The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-04-13
FRANK X. STOCKTON

THE ARREST OF TIE IRISH SERGEANT.
time that the war contract had been made
and this feeling increased daily. That
the officers and men of the United States
navy should be penned up in harbors,
ports and sounds, while British ships and
the hulking mine springers and rudder
pinchers of the syndicate were allowed
to roam the ocean ut will, was very
hard thing for brave sailors to bear.
Sometimes the resentmcnts against this
state Of affairs rose almost to revolt.
The great naval preparations Of Eng
land were not yet complete, but single
British mcn-of-war were now frequently
seen off the Atlantic coast of the United
States. No American vessels had been
captured by these since the message OF
tho syndicate 10 the Dominion of Canada
and the British government. But one
good reason for this was tho fact that il
was very difficult now to find upon the
Atlantic ocean vessel sailing under the
American flag. As far rs possible these
had taken refuge in their own ports or in
those of neutral countries
At the mouth Of Delaware bay, behind
the great Breakwater, was now collected
number of Coastwise sailing vessels and
steamers of various classes and sizes; and
for the protection of these maritime
refugees two vessels of tho United States
navy were stationed at this point. These
were tho Lenox and Stockbridgc, two Of
the finest cruisers in the service, and
commanded by two of the most restless
and bravest officers of the American
navy,
The appearance early on a summer
morning Of large British cruiser off
the mouth Of the harbor filed those two
commanders with uncomfortable bellig-
erency. That in time of war vessel Of
the enemy should DO allowed, undis-
turbcd, to sail up and down before an
American harbor, while an American
vessel filed with brave American sailors
lay inside like n cowcd dog, was u
thought which goaded the soul of each
of these commanders. There was a GER
tain rivalry between the two ships, and
considering the insult offered by the
Haunting red cross in the oGing, and the
humiliating restrictions imposed by the
naval department, each commander
thought only of his own ship, and not
at all Of the other.
1t was almost at the same time that
the commanders of the two ships sepa-
rately came TO the conclusion that tho
proper way to protect the fleet behind
the brcakwater was for his vessel to
boldly steam out to sea and attack the
British cruiser. If this vessel carried a
long range gun, what was 10 hinder her
from suddenly running in closer and
sending few shells into tho midst of
the defenselcss merchantmen? In fact,
to go out and fight her was the only way
TO protect the lives and property in the
harbor.
1t was true that one of those beastly
repeilers was sneaking about off the
cape, accompanied, probably, by an
under water tOngs boat. But as neither
OF these had done anything or seemed
likely TO do anything, the British cruiser
should be attacked without loss Of time.
When the commander Of the Lenox
came to this decision, his ship was well
abreast Of Cape Henlopen, and he there
fore proceeded directly cut to sea. There
was little fear in his mind that the
English cruiser, which was now bearing
10 the southeast, might sail off and get
away from him. The Stockbridge was
detained by the arrival of dispatch
boat from he shora with a MESSAGE from
the naval department But as this mes
sage related only to the measurements of
certain deck gun, her commander in
tended as soon as an answer could be
sent off, TO sail out and give battle to the
British vessel.
Every soul on board the Lenox was
now filed with fiery ardor. The ship
was already in good fighting trim, but
every possible preparation was made for
? contest which should show their cosin-