The Penn's Grove record., 1896-04-17

scanning our feet. Higher and higher
we arose. the air rapidly getting NOR
and more rare and our breathing be
coming more and more rapid looked
down at the sea, which was glimmering
$4,000 feet below us in the sunlight;
turned my eyes ut the great cylinder
overhead; shot holes In two OF It's ar
tight compartments-and what a fall!
But there were other things to think OF.
admiral l gasped, II we go much
higher we shall die for want OF air.
".Mr Swash,' replied the grand old
| salt, duty before breath a~lways-re
member that, sir. I'm afraid the ship
will not carry much higher. Wen get
over them, don't you think, Captain
uowitZerp
"Howitzer gazed %anxiously at the
enemy, who were now within fifteen
miles, and replied:
"'Close call, SIR
'tThen to the men:
"'Stand ready to drop q ton OF dyna"
mite on them II we go owe themV
"As he spoke there was a pun on tho
enemy's flag ship, and a solid shot came
singing half O mile below US. Old Wad
laughed, and ordered the bow gun to
return the fire when we were within
five miles. Our shells passed over
them. We had then reached as high
an altitude as II was possible for the
ships to float, and then we reduced
speed. They approached to within two
miles and stopped and began to circle
about us, evidently intending to sub
iect Il balloons TO a cross fire. Higher
than we they could not go, and the dis
! coyery of this fact brought Jeers and
cheers from our crew.
For some fifteen minutes there wat
terrible suspense. Each vessel clrcled
warily around its chosen opponent,
banging away with Its machine guns
in vain endeavor TO puncture the en-
emy's balloon. But the distance was
too great and the movements of the
vessels too quick for any successful
gun work. Suddenly Howitzer seized
my arm and pointed toward the Light
ming. Her crew had just thrown over
board her whole cabin, her two guns
and a great quantity of dynamite
bombs.
For a moment we were %speechless
with establishment. Were they going
to take to flight? Admiral Wad seized
a nag to signal Commander Blower,
but he just go as far as dam when he
stopped. Slowly the great vessel WAS
mounting in the air. A cry Of dismay
was heard from the hostile ship with
which she was engaged. In five min
utes she was 400 feet above them. The
British crew madly threw overheard all
the weight they carried-guns, bombs
and everything but they were too late;
the Lightning was above them; then
a black object shot down on them; a
deafening roar followed, with a rush
of wind that hurled the Swallow q mile
out of her course. And when we looked
toward the Lightning she was alone
but slowly sinking toward the sea, fol
the conclusion had torn off the end OF
her balloon cylinder. We could see heI
crew at the rail cheering wildly.
admiral Wad at one ordered that
we pursue the same tactics; everything
went by the board, guns. and all am
munItion but Ave bombs. We loOsened
| some rivets in the floor and let the
| cabin fall; then we, too, began to rise.
But the British admiral was 10 to he
| outwitted, for he had been busy at ex-
| actly the same work, and when we
| found ourselves 1000 feet higher he
lay a mile away mt the same altitude.
admiral Wad swore. Our gum
were gone, and we could have lain
there for eternity and not harm each
other, unless we closed. For a long
time be paced the deck In silence. Al
length he called the men together. and
In n neat, touching speech asked for
one volunteer for n forlorn hope.
IAN that can be DONE he said, is
to ram the enemy. One mar and my.
self can handle the ship, and 1t would
be useless for you to stop on board sim.
ply TO lose your lives
Every man volunteered; every MAI
offered to stay in their commanders
place. He chose me for his companion,
since | alone of all the crew was un-
married, and he positively refused to
accept n substitute. He would 60 down
with the old ship, he said.
The scene that followed was mos,
touching. The men wrung the brave
old mans hand in "A last parting. One
by one they took their %parachutes,
swung ove the side and went sailing
away into the blue.
THE last man was gone and old Wa,
turned toward me and embraced me.
Between his emotion and the extreme
ratification of the air he could moi
speak. This show of feeling lasted bu,
a minute. for we were brought to on,
senses by a great cheer from the en-.
emy's crew. They believed the ship dc,
serted and We're bearing down toward
US. Instantly tho admiral Strengthened
up and firmly pushed the button, turn.
Ing the full force Of the electric current
into the prOpelling motors. The great
ship swung around and with terrific
speed sailed at the enemy, The en-.
envy tried to swing their ship IL of the
course, but In vain. In n minute VT
struck them. A crash like a Thousand
lpeals of thunder, a flash like the OK
Iplosion of a dynamite factory and al
was still. And when | looked again
there was nothing but blue. the endless
blue Of infinite space. The Hawk and
her two opponents had been wrecked
I suppose by the awful cOncussion.'
Lieutenant Swash had finished Iii,
narration and for a long time puffet
silently at his pipe. |, for my part
was rapt in silent wonder at the man
knew Swash well, but such assurance
as this had not believed him capable
of. After all, he was one of those per
sons who lie so habituHlly that, com
ing from them, a story of their OWL
death VAS not surprising. Suddenly
was thrown violently from my chail
TO the floor, and when | recovered my
sansas Maa hound fuSt In - hlnuInt