Hampshire County MA Archives Biographies.....Cook, Francis A. 1843 - 
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Author: J. R. Gilfillan and H. E. Riley

CAPTAIN FRANCIS A. COOK, U. S. N.

   Northampton's foremost representative in the navy during the war with Spain
was Captain Francis A. Cook, commanding the cruiser Brooklyn. This vessel, one
of the finest and most formidable in the United States navy, was flagship of the
famous "Flying Squadron," commanded by Commodore (now Rear Admiral) W. S.
Schley, and organized, as its name implies, for special service along the
Atlantic coast requiring speed and superior fighting power. The unusual
combination of these essential qualities in the Brooklyn admirably fitted her
for the position of flagship of "the light cavalry of the sea," and that the
magnificent cruiser was ably officered and manned was abundantly proved by the
part she played in the naval operations culminating in the destruction of the
Spanish fleet under Admiral Cervera, off the southern coast of Cuba, on the
morning of July 3.

   The Brooklyn was put in commission December 1, 1896, and Captain Cook was
selected from a long list of capable officers as the one best fitted to command
the superb cruiser. The next year the Brooklyn represented the United States
navy at the great review of the navies of the world in celebration of Queen
Victoria's Jubilee, and was admired by the naval officers of all nations. During
the few months prior to the declaration of war with Spain Captain Cook's ship
was cruising in the Caribbean sea, the very scene of stirring martial events in
which the Brooklyn was to take a leading part. With the breaking out of
hostilities the Brooklyn was ordered to the naval rendezvous at Hampton Roads,
Va., and made flagship of the "Flying Squadron." For several weeks the officials
at Washington, the officers and men of the navy and residents of cities along
the Atlantic coast were kept in a state of anxiety by persistent rumors of the
approach of Spanish fleets, and two ships of the "Flying Squadron," the swift
cruisers Columbia and Minneapolis, were detached from the squadron for patrol
duty along the coast.

   At last came reliable information that the Spanish fleet of four first-class
cruisers and three torpedo boat destroyers had reached the West Indies, and on
May 13 the "Flying Squadron" left Hampton Roads under orders to join the North
Atlantic squadron, commanded by Commodore Sampson, which had been blockading
Havana and other Cuban ports. The "Flying Squadron" then comprised the Brooklyn,
the battleships Massachusetts and Texas, and the auxiliary cruiser Scorpion, and
at Key West was joined by the battleship Iowa and the auxiliary cruisers
Marblehead and Vixen. It was expected that the Spanish fleet would make for
Havana, and the plan of operations against it was that Commodore Schley should
cruise around the west end of Cuba and along the southern coast, while Commodore
Sampson scouted along the north coast to the east end of the island. The "Flying
Squadron" left Key West on May 19, the very day, as was afterwards learned, that
the Spanish fleet made the port of Santiago de Cuba without molestation from a
single American vessel. Commodore Schley arrived off Cienfuegos, a port of
Havana on the south coast of the island, on the 21st, and found certain
conditions that led him to believe that the Spanish fleet was in the harbor. He
maintained a blockade of the port until the 24th, when he received positive
information that the Spanish fleet was at Santiago. The squadron arrived off
that port on the 26th, and three days later the Spanish cruiser Cristobal Colon
was sighted near the entrance to the harbor, this discovery removing all doubts
that the fleet was inside. From that moment the blockade began. Commodore
Sampson arrived with his squadron on June 1, and took charge of the blockade,
which was maintained so rigidly for a month that not a Spanish ship attempted to
leave the harbor. The forts of the enemy were repeatedly shelled by our ships,
but no attempt was made to force an entrance, since the mouth of the harbor was
known to be laid with several lines of torpedoes and mines.

