Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-08-23

take breath when the red ilaah lcaped
again and again ] dived. They were
good gun observation-disclosures better any
where; and tho guns we're light ones
ig.pcnnacra. Often had | competed my
self in Il race with tig'e, running the gun
up again almost before the recon- had
ceased, and ramming home shot and car
fridge ere II had regalncd It's former posi-
ton again. Now, no doubt my com
radcs were hard ut work, wondering,
perhaps, what had become of me.
Eight separate times had Owed, ana
my strength was failing fast. Even
now there u ringing noise In my head
which almost stupeRed mo and whs
growing more painful every instant. 1t
stood up on the framework and tried to
signal to the shore, ] must stand at
lenst one shot, and that was almost Ger
tain death.
Even in TINT desperate moment nm ab-
sum idcn came into my hcad, as sttcii
things will come sometimes. ! had read
somewhere of an ingenious rccipe for
finding n safe place on board ship IN
action by putting ones head out ut I"
hole where u shot had come IN relying on
the mprobability Of another coming in
nj the same oritice. There was one cor
ncr of the framework splintcrcd by sev.
crnl bullets; to it crept, and held on
dcapairingly.
Another flash from the battery. This
time / could soc tho she'll coming like u
black spcck In the sky. Anxionsly l
watched for the burst to come; but this
time IL came not, and the shell plunged
into the sen fifty yards short throwing
~ u mighty pillar Of winter, and rico
chctting away far over my head. Was
tho fuse biind' asked myself No ;
there was another flash and another rush
through thu mir, and sillcn plunge In the
son beyond the target The shrapncl
+ practice was over, and they were firing
plugged shell.
Now or never wasmy time. climbed
on to the woodwork, sprang to my feet,
and waved my hands. From the shore
must have looked very like u picture
of Andromcda chained to her rock.
was too late, however to escape u shot
Once more the red flash spoutcd forth,
and I heard tho omnons rusl, coming
. nearer aud nearer, Till witharoar az OF al
+ express train IL rushed past my hend
carrying away with it the lcft-hand TOT
: corner of the target, and hurting 1t ial
into the soa beyond The conclusion
, seemed to tcar my feet from under me
and fell, striking my head against thu
framework. had just sense enough
= left to prevent myself from rolling int
the soa. My lust glance ut the shore
e showed the Hay hoistcd half-mast high
4 and then must have tainted away, 70
/ remember no more till found mysel
lying in my bed, with the Surgeon Mn
= jor applying strong ammonia TO my nos
trils with marvellous effect. have littl
4 more to tell. Watching the effect Of thu
/ shot from the battery, they had seen m
Y standing there, just too late to stop th'
/ gun being fired had ceased the prac
/. ticc, and got u boat ont without delay
II though with n very FAINT hope of finding
. mo alive. OF course the story was mad
r u standing joke against mo over after
= and / must own that deserved il
Nevertheless, have at least the salts
, faction of considering that when We K
: forth again to fight the Russians or TIL
|, Germans, or whatever other nation ma
G oloct to try with us II game of war on
z large scale, am never likely to be mucl
i nearer
l. Observation-Disclosures pass Of death
;. than was that day on tho sands {
II Shoeburyness.