Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-02-03

neaB Of path under water. but. besides
| this. within the secret chambers wers
| concealed magnets Of great strength
which drew the torpedoes straight on
ward toward their prey. No manoeul''
ering, however skillful, on the part OF
the commander Of ship attacked could
avail against the relentless power OF
these magnets. and once a torpedo was
launched fairly in the direction Of an
enemy's vessel, her doom was only a
matter Of seconds. When the intended
target was struck, the explosion of one
hundred and fifty pounds Of gun cotton
would fulfll the mission Of the torpedo.
and cause the proud battle ship. strick.
en- In some vital part, to reel back un.
der the shock, then perhaps make .
feeble effort to escape. but in vain. In
. moment only a seething, bubbling
spot covered with wreckage in the
midst Of the ocean would mark the
grave Of a Goliath Of the deep, done TO
death by this marine David.
Little wonder then that Delafield had
every confidence In the Bainbr1dge. But
his spirits fell when he read iu the
newspapers. q few mornings after, that
Q large feet Of the enemy had left its
rendezvous and was proceeding in the
direction Of San Francisco. This feet
consisted Of eight drst-class battle
ships, ten armored cruisers, together
with twenty protected cruisers and
smaller vessels. Against this array the
United States could only bring the bat
tie ships Oregon dag, Iowa, Massa-
chusetts, Indiana and Texas; the ar
mored cruisers Idaho, New York, Maine
and Brooklyn; the protected cruisers
Olympia, Charleston, Columbia, New
ark, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and San
Francisco, as well as several gunboats.
This feet was anchored In the bay.
cleared for action and ready to proceed
TO sea as soon as carrier pigeons from
the scouts should bring the news of the
approach Of the hostile vessels. Near
by were the coast defense monitors
Monterey. Puritan. Terror. Amphitrite
MiantOnOmoh. and also Delafield's tor
pedo boat, the Bainbridge. Jack had
gone on board the flagship Oregon as
soon as be had anchored after his run
down from the navy yard, in order to
report to Admiral Woodbridge and to
receive his orders. The admiral told
him that 1t was his intention to go out
side, meet the enemy, and. If possible,
cripple him to such an extent as to pre-.
vent the bombardment Of the city, and
that the Bainbridge and coast defense
vessels were to be held In readiness to
guard the entrance to the harbor and
cover the retreat Of the fleet III case il
might be compelled TO withdraw.
When Jack left the admirals cabin
he was confident he would have an Op-
to add fame to his own name
and fresh laurels to the long list of dar-
ns naval achievements accomplished |
BY John Paul Jones. Decatur, Preble. |
(for whom his little vessel !
vas nsmed). Biddle. Rodgers. Farra-
yur Gushing and host of others |
throughout the feet that day there |
Was an expectant hush as OF a gladiator |
'esting previous to some mighty effort. |
Al preparations were completed. final |
etters written, and farewells said, for,
hough each officer and man hoped for
! favorable outcome, every one, even
o the meanest powder by, knew thai
he morrow would most probably bring
struggle 50 terrible and deadly that
many Of them would never return.
During the early morning twilight of
he next day pigeon 1uttered YEARLY
lown 10 the cote on the flagship, and
n alighting set = shrill electric bell 10
inging. This faithful little messenger
lad arrived with its momentous tidings
n the shape OF tiny note in q quill
ecured firmly under ITS wing. This
vas soou detached and conveyed to the
dmiral In less time than IL takes to
ell it. the red and white signal lights
we're flashing out the order to get under
way. Soon the rattle of chains was
card as the anchors were hove up; and
rhen daylight broke rhe feet was seen
teamins majestically out through the
iolden Gate. the Oregon leading. Ev-
ryrhins was ready for action except
pen;Dg the magazines. getting out the
and loading the guns All
ands were intently scanning the hori.
on ahead and on each bow 10 catch the
rst glimpse of the smoke Of the enc.
ly's fleet The silence, punctuated only
y the rhythmic throb of the engines
7as at last broken by Sail hop from
be upper fighting top.
Where awayI" replied the officer on
be deck.
Zone point and a half on the por,
ow, sIr-smoke!'
BEAT to general quarters" is instant
ordered. The men spring to the guns
'hich were at once loaded: the turrer
e trained from side to side and the {
ms elevated and depressed to see that I
IS working smoothly. The !
arm proves 10 be false one, for the
,ssel is made out to be the San Fran :
SEQ, one Of the scouts, steaming in at
III speed. She runs close to the flag {
lip while the admiral questions her I
officer regarding the num-
RS and course of the enemy, for the
iTpose of verifying the pigeon mes
ge. The hostile feet Is not more than 6
'enty miles ahead! Again the watch
3 Is resumed, and within an hour the q
lokes Of large number Of vessels are 4
ade out. The fires are forced by pow e
full fans, and the increased speed of L
e feet rapidly lessons the Intervening s
stance. The supreme struggle Is at =
nd. Our ships steam on In column, s
ady for the bloody fray.
to recount III detail ths action or thai
y would be to chronicle daring deeds, r
roic acts and bravery akin to rash +
IS. but all Of no avail against such Z
erwhelmins odds =
IS night fell, Dela6eld, from the
and the officers on the r
asst defense vessels, inside the bar. K
,hted the remnant Of our feet stand h
: in, still stubbornly fighting and pro- b
ting the weaker or more disabled q
lps. Shortly the enemy was uncov.
\ = ~,