Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-05-09
MAroHLEss HERorsn.

An English Tribute 40 the bravery
nndsialinntry of American sailors.
London Telegraph.
Consider the scene and the matchless
heroism and generosity OF this Yankee
crew. Almost sure OF instant death them
selves, they could sec the queens ship at
her utmost steam pressure fighting,
fathcm by fathom, her way TO life and
safety, could appreciate the Rallantry OF
the effort, cheer the brave, handsome ship
defying the hurricane, and, finally, see
her glide past, overcoming the roll OF the
sea and the savage wind, with the gener-
Gus pleasure Of true mariners, glad OF a
smart and daring deed. We do not know
in all naval records any sound which
makes liner music upon the ear than
that cheer of the Trenton's men. II was
distressed manhood greeting triumphant
manhood, the doomed saluting the saved;
1t was pluckier and more human than any
cry ever raised upon the deck Of victor
ions iine-of- battle Bhip; 1t never can be
forgotten, and never must be forgotten
by Euglishmen speaking of Americans.
Sure We are that the echo of that noble
HuzZa" must have made every man on
board the Oailiops long to lay hold Of the
Trenton and give her "cast- out" at any
cost, beyond the dreadful reef. II was,
however, all she could do to clear her
American consort; TO have towed behind
even gig or dingey would have certainly
lost the battle she was waging foot
by foot against the hurricane. Her
mighty engines, pressed to their utmost,
saved her at last; little by little she strug-
gled out to the aeR-gAte, and, once free OF
the reef, bit of headsail flung Der bow
to the wind, which soon aided the pant
ing engines to drive her far away to sea.
ward, out OF all danger. But let lRndsmen
realize how that success was won. Let
them think OF the skokers toiling in the
tossing engine room, urging the fierce
furnaces; OF the engineers driving up the
steam gauge, risking deadly explosion 20
save life and ship; Of the officers and
crew on deck, hardly sure that the vessel
stole forward an inch upon the reef,
hardly able to see or speak or stand, but
doing their duty perfectly to the queen,
and with breath and heart enough to
answer that noble "God.speed" Of the
Yankee flagship. Since seafaring began
there never was wilder sight than Apia
harbor that 18th of March. nor any nearer
touoh-and- so escape than the skilful start
of the oalliope, nor any more gallant,
generous and unseltish demonstration
than the cheer which the Trenton gave
the queens cruiser as she forged ahead
out Of that death.trep Of storm and ruin
between the reef ane me town.
Altogether, l43 lives were lost in this
most disastrous tempest, and at least four
good ships Of war, besides many mer-
chantmen. Yet greater and more ma
jestic than any hurricane, than any death
OF disaster, is once more proved to be the
spirit of man, which, in scene Of such
dreadful tumult of nature, where strong
vessels were helpless Ms chips, and the
stoutest skill was useless, could raise
above the whirlwind that dauntless cheer
to the Oalliope, the expression Of an i'm
mortal courage-a cry all things consid-
cred, Of such indomitable Anglo saxon
pluck es to ring finer than any which has
ever echoed under the flag CT victory, or
in the happiest hours Of security aud sue
cess.