River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-05-03
JUS BEFORE THE BATTLE.
Pref nratioas on Board a Man-of- War
Aner sighting tho Enemy.

PREF nratfoas on Board Man-of- VAR
Arer sighting the Enemy.
The Farragut was steaming sixteen
knots, fires under every boiler, and
each one of her thirty-two furnaces
Burning freely with the natural draught
OF her hundred-foot tunnels, the forced
draught which would give her the final
and maximum battle speed OF seventeen
knots still kept in reserve. The vessel
whose smoke had been sighted half an
hour earlier was nov only six miles
distant, and was clearly seen to be an
enemy's battleship. practically equal
in strength TO the Farragut. and in
deed the one which the coast signal
service had reported from Cape Cod the
day before, and in search of which the
Farragut was cruising.
The signal officer had gone into the
military top, eighty feet above the
water line, when the first report
of the lockout was heard, and
with a powerful glass had made
out and passed 20 the captain IN
the pilot house below all those distinc-
tive features of shape of hull, number
of smoke pipes and military masts, and
installation of heavy guns, which
marked her individuality. Although
her hull had been painted a muddy
gray upon the outbreak of war, not n
vestige remaining OF the beautiful
white and gold which is a first lieuten-
ants pride ia time of peace, and she
showed as yet no national eolors, not
an officer upon the Farragut's bridge
had the least doubt Of her identity.
The Farragut was steaming due east
when the enemy's smoke was sighted,
and continued that course. The latter
bore f. y. +. when first seen, and as she
drew slightly ahead, it was evident
that she was standing we'll to the
southwark ard would cross the Farra-
CUTS bows. She was, in fact. making
full speed on a S. S.W course. TO effect
a rendezvous with her flag officer south
of IIatteras
The crew had been called TO quarters
when the enemy's hull began to lift
above the horizon, and the Farragut
was cleared for action. Every STAN
chion. hatch-canopy and railing that
interfered with the fire of the guns, or
that. if struck by shot, might become a
missile of destruction and death, was
removed The compasses were carried
below to place of safety. Around
the bridges and rails were placed ham
nocbs as protection against the fire
of small-arms and machine-guns. Tho
turrets had been revolved back and
forth through their extreme arcs OF
train to test the turning machinery,
I 4 al IL Il q
rapid and efficient work existed. AL
guns were charged, and torpedoes Were
placed in the tubes. Reports bad been
received from all divisions. The means
of communication with the different
portions of the huge and complicated
structure electrical, mechanical and
by voice-tubes-were tested.
The enemy was now six miles dis
tant and bearing nearly ahead. The
captain of the Farragut lifted the
speaking. tube to his lips and ordered
the forced draught put on, at the same
time repeating the signal full speed
In two minutes the revolutions indi
Gator showed an increase of three turns
| per minute, and continued slowly Il
mount Again low sharp order, and
the stars and stripes floated from the
masthead and the flagstaff. The
enemy hesitated not an instant to ac
cept the challenge. With his helm
aport he swung steadily around t
meet the Farragut, and displayed his
national colors Now only five miles
distant, and at speed of seventeen
knots, the two leviathans rushed upor
each other. In nine minutes they would
cover the distance which separated
them. The scenery of an ocean drama
was set, and the curtain had been rung
up for the first act.--Lieut S. A. Staun
ton, L. 5. ~, in Harper's Magazine.