Western Kansas world., 1893-07-01

overlooking the hsrbor. On that Fourth
of July, the Battery was thronged with
eager spectators, all gazing at two YES
sells newly come to anchor. One was a
trim shapely sloop-of-war, the other q
common fishing smack Not q very
astonishing spectacle for the people of
maritime city, one might suppose.
Yet women waved their handerchiefs
at the two crafts, little children were
held aloft to see them, cheer after
cheer resounded, and it seemed as If
the rejoicing would never cease. The
explanation is in the story of how the
sloop-of-war and fishing-smack came
there.
Probably all American school chill
dren old enough to study the history Of
their country know that we were at
war with our mother country, England,
in 1913. The British feet under Com
modore Beresford was cruising up and
down the coast. The vessels stationed
to protect New York were commanded
by Commodore Lewis, among whose
officers was Lieut.. John Percival,
young man already famous among his
companions for his quick wit and fear
lessness. News of the burning of q
coaster by British man-of-war had
roused him to an intense desire for re-
taltation. His fertile brain soon de-
vised a plan for which he received the
approval Of Commodore Lewis. Lieut..
Percival determined to try his ruse
on the Fourth of July; perhaps because
he imagined that Independence Day"
might bring good luck, perhaps because
he wished to celebrate it in memora-
BILE fashion. Doff1ng his uniform, be
disguised himself as a fisherman, bor-
rowed smack, bought a calf, a sheep
and some geese, tied them on deck,
and sailed down the harbor to Sandy
Hook with fresh wind. He stood out
to sea, apparently bound on trip to
the fishingbanks.
Lieutenant Percival remained alone
on deck, his hand on the helm, watch
ing every movement of the English |
war-sloop Eagle. But thirty picked
men on whose courage he could rely |
were concealed below, armed with |
and on the alert to catch their |
leaders, command. The smack had |
passed short distance beyond Sandy
Hook when the Eagle gave chase and |
soon overhauled her. Noticing the
live stock on deck, the British Captain
ordered her down to Commodore Beres-
ford's ship, the Poictiers, which lay in
the ofhng about five miles away Aye,
aye, sir, replied the pretended fisher
man. At the same infant he put up
his helm and swung the smack along
side the Eagle. Before the crew of the
had time to catch the mean
ing OF this unexpected maneuNer, Per-
civaPs ringing shout of Lawrence,
Lawrence!" fell upon their ears. Then
broke out the rattle of musketry as the
armed men, at the sound of the watch
word, sprang to the deck of tina smack.
The English sailors, taken complete
y by surprise, rushed below, some in a
panic, some for cutlasses and weapons.
The captain of the Eagle, trying to
rally his men, was mortally wounded,
to the great grief Of Lieutenant Perci-
val, who vainly tried to stanch the
ife-blood of his country's great foe. It
vas the news of this capture which
brought the eager crowd to the beauti-
'ul Battery. Every one was anxious to
zee the little smack and her stately
prize, and to welcome the gallant officer
who had celebrated the Fourth of July
n so effective q fashion.-Youth's Com.
oanion.