The Mena weekly star., 1896-10-07
struggle so terrible and deadly that

alighting set a shrill electric bell fo ring ing. The faithful little messenger had arrived with its momentous tidiLgs in the shape of tiny note in quill se- cured firmly under its wing. This was soon detached and conveyed to the ad- miral. In less time than it takes to tell it, the red and white signal-lights were flashing out the order to get under way. Soon the rattle of chains was heard as the anchors were hove up; and when daylight broke the fleet was seen steaming majestically out through the Golden Gate. the Oregon leading Everything was ready for action except opening the magazine, getting out the ammunition, and loading the guns. All hands were intently scanning the hori- zon ahead and on each bow to catch the first glimpse of the smoke of the enemy's fleet. The silence, punctuated only by the rhythmic throb of the en- zines, was at last broken by Sail ho!" from the upper flghting-top.
 'Where away?" replied the officer of the deck.
 "One point and half on the pert bow, sir-smokel"
 "Beat to general quarters" is instant ly ordered. The men spring to tk' guns. which are at once loaded; the turrets are trained from side to side and the guns elevated and depressed to zee that everything is working smoothly. The alarm proves to be false one, for the vessel is made out to be the San Fran cisco, one of the scouts, steaming in at full speed. She runs close to the flag ship while the admiral questions her commanding officer regarding the mum bers and course of the enemy. for the purpose of verifying the pigeon message. The hostile fleet is not more than 20 miles aheadl Again the watch ing is resumed. and within an hour the smokes of large number of vessels arc made out. The fires are forced by power. full fans, and the increased speed of the fleet rapidly lessens the intervening dis tance. The supreme struggle is at hand. Our ships steam on in column, ready for the bloody fray.
 To recount in detail the action of that day would be to chronicle daring deeds, heroic acts. and bravery akin to rashness, but all of no avail against such overwhelming odds.
 As night fell, Delafield, from the Bainbridge. and the officers on the coast. defense vessels. inside the bar, sighted the remnant of our fleet standing in still stubbornly fighting and protect ing the weaker or more disabled ships Shortly the enemy was uncovered, and monitors opened fire, compelling an abandonment of the hgra ssing pursuit The enemy remained just out of range while the fearful wreck of what re. mained of Admiral Woodbridge's force crawled slowly into the harbor.
 As the Oregon, guarding the rear. passed the Cambridge, the admiral signaled briefly, but significantly: Do your duty"
 The night is dark and windy An ominous stiffness in the air presages an on-coming gale. No moon or stars are shining to aid the enemy, but instead the sky is covered with hard, leaden- gray clouds, and low bank of fog is sweeping in from the westward
 The conditions are propitious. and
  takes the Bainbridge close inshore through Bonita channel. and barely es- capes being caught by one of the ene- my's gunboats, but, turning on more current, he rushes silently ahead and clear of danger. When almost within hearing of the breakers on Duxhury reef, he makes a wide detour in order to approach from seaward. for from this direction an attack is hardly to be expected. Nevertheless. he has to go considerable distance out to reach favorable position.
 He reaches his station at 11:15 o'clock. and in another quarter of an hour the monitors will open fire toward that flank of the enemy opposite to which is Delafield. They will keep up this cannondde foi, ten minutes, to effect 2 diversion. As soon as this firing has ceased, Jacks work will begin.
 Booml bang! go the great ten-inch and twelve-inch guns. It is a trying time for Jack, but he sees the effect of the ruse, and is again congratulatlng himself on his luck. The search-lights are all playing inshore of him, the ene- my entirely oblivious of the fact that danger is lurking ill their rear. Haif- past eleven! As suddenly as it began. the firing ceases, and Delaficld, taking his stand in the little conning-tower, orders the crew to their stations.
 Slowly the Bainbridge starts ahead, then faster and faster she goes, until | fairly flying, she brings into view the l