The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1895-06-06
an IMAGINARY NAVAL ENGAGEMENT.
what would Happen In Case n
spanish Gunboat should Open
Fire ON One of Our Cruisers.


cruiser Cincinnati:
The Cincinnati, coming up the Wind
ward passage, had brought Cape Maysi
light over the port bow, and had set
course to round that point shortly after
nightfsll had set in.
The first watch had been set, and
brisk southerly breeze was raising a
whitecap here and there. The little
groups about the deck had dispersed. the
watch below had turned in, and the
watch on deck had ensconced itself in
snug hooks, when the lookout forward
shouted:
Light ho"
"Where away?' came the response
from the bridge where the officer of the
deck was keeping vigil.
"Three points off the port bow, sirv'
"Can you make her out?'
Clocks like asteamer's masthead-light
SIR"
The officer looked intently at the point
indicated through his night glass, and,
after few moments survey, summoned
the orderly, who was stationed in front
of the captains. cabin, and said:
"Say to the captain that there is a
steamer three points off the port bow
can't make her out"
"Ay, ay, sirl"
''The captain says, Very well, sir, ="
reported the orderly upon his return.
The light grew brighter. and then a
green one was hove into view just be.
meath it, indicating that the stranger
was trying to cross the path of the
cruiser. The officer of the deck watched
the two lights intently. The vessels rap
idly neared each other, and suddenly the
green light vanished. and only the mast
head light was seen, showing that the
vessel, which was then nearly abeam,
had swung to course parallel with that
OF the cruiser.
Before the officer of the deck had had
time to report the maneuver there came
fash light and dull report from the
inshore vessel.
Orderly" cried the officer of the deck,
report to the captain that the sail re-
ported is now off the port beam and has
fred blank cartridge"
Captain Glass reappeared with the or
Derby. Just as he reached the bridge an
other flash Of light blazed from the YES
sci, whose outlines could then be dimly
seen.
The captain lowered his glass, and.
turning to the officer OF the deck said:
BEAT to general quarters, sirl"
There was hurried routing out of the
drummer and tifer, and moment Later
the sharp "rat-a-tat-tat" of the drum and
notes of the bugle were drowned by the
hoarse voices Of the master at arms and
his mates arousing the sleepers between
decks. There was q noise Of scurryins
feet; men came tumbling up the hatch.
ways, and officers, buckling on their
swords. hurried to their stations.
Cast loose and PROVIDE" shouted the
executive officer, James d. Jerrold who
reached the bridge, and to whom the cap
tain had spoken briefly.
Shutter ports now flew open; the
moonlight slipped along the steel tubes
OF the five-inch rifles, as the long pieces
were revolved 30 as to train abeam. TIL,
magazines were opened, charges wert
hoisted up the chutes, and in quick obed
fence to the next order, LOAD with ful
service charges" the breech locks flew
open, followed moment later by the
click of the mechanism, as the locking
gear closed on the loaded pieces.
While the lock landyards were being
hooked into the primers q light-footec
messenger dashed up to the division
officers and said that the executive haC
ordered that the guns be trained on thu
vessel, which was just then forward o
the port beam. The order was trans
mitted to the gun captains, and tn,
silence which had followed the frs
orderly confusion was broken by suct
orders as
"Port a iAle-lower-lower - that
well-Readyw from the man who helC
the lockstrings.
All was quiet for moment, and ther
a fash of light came from the blscl
shape in shore, followed swiftly by thu
crash of q missile near the water line
and rending of steel plates below, ar
explosion and hiss of steam. 1t almOs
drowned the word OF command from thu
bridge, but the gun captains heard it
and the lockstrings frightened with I
snap.
Six 50-pound shells sprang free beior'
their blazing charges, and the roar OF thu
main battery guns had hardly subsidec
before the attling-bang- o.
the rapid fire pieces announced that thu
Hotchkiss storm had burst.
Hurried orders, mingled with the sounC
of shutting feet, and the clicking o
breech blocks, and then the vessel trem
bled again as her heavy rifles recoileC
from the shock of their 30-pound charges
Like the beat of hailstones after {
thunder burst swelled the CHATTER of the
quick firing pieces. Over it all was heard
the voice of the officer OF the after
division, who had climbed into the miz