   As the crews of the American ships were preparing for "church" on Sunday
morning, July 3, the Spanish fleet was discovered coming out of the harbor.
Signals flew from ship to ship of the blockading squadron and at once they
opened fire and began to close in as the Spanish vessels in line, turned
westward in their attempt to escape. The Brooklyn, at the west end of the
blockading line, at first forged toward the enemy almost in their line of
escape, and the Vizcaya, leading the Spanish fleet, veered as if to ram her. But
by a clever maneuver the Brooklyn was quickly turned, and after describing a
complete circle was brought abreast of the Spanish vessels, and at the head of
the American squadron began the running fight. The torpedo boats were quickly
destroyed, and about six miles from Santiago the Maria Teresa, flagship of
Admiral Cervera, and the Almirante Oquendo, on fire and frightfully torn by shot
and shell, were driven ashore. For another half hour the Brooklyn alone fought
the Vizcaya, as both were speeding westward, finally sending the pride of the
Spanish navy to the beach, a wreck. The Cristobal Colon had forged ahead and her
chances of escape seemed excellent, but the Brooklyn stuck to the chase.
Meanwhile the battleship Oregon had developed wonderful speed and was gradually
getting within range of the Spaniard. About 50 miles from Santiago, after shots
from the Oregon's big guns had struck close to the Colon, the vessel's colors
were hauled down and she ran toward the shore. Captain Cook went on board and
received Captain Moreau's surrender.

   In less than four hours the finest cruisers of Spain's navy had been
destroyed and her sea power practically brought to an end. It is the testimony
of the official reports that the Brooklyn bore the brunt of the battle,
receiving the heaviest fire and inflicting the greatest amount of damage done to
the Spanish ships. The Brooklyn was hit twenty times by whole shot and many
fragments of shells struck the upper works. The only American killed in the
engagement was Chief Yeoman George Ellis of the Brooklyn. After the battle the
Spanish captains said that they had orders to sink the Brooklyn, as she was the
most feared of all the American vessels, and that they concentrated their fire
on the cruiser with the hope of putting her out of the fight and giving them a
chance to run away from the slower battleships. Captain Eulate of the Vizcaya
paid high tribute to the brilliant seamanship displayed by Captain Cook and to
the terrific fighting power of the Brooklyn. In his official report Commodore
Schley made special mention of Captain Cook, who acted as chief of staff,
crediting him with "coolness, promptness and courage of the highest order."

   Francis Augustus Cook was born in Northampton, May 10, 1843, and has always
called this city home. He grew up in a military atmosphere, his father, Gen.
Benjamin E. Cook, being an officer in the state militia. Ancestors on the
paternal and maternal sides were also warriors of some fame. Young Cook received
an appointment to the Annapolis Naval Academy in 1860 and owing to the Civil War
the course was shortened and his class was graduated into active service in
1863, Cook taking a high rank. At the age of 20 he was made an ensign and
ordered to the sloop-of-war Seminole, with Farragut, on the Texas coast. He
served throughout the war, participating in the bombardment of Mobile. After the
war he went on a cruise to the Pacific and was promoted rapidly until in 1868 he
became a lieutenant-commander. His assignments on both land and sea were all to
positions of responsibility, and from 1879 to 1883 he was in charge of the
department of seamanship at the Naval Academy. During the three years prior to
his assignment to the Brooklyn he was assistant to Admiral Ramsey, chief of the
Bureau of Navigation.

   Captain Cook was married at San Francisco, on September 3, 1868, to Miss
Caroline Earle. Their two sons, Frank and Harold Earle, followed their father
into the navy and rendered service in the recent war, Frank as a surgeon, with
rank of lieutenant, on the gunboat Wilmington, and Earle as an ensign on the
auxiliary cruiser St. Louis. At the close of the war the latter returned to his
studies at the Naval Academy. Mrs. Cook's death on April 16, 1899, was a heavy
blow to the devoted husband and sons. The captain was relieved of his command of
the Brooklyn and assigned to duty on the Naval Examining Board. As a captain he
was a splendid disciplinarian, having the most perfectly drilled crew in the
navy, and was loved by his officers and men. He is a whole-souled man of kindly
heart and youthful disposition, one of the most popular officers in the navy and
a son of whom Northampton is proud. Upon the return of his ship from the war the
people of Brooklyn presented Captain Cook with a beautiful gold-mounted sword,
and himself, officers and crew with special medals in honor of their services.
The accompanying portrait of Captain Cook was recently taken and is regarded by
him as one of the best likenesses he has ever secured.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

NORTHAMPTON IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
BY
JAMES R. GILFILLAN
AND
HERBERT E. RILEY.

ILLUSTRATED.

PRESS OF
ENTERPRISE PRINTING COMPANY
EASTHAMPTON, MASS.
1899.

Copyright, 1899,
by J. R. Gilfillan and H. E. Riley.


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