Evening star., 1914-06-08
Mentioned for Conspicuous
Heroism and Bravery in
Vera Cruz Fight.
MANY OTHERS ARE NOTED
IN ENLISTED MEMS WORK
Men From Battleships and Marine
Corps Praised by Admiral Fletcher
for Skill and Daring.

T"" MARYLAND boys are honorabIy
mentioned for conspicuous heroism and
bravery during the two-day fighting at
vera Cruz. in report on the bravery
OF enlisted men at the seizure of the
Mexican port sent to the Navy Depart
inert by Rear Admiral Fletcher
These Maryland boys are B. w. Clag-
sett of Laurel. a hospital apprentice on
the battleship Florida. and s. D. Barr of
3eisterstown. chief yeoman on the bat
heship Florida
Regarding Claggett the official report
says:
Without orders he seized a stretcher
and with the assistance of Private Lee
Mahr. L. S. VI. c.. ran to the assistance
Of two marines who had just been shot,
and removed one of them to a pace of
safety. He exhibited coolness. courage
and fine judgment in his work: was con-
stantly on the firing line for two days
hnd nights. and showed no fatigue.
Chief Yeoman Barr is named In list
commended for conspicuous acts of
valor in connection with the fight be-
tween the steamers and the MeXicans
April Il
Four men from the battleship Florida.
who We're in the signal squad under En-
and Baltimore boy. a brother of Rev.
Eugene Del. Mcdonnell. president of
GonZaga College, are also given place
on the honor list because of devotion in
hazardous position.
While the report bestows praise on the
entire personnel the following men were
mentioned for conspicuous acts:
Built Barricade Under Fire.
II. n Nickerson. Wheeling, W. Va.
boatsWaiu's mate. second class. battle
ship Utah-Was slightly wounded three
times during the afternoon of April 81
and after first aid bandages had been ap-
piled he took charge of a squad that
built an advanced barricade under fire He
then occupied d dangerous position at the
corner of Zaragoza and San Miguel streets.
Here re was again wounded three times.
two shots. shattering his left leg above
and below the knee. He was then carried
to the rear and has since had his leg
amputated close to the hip. His grit
after having been wounded three times,
and the courage he displayed when his
later wounds made it necessary to carry
hlm to the rear. was an inspiration to all
who saw him.
a De Somer. Milwaukee, Wis. chief
turret captain. battleship Utah-On the
afternoon of April n. he was placed in
charge of small squad of men and sta
uoned at the corner of a warehouse to
sition was subject to a severe fire from
the buildings along Avenida Landeros Y
Cos. and after several hours OF well di-
fected fire he silenced it. On April %,
when general advance began. he was
sent ahead to locate and silence fire from
''snipers." Being an excellent marksman
ana notably cool, he was especially Sc
lected for this work. Later, when two
sections of artillery were sent to join
Capt Andersons S command. he performed
u.aC oil
ualiy under direct fire from Shippers"
His services in this connection were of
more value than whole squad.
Fire Dislodged the Enemy.
j. 6. Harner. Canton. Ohio, boatswain's
mate, battleship F7orida-April q. at
about 12:D pm. Ensign c. NJ. Lowry. in
command of 1st Company. Florida bat
talion at customhouse, called for volun-
teers to go into an alleyway between the
rustomhouse and an open warehouse down
which a heavy fire was being directed by
tne enemy from the Orfente Hotel on
Avenida Landeros Cos Harner re-
sponded with four others. and finally sue
ceeded in dislodSing the enemy j. -
SGhanacker, coxswain, one of the yolln-
teers, was killed Previous to this time
Harner occupied position alongside
custOmhouse wall, from which. with ac-
curacy and coolness, he killed the crew
OF Mexican machine gun operating in
front of the Naval Academy
G- CreSan. Port Richmond n V boat
swains. mate. battleship Florida-When
Ensign Lowry called for volunteers. Gre
gan responded and when Schuma cker
was hit in the head. Cregan endeavored to
check the flow of blood with his left hand
While he continued firing with his right
r. G. Beasley. Newark Ohio and L C.
Sinnett, both seamen of the battIeship
fioFlda. We're the other two volunteers
under Ensign Lowry
T. A. Decker. Linoleurnville, n. Y.
ooatswain's mate, battleship Florida
April II. after Ensign G. NJ Lowry had
called for volunteers. Decker took IN a
position IN their rear about ten wards
men Ensign Lowry stepped back to
caI me ambulance party to get Schu-
mackers body, Mexican soldier who
had been hiding behind the boxes In tho
open warehouse. rose up and was aiming
his piece at Ensign Lowry and the five
volunteers. when Decker diverted his at
tention to himself and shot him.
Signal Men Undaunted by Fire.
G. F Bishop. Pittsburgh, quartermas-
ter. second class: J. A Walsh New
1ork city. seaman; c. /. Nordseick,
Valatie. y. y, ordinary seaman and
j. schrepnel. New York city. ordinary
samantha above-named four men
''"iii 'he odttesnip lorlda, were in the
signal squad under Ensign Mcdonnell
They were stationed the roof of the
Terminal Hotel from 11:30 am, April
II, TIL sunset. and returned there at day
light the I'D
On this roof and near them "A marine
was killed, al electrician. third class.
was seriously wounded, and one member
OF the party tNordseickp was wounded
Notwithstanding the constant fire to
which they were subjected, and their un-
usually exposed position. they were not