The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-09-10

IN the bow. ROUNDS oil fresh butter, done
up in long green leaves. bottles Of milk.
oranges, bananas. paltas and guavas were
strewn around. When after an hour aud
half of constant labor Tom pronounced
his work done, nothing could be seen of
the barrels of giant powder, of the in
genious mechanism or OF the Illuminating
caps. The launch looked like a market
gardeners boat that had got adrift. and
that is exactly what Tom wanted.
For adrift it was. A dozen men had
carefully rolled il into the water al $3.50
o'clock, and it was slowly going out to sea
borne by the ebb tide. An hour later il
was half a mile from land, and in order to
further deceive the Chileans little boat
with two men in it put out from shore and
rowed out as if to Ietake the wandering
craft. But sharp eyes on the Almirante
Cochrane had already spied the prize and
a shot from small ritied gun that tore up
the water caused the little Peruvian boat
to beat hasty retreat, which 1t was only
too willing to do.
By o'clock crowds OF curious lined the
beach. RumOr had ii that something was
going to happen, though what only few
knew, for Toms secret had been we'll kept.
In the Santa Rosa fort with long spy
glass he had brought from Maine while
there ON a visit a few years before stood
the man who had set the nnocent-loOking
craft afloat and around him were the
L
the mornings work. The Union Club was
at that time located in the BUILDING Of the
English Railroad Company and It's broad
piazza hung directly over the sea. There
a number of foreigners stood and every
glass that could aid the eye was brought
into reQulSition.
Slowly the launch drifted out to sea. 1t
was beautiful morning. clear and cool.
and the bay was just suffused by soft
breeze. Over the island of San Lorenzo
ana along its shores the night mist still
hung, and the Chilean men-Of- war. as they
slowly steamed their course, would enter
the bay little way, then turn and come
miles away were they, but the sparkle of
the brassWork could be plainly seen, so
clear was the air.
Slowly drifted the launch. By 9 o'clock
it was three miles from the seashOre
Those with marine glasses said that men
on the boats of the bockadng squadron
were watching it. No doubt maDy'a sail
or's mouth watered as he looked at the
delicacles. But the Chileans were not
anxious to take too soon what fortune had
sent them. They knew the tide would
bring them the prize, and they also knew
that should they steam up closer they
would come within range OF the shore
guns. At one time the Cochrane did steam
little near, but, to add to the delusioD, a
and the shell ri cocheted unpleasantly
near the ironclad. which beat hasty re-
treat.
In another half hour the market launch
was beyond the reach Of the shore guns
and then ali knew that the time had
arrived. for by this hour the story of Long
Toms mysterious craft had passed from
mouth to mouth. The Blanco Encalada
was seen bearing down upon the prize.
and in another moment she cut off the
launch from view. Every person held his
breath. Any second that man-of-w war
might be destroyed. But no! the Blanco
suddenly sheered off and all wondered if
the ruse had been discovered. Sig
nails soon were hoisted at the
flagship's gaff. and those with marine
glasses saw tina: the order was answered
by the transport Loa. a fine large steam
ship, crowded with soldiers and loaded
with munitions of war, that was patrOlling
near the island. simultaneously with hoist
ing the answering pennant, the LOa turned
and steamed toward the BlancO. Then
those who had been { sea understood. The
Blanco EDcalada. being man-of-war, had
no adequate hosting machinery, but tile
LOa. having been in the coast trade, was
provided with derricks and steam winchrs.
She was thus fitted to hoist the pro-
visions on board.
This time the eager ones on shore we're
the outside of the market launch. bringing
the small boat on her port SIDE, between
her and the city. The long arm OF a der
rick was seen 10 swing out and the chain
descended into the launch. Two men fol-
lowed and were soon at work on the prize.
One. two. three pieces of beef were hoisted
on board and the fourth time the chain
and hook came back. A sailor leaned for
ward TO fasten thereto another choice piece
of meat.
A fash of light that seemed to come
from the ocean rose way above the Loa's
masts. The steamer heeled to starboard
so the yards almost touched the water
A mass of spray was hurled after the fire.
and blending with steam from the wounded
vessel covered her as with pail. In this
gray vapor human beings. spars, bits OF
Lighthouses. ropes and shreds of sails
could be seen twisting, writing with the
terrible force that sent them upward.
The LOa parted. split in twain by the fear
full power. Her bow rose, then plunged