The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-03-19

everything Is working smoothly. The
alarm proves to be Il 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 num-
bers and course Of the enemy. for~the
purpose OF verifying the pigeon mes
sage. The hostile fleet is not more than
twenty miles ahead! Again the watch
ing is resumed, and within an hour the
smokes of Il large number of vessels are
made out. The fires are forced by pow
erful fans. and the increased speed of
the fleet rapidly lessons the intervcnin::
distance. The supreme struggle is a.
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 cash
ness, but all OF no avail against such
overwhelming odds.
AS night fell. Dclafield. from the
Bainbrldge. and the officers on the
coast defense vessels, inside the bar.
sighted the remnant of our fleet stand
ing in, still stubbornly fighting and pro-
tccting the weaker or more disabled
ships. Shortly the enemy was uncov-
cred, and the monitors opened fra, s,Som-
pclling an abandonment Of the HAY Ykss-
ing pursuit. The enemy remained just
out of range. while the fearful wreck
of what remained of Admiral Wood
hri1Un'S xx1nI x,ln In, a.,
harbor.
AS the Oregon. guarding the rear.
passed the Baiubridgc. the admiral sig
nailed briefly but significantly: "Dp
your duty"
The night is dark and windy. An
ominuuS stiffness in the air preSagcS
IN on-cOming gale. No moon or stars
are shining to aid the enemy. but in
stead. the sky is covered with hard
lradrr-gray clouds. and low bank of
fog is sweeping i'll from the westward.
The conditions are pr0pitiouS, and
D"lahc!d prepares for his dash He
takes the Bainbridgc close inShOrC
through Bonita Channel. and barely
escapes being caught by one of the
current. he rushcs silently ahead and
clear of danger. When almost within
hearing of the breakers on DuNbury
Reef, he makes wide dctoiN in order
to approach from Scaward "Sr from
this direction an attack is hardly to be
expected. Nevertheless. he has to go a
considerable distance out to reach Il
favorable position
He reaches his station at n quarter
past eleven o'clock. and in another
quarter OF an hour the monitors will
open fire toward that flank of the enc
my opposite to which is Dclafcld. They
will keep up this cannonadc for ten
minutes TO effect Il diversion. AS soon
rs this firing has ceased. Jacks work
vii, begin.
Boom. bang! go the great 1O-inch and
l2,inrh guns. 1t is try'n.j time for
.Iac~but hc sr"s the effect o the rusc.
and is again congratu!ating himself on
his luck. The SearchlghtS are all play
ing inShUrc ~ him. the enemy entirely
ob!iviouS of the fact that danger is
lurking in their rear. Half past eleven.
As suddenly aS it began. the firing
ceases. and Dclaiirld. taking his stand
in the little coming tower orders the
crew TO their stations
Slowly the Bainbrdgc starts ahead.
then faster and faster she goes. until.
fairly flying, she brings into view the
weaker vessels forming the outer line.
But Jack diSdainS such pigmy prey.
Safely he flies past the gulboatS. but
not quickly enough to avoid discovery.
On he goes. fearlcSsly taking the Balm
bridge straight toward the battle ships
"Stand by" lie sings ont down the
voice tubes to the torpedo compar;-
mrnts. and back comes the hearty an
Swrr: "All ready. sir
Now he is but Il short distance from
the nearest ship. lie turns two electric
switches ana secs the torpedo guns c!r-
waited and trained. Then amid Il show
cr Of shells he presses 4 firing key and
the forward torpedo is launched and
speeds on its rrrand of destruction. N0
need 10 watch the effect: the magnet is
aS sure as fate.
Meantime. the Rainh;idgc'S coarse is
changed. 80 that she may run parallel
10 the column Of battle ships, and the
empty gun is lowered. \ second later
the attcr-torp"do is on its way for the
next bati!" ship. and DclaiclG has done
half his work
ung ere this the bray" little craft has
been the center OF n smother OF foam
in" water, laSh,d into imporcnt fury
Ivy til" crashing. bursting shells. But
her great speed saves h"r from annihi.
laii"n. She tears along with search.
lights flashing on her like IN aurora
aud with the waves daShinS wildly
over her.
TWO more Of the cncmy'S most power.
ful ships sent To the bottom complete
her "rrand The only damage on the