The Washington herald., 1914-06-08

The American spirit, that indefinable
something which makes veterans out Of
American rockies under FIRE. is empha-
sized in the crisp phraseology OF an ON
cial report by Rear Admiral Fletcher on
the taking of Vera Cruz. April 2 and 2.
and made public yesterday.
Without recording deeds Of breathIess
wonder. the report of Admiral Fletcher.
and the reports Of his officers embodied
In part in the report, tells Il story which
should send a thrill of pride through the
breasts even OF the least emotional.
Here is a sample, the case of an ordi-
nary seaman OF the Vermont battalion,
mentioned for devotion in the line of
duty" The report is made to Admiral
Fletcher by Lieut.. Grady. who COM
manded the battalion in the action.
Wouldn't "Stay Wounded"
''S. Clay. ordinary seaman, was twice
wounded in the forearm during the en-
gagement in front of the Naval Academy.
He was ordered to the rear and in SO
going assisted another man who was
dangerously wounded. He refused fur
ther medical attendance for himself other
than a first-aid dressing, returned i'm
mediately to his station at the drag and
continued his part in the handling and
firing of his piece during the remainder
OF the day. although suffering great pain
from his wounded arm. due to handling
his own piece as well as q toggle at the
drag.
Two days afterward. while the bat
terry was entrenched at Las Cocas. this
boy was discovered to have escaped from
the hospital. where he had been sent,
and found his way out to the battery
He was sent back under guard"
Or take the case of Chief Boatswain
John McCloy. who commanded the little
hotilla Of picket launches which drew thu
fire of the entire waterfront away from
tie landing forces, and fought back sturd.
lily against a concentrated fire of rifles.
automatics and three-inch guns with one
Founders mounted on the bobbling decks
of the little vessels. OF McCloy, Admiral
Fletcher himself makes mention, as fol-
lows:
Drew Mexican Fire.
''Chief Boatswain John McCIoy, U. S.
N. lead iotilla Of three picket launches
mounting one-pounders along the sea
front Of Vera Cruz in front of the naval
school and custom-house. The launches
drew the combined fire of the Mexicans
in that vicinity and thus enabled the
cruisers to shell them out temporarily
and save our men on shore.
The conduct Of Chief Boatswain Nc
Cloywa eminent and conspicuous and,
although shot through the thigh during
the fire. he remained at his post as
beachmaster for forty-eight hours, until
sent to the hospital ship by the brigade
surgeon"
An idea of the terrific fire these three
little launches were under may be
cleaned from a report to Admiral Fletcher
on the engagement It reads:
In the fight between steamers and
Mexicans on April q, the following boats
were engaged: First and second steam
ers Of the Florida. and the second
steamer of the Utah. Chief Boatswain j.
McCloy was in command. During the ac-
ton, McCloy who was on the Florida's
first steamer. was shot in the right leg;
no other person on this boat was in
jured A shot went through the small
tower forward. but did not dam
age; two shots went through the SUPER
one of them going through a
valve on the steam line in the fireroom.
This shot wrecked the valve and allowed
the steam to escape into the freroom
temporarily out of commission. but the
engineer went below and ran the en-
gine.
Went to Other Boat.
'Mr. Mccoy went aboard the Utah's
steamer and sent the first steamer to the
Prairie for repairs. The first steamer
fired about forty shots from her one
FOUNDER before she retired. The second
steamer was struck twice, one shot 60
ing through the engine room skylight,
which was raised. and one through the
hull, but did no damage. On the second
steamer of the Utah Ito which Mccoy |
had transferred) the gun pointer. firing
the one-pounder, was shot through both
thighs. the muscles being badly torn. He
since has died from the effects Of his
wound. The loader was shot thss ugh
the throat, but is recovering. The boat
suffered no damage"
Six Washington officers and one from
Alexandria are mentioned in the report
as having rendered conspicuous services |
during the occupation of Vera Cruz. The |
Washington men are Lieut.. Guy w. 8. |
Castle, ordnance officer Of the Utah and
who commanded the Utah battalion |
ashore In the stiffest fighting; Lieut.. |
Richard wainwright. jr.. son Of Rear >Ad- |
miral wainwright. retired. hero OF the
battle OF Santiago; Lieut. 0unior grade) |
George McC Courts. one Of Admiral
Fletcher's aids; Ensign Theodore 3. VII
kinson, of the Florida, and Ensign Oscar
C. Badger. of the Utah. Lieut.. James P.
("Pato Lanpon, of Alexandra, was 4
,pourd>A A.uS.rously and now In rAcnxy. |