The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-08-26
Secretary Daniels to Make
Principal Address
AT ERIE, Pa, SEPTEMBER II
Will Pay Tribute to Him To
Whom Dewey Said, "You
May Fire When Ready,
GridIey."
(By w. f..

(By w. F.. YELVERTON.)
Washington. D. c., Aug. 23-Ths
Secretary OF the Navy will make tn.
principal address at the unveilin1 Of
a monument to the late CAPTAIN
Charles Vernon Gridley at Erie, IA.
September IL. Mrs. Bagley. mother Of
Mrs. Josephus Daniels. will accom-.
pany the secretary. Her friendship
for Mrs. Gridley, widow of the fam
Gus fighter and navigator, is partially
responsible for her interest in the Ger.
emony.
Next to the battle cry "Remembor
the Maine" no utterance connected
with the war with Spain is better re-
membered than h word you May
Fire When Ready, Gridley." Gridley's
name in this quotation is perhaps
better known to the public thar the
big historic facts Of the battle of Ma
niila Bay itself. Perhaps that saying
is the biggest fact about the battle. IL
SO, Gridley's name is not misplaced.
Anyway, none OF the naval historians
leave him out.
appointed from Michigan to the Naval
Academy in 1850. In 1864 he began a
postgraduate course which the Navy
does not always provide for its pro
duct; mainly, sea service in a real
war. His first engagement was as an
ensign in the battle of Mobile Bay.
When he wasn't fighting he was help
proved SO disastrous to the Southern
cause.
Ensign Gridley was never a swivel
chair" ensign. Nor was he a swivel
chair commander, captain or swive!
chair anything else. He was on ths
namely the breakers along the At
lantic coast, and he was on the seaa
SO much that he Knew every breaker
and every hanne of the coast.
Throughout its length and in many
other localities he was known as !
sailor par excellence.
Into Manila Bay.
ride was made a COMMANDED n
1882. In March, 1897, he was COM
missioned a captain. When the dawn
appeared on May 1, 1898. Gridley was
IN command Of the flagship Olympia.
which bore the person Of Comnodors
Dewey and the forecast Of doom for
the Spanish fleet. Before the sun rose
the Olympia was leading an armored
procession into Manila Bay. To the
rear were the Baltimore, the Raleigh.
the Petrol, the Concord and the Bos-
ton.
In this order the vessels steamed
into the radius OF the Spanish mines.
which exploded here and yonder 70
NJ SPAICAO u
ing shells whose only virtue was that
they were poorly aimed History re-
cords that for half an hour this fleet
steamed full speed toward the Span
lsh forts fringed with Spanish battle
shlps and senteried by Spanish mines.
silence OF its guns drove Its gun
herS TO as they waited tense
with eagerneSs for the word to re-
taliate.
Dewey, cool and calm, stood on tho
forward bridge. Gridley was in tie
coming tower. The Spanish fleet ant
,he spanish forts were nearer. Final
~ a DOatSWaln, unable longer to con-
IrOl himself shouted: "Remember the
maine. A thousand voices took Il
up untl 1t echoed into o%Tninous sill
ehce- Ihen came the deliberate voice
from the forward bridge:
YOU NAY FIRE WHEN READY,
GRIDLEY.'
The Olympia spurted flame at Sal.
mere was a conflagration in the rear
"nlch leaped as the turret fire chang
ea TO a broadside when the ships
breasted the forts. From then on the
oattie was Gridley's. The Olympit
steamed beyond the forts. circled and
passed again. Behind it the other
WIN ranks unbrOken passed the Fort.
haI, a dozen times. The sailor Va
az nome up IN the towner. So coin-
piete was his dominion that CoInIno-
gore Dewey ordered a cessation fol
breakfast before ret,,rning 70 riddlD
the Spanish fleet and forts.
Shortly after this decisive engage
Inent Gridley began q journey to IT,
ohited states on sick leave. lie nevci
IlhlSned II. H died June ) on IA.
way home.