The times., 1897-07-04


OF three wouldn't vary point from my
course. Durn an American who'u run
away from anything on the glorious
Fourthi''
We should have daylight at 4 O'Clock,
and so after midnight We made as ready
as could be. To our great satisfaction the
breeze began to freshen just before
o'clock, and when the first signs OF dawn
came stealing over the waters there was
wind enough to do with the White Sau1H
as we saw fit Every flag we had
aboard, no matter what the nationality
was hoisted, and ia addition 10 them the
cook was ordered TO make other flags OF
the cabin sheets and tdhleclOths, and every
blue or red shirt In the mems chests was
also converted into bunting. The old bark
must have had a queer look to the pirates,
and when she heralGed the day with sa-
lutte of cannon and small arms, followed
by three rOusing cheers, the fellows must
have wondered what sort OF a menaSerIe
they Lad been following during the night
The cook had breakfast ready at once, aud
by sunrise we we're waiting for a move ON
tile part Of the junks. Then the native off
Ger was sent for, aud Capt. White asked
"Wen, are you going to fight?"
eff not too many come" was the reply.
Too many, you slab-sided son of "A gunl
What difference does it make 10 us how
fuany they are. Trot out your gang while
j give them word or two"
The soldiers came shuffiing forward,
and one glance at them was sufficient 10
prove that they had no heart for tight.
You miserable, contemplate trashr'
Sbp Ia ,taf F,a.. rHt -
tn. gang and lifted him off his feet aid
cracked his heels together. Now then.
are YOU eeing To help US? Wake up here
and listen to met You1l either fight ike
devils or Wen chuck the crowd Df YOU
overheard to the sharks. Mates, cake hold
here and help kick some grit into their
cowardIy hearts"
1t was the funniest scene ever witnessed
before a battle. For ten minutes We booted
the gang up and down tie decks, with
the crew laughing and cheering, and we
ceased kicking only When they promised 10
do their full duty. They We're scattered
along bet wcen the guns, where our men
could have an eye on them, and We were all
At stations, when one Of the jCnks flew
signal and the three bore down on
US Our cannon Were Founders,
with fuse-shell for the fiISt charges, and
there was hardly a whisper among the
men as the foremost junk came sailing
down TO get US within range Of her four
pound pieces. The captain let her close
within about 500 feet, and then gave the
word tofire. The two starhuard guns were
discharged at almost the same second, and
a. the men knew little or nothing Of gun
practice. it was good luck or accident
which sent the shells where they landed
Beth went plump into the junk's huh on
he: port bow aud close together, and both
exploded inside % her. The craft was
literally blown 0It of the water. It
wasn't thnty seconds from the uue the
shells struck her before she was out IF
sight Under water. and not one Of her
forty o. fifty men escaped death
NO for the next"' shouted Capt.
WhIte, " hen his voice could he heard
above tie cheering, and the staIhOard
watch ran 20 the braces ana brpugEt the
bark around So that our port battery could
he brought TO bear
As we came round we had the junk
almost under our bows, and such Of our
men as We're not at the guns. assisted
by the Chinese soIGiers, opened fire with
muskets We got horrible fire back. but
only for couple OF minutes. Then the big
guns pumped their shells into her and
she was simply torn open She had ut
least fifty men aboard. and as we passed
her in wearing round about q dozen were
| seen amid the wreCEage, which was Of
itself ablaZe The third junk hung in the
wind for moment and tncu stood 70 the
| westward, to escape behind the islands
Not if I'm Yankee and a patriot
| exclaimed Capt White as he saw her
| game We've got two, hut it's the
| glorious Fourth and we want the third
| one Ronnd with her. men, and wen
| finish this JOB III ship-shape fashion"
When we got in the wake of the fleeing
| junk we ran one of the guns forward and
| opened up On her with shell, but for a
! time she ESCAPED injury and gradually
| drew away from US. There was good
| chance that she would get away. when
| shell struck Ter stern, smashed her TGd-
! der and she came up into the wind and
| was helpless. a white flag was soon run
| up in token Of surrender, but a sudden shift
| of the breeze beaded us off, and before we
| could get down TO her she settled out Of
| sight and lett never a man afloat for
us TO pick up. We had Just resumed our
| course, after sailing to and fro for an
| hour, when the PrtiSh man-0f-war Torpid
| came down on us from tie north and hailed
| to know what il all meant
"Oh nothing much.'' answered Cant.
White, as he looked aloft at his flags
''It's inst Fourth of July, you know. and
as we wanted an old-fashioned ceiebra.
tlon we deeked out and then sent three
! pirate junks to the bottom. Givethem thret
times three, meu, for Lexington Bunker
| Hll and a few other things
CHARLES r. LEWIS.