Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-02-03
THE BATTLE OUT
SIDE The HEADS.

SIDE The HEADS
One morning. as Jack Delafeld wa
breaEfa-I.n- on board tine cruise
Idaho. q telegram was handed hin
which hc calmly proceeded to open; bu
after -iJHciuE over its contents, th,
placid serenity OF his countenance CAV,
way 10 loaE of excitement. jumping
up, be shouted to L.s laz!er messmate:
who had uOt yet emerged from tbeil
statcrg1us. Boys. the war is onv'
In g second. heads were thrust out
some II The pOssessors even yenturine
into He ward room considerably more
en- de-hGb.lIe than custom or regula
tiCus permitted. But DelafeId's tele.
gram was OF so much Interest and i'm
pOrtance that such trifiing convention.
aiit!es were forgotten. and his curious
brother officers crowded round him,
clamOr.ug loudly for the news.
Listen said the lieutenant, I'll
read it TO you:
Washington. D. c.. Oct 20, 1S9-.
"'IO Lieutenant John Delafield, U. ).
N, L. :. :. Idaho, San Francisco Har-
Dor: REGARD yourself detached from
Idaho. Proceed Immediately TO the
Mare island Navy Yard. Take com.
mdnd OF the Balubridge. and prepare
for active service at earlies, possible
moment. COmmandant ordered to
place at your disposal every available
means 10 hasten work
HULBURT, Secretary
What do you fellows think of that: 2"
said Jack
Lucky dog
'Wish | were In your place
IHe- ali se,Sned pleased at Delafields
stroke 0- luck. Fortune was truly smil-
ing On him, for he had been selected
for this hazardous and important duty
out OF half 4 hundred other officers Of
his OWL rank. each one as eager as him.
self to command the little craft, the
Bainