Waco evening news. (Waco, Tex.) 1888-1889, 1889-05-02

calculating age to read the story of til
flagship Trenton at Samoa. Once NOR
the heart beats high, and q mist come
before the eyes, as there used to now ant
then in war time.
We seem to see tho gallant Trenton, a!
we read, driven by the whistling gall
about the harbor at Apia. Her ruddel
is gone, her fires have been put out by
the waves. She has no sail, no steam
no rudder, and yet her gallant navigat
ing officer, Lieut.. R. N. @. Brown, is able
to save her and the $50 American sailors
on board. She carries Admiral Kimber.
ly too.
The navigating officer orders tho storm
sail to be set. It is done with the great.
est difficulty. That helps some, but the
great Trenton drifts in towards the death
reef In spite of it. She seems surely
going to her doom. Suddenly Lieut..
Brown orders all on board into the port
rigging. There they cling for life. The
compact mass Of humanity throws thus
its weight on the side Of tho ship next
the storm. The close rows of bodies are
as good as sail, and act rs such. The
big ship veers slowly around. and away
from the reef.
A new danger arises. The Trenton is
being driven by the wind against the
Olga. Now nothing can save her. In
that moment those on shore see the Stars
and Stripes suddenly run up the peal; of
the flagship. The brave 45O have read
their doom. They will go down with
colors flying. The two vessels strike.
There is crash, splintering of tim.
bers, heard even above the awful storm.
The American flag wavers and goes down.
1t falls upon the deck of the German
ship Olga; a strange incident. It ought
to be an omen Of peace and good will.
But it seems that q power greater than
the tempest saves the two ships. Neither
is destroyed, though both are fearfully
injured. Then the disabled giant drifts
back into the harbor. Now she drives
down upon the Vandalia. A hundred
men still cling desperately to the rigging
Of the vandalia. They have been there
twelve hours. Tle ropes have cut
into their flesh, they are bruised black
and blue, their eyes are blinded by the
salt spray, but still they are alive.
Now they see the black hull of the
Trenton bearing down upon them. II is
bitter thus to die by blow from their
own comrades.
But what is that? A cheering cry. It
comes from their brothers on the Tren-
ton. Those on shore hear it. "Three
cheers for the Vandalia!" It is the Tren-
toms men, with death before them all,
inspiring the men in the rigging. They
hear it, and 1t does indeed put life into
them. They even answer back feebly,
the saddest. faintest little cheer ever
human lips uttered.
Then the suffering men in the rigging
hear another sound. Above the whis-
thing Of the gale, above the roar Of the
breakers, it comes, clear, strong, sweet.
It is the band Of the Trenton, and in that
awful moment they are actually playing
the Star Spangled Banner" Well, it is
q glorious tune to die by. Heroes souls |
have been waited into the beyond by its
strains before today.
Not yet! That which seemed their
certain death Is their salvation. Instead
Of running the vandalia down, the Tren-
ton swings gently alongside. The ex-
men in the rigging are taken
quickly off. The dying Trenton drifts
back upon the reef. There is no saving
her now. So stanch is her great hull, |
though, and SO deep, that she settles
upon the reef high out Of water, and
does not 60 to pieces. She keeps her
cargo Of brave men safe till the storm is
over.
Gallant old Trenton! Gallant 45O!
While the republic stands, while the star
banner in triumph shall wave,
Iou shall live in your country's story!
~