said that Admiral Schley was
universally idolized. and challenged the
admirals enemies to point TO a single
instance Wner6 ne ever waVered when
duty summoned him. Senator Rayner
said Schley was surrounded at Santiago
by band of heroic captains. Refer
ring to the Brooklyn's loop as saving
the day mt Santiago he said:
Then came tho Viscaya. and she
made desperate turn toward the
Brooklyn and the Oregon, that were
pursuing her, but as she did this shc
was stuck by a shell from one of the
vessels. and. hauling her colors down,
she was beached at Acerraderos. The
Colon. the last Of the ships, was then
making toward the Torquino River.
Schley signaled the Oregon, under the
command of Clark. to try his thirteen
men guns upon her. and with the com
bined IRE of the Brooklyn and the Ore
Son upon the ship. and with no possible
chance OF escape, and with her human
cargo doomed to certain death ii the
hghtns continued. her commander ran
his ship ashore at the mouth of the
Torqulno River fired his leeward gun
lowered his flag, and the colors of
Spain went down befoe the colors of
the Union upon the Western CONT
nent."
Not First Time Tie DIsobeyed.
There is another charge that Schley
mad to meet that desire briefly to re-
Ier TO- and that was that in the conduct
mad disobeyed orders of the Navy De-
partment. This was not tho first timo
that Schley In his military career had
round 1t necessary TO d!sobey the or
ders OF his superior officers. During the
civil War, at the sege of Port uud
son, when he was In charge of the Mo-
nonSahela, the signal was raised upon
tarrasuts vessel to retreat The quar-
tcrmaster reported to Schlcy that II
tmnOGqIhln 70 A..
nails. The order had been previously
given to storm the battery. This was
the signal that Schley saw. and instead
or retreating no leveled his guns
against the fortifcations. He was rep
rimanded by Farragut, but afterwards
the admiral called him into his private
cabin and congratulate him.
THE time has passed when Secre-
tarics OF Whr or Secretaries of the
Navy who have never perhaps observed
any military tactics except a dress pa
rado' and who could hardly tell the diff
ference between revenue cutter and
battleship. can ight battles with lead
pencils and rulers and India rubber
thousands Of miles away from home.
And now all of these transactions
have closed and Schley is gone. He
delivered his country as great n victory
as she ever gained upon tho sea. and
She accepted 1t with ipgratitude The
greatest struggle ho ever passed
through was not amid the shot and
Shell at Santiago; It was when the
shafts OF malice and hatred were lev
eied as his breast; but he stood with
head erect"
Agrees to $3.50 a Month.
The Senate agreed to $50 n month
pension for Mrs. Schley, after II had
first rejected by ~ to 10 an amendment
proposed by the Pension Committee to
cut the amount TO $50 a month. II
Twas stated during the debate that Mrs