in their moment of triumph, the americans now performed an act of mercy. captain taylor, had directed waller to launch the indiana's whaleboats and pick up as many of the shipwrecked spanish sailors as possible. with sailors at the oars and marines in bow and stern to haul the swimmers aboard, waller's detail worked all day. men who were already weary from passing ammunition, now sunburned and with hands swollen and cracked from salt water, saved their enemies from death.