Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-17
COMING AUCTION OF SHIP HULKS
RECALLS STIRRING DAYS OF 1898
Indiana, San Marcos and alabama Will Be Sold
March l0-First T,uO We're Actire in
Destruction of Generals Fleet.

Viscaya. Cristobal Colon and Almi-
rante oquendo. as they came along.
yiscnyn Ii Attacked.
"As the Viscaya came out 7 dis
tinctly saw one of the Indiana's
heavy shells strike abaft her tunnels.
and the explosion of this shell was
followed by burst of flame which
part of the stricken ship" said Com
mander Eaton. who witnessed the
fight from the Resolute.
The Texas was speeding In pursuit
of the fleeing Spaniards. firing as they
ran, and passed the stern of the Teresa.
As the Teresa. wreathed in flames, was
going down, our sailors burst into
cheers. Seeing. through the smoke. the
horror on the enemy's decks, Capt.
Don't cheer. boys. the poor devils are
dying" When the battle was over and
the Spanish fleet was destroyed, Capt.
Philip called his men TO the quarter
deck. and. barring his head. said: q
want to make public acknowledgements
here that l believe In God the father.
l want you all to lift your hats, and
from your hearts offer silent thanks to
the Almighty"
Navy's First Battleship.
The Texas was the first battleship
designed and constructed for the United
States Navy. Authorized by Congress
In 1885. she was built at the Norfolk
navy yard: her keel laid June %, 1889,
ana she was launched June %, 1892.
Sne was 304 feet long. with beam of
g., and a displa cement of 6,315 tons.
She was commissioned August Is. 1895.
capt: Henry Glass being her first COM
mander. In the Spanish war, she not
only took prominent part in the bat
tie OF Santiago. but also, with the
nynaa n IL
tack at Guantanamo and silenced the
Fort Cayo del Toro. In 1900, commanded
by Capt. Charles D. Sigsbee, she brought
back from Havana the remains of the
men Killed on the Maine, who We're
buried in Colon cemetery. In 1905 she
was the flagship. Of the coast squadron.
under Capt. William +. Swinburne. and
was In active Service until 1908. when
she was made the station ship at the
Charleston navy yard. In i91I her
name was changed to the San Marcos
In order that the name of Texas might
pc gwen to one of the more modern
battleships.
Evans Commanded Indiana.
The Indiana, of 1O.2ss tons dis
placement 34S feet long, 50 feet
betrn, with draft Of - feet, was
quilt at Cramps shipyard. PhiIadel-
phia. Her keel was laid May Z, 1891:
she was launched February IS, 1891
ana commissioned November 20AIS95
with Capt. Robley D. Evans in com
nand. She became member of the
famous white Squadron" the north
Atlantic, and was one of its most
effective ships at the outbreak of the
Spanish war.
After the war she cruised In the
West Indies, took part in the squad
ron evolutfons and was with the fleet
which greeted Dewey in the great
celebration at New York on his re-
turn from Manila, In September. 1899
Among her commanders We're Capts
H {. Taylor, T. W. Dickens James
NJ. Forsyth. W. II. Emory. Edward
D. Taussig. Dennis H. Mahan. John
d. Collins, Benjamin Tappan, Francis
II. Sherman. Edward II. DureIl. Mar
tin Z. Trench Frank W. kellogg.
Louis NJ Mutton, Wilbur G. Briggs,
Arthur st. c. Smith and William p
Scott. For several years she took
the Naval Academy cadets on their
annual cruises. She participated in
the naval review at New York in
1912. The next year size was attach
ed to the reserve feet. and in 1914
was placed out of commission.
Just before the entrance oc this
country into the world war she vas
recornnissioned, on April %. 1917, and
aided in training the men who served
on vessels in the TRANSPORT and escort
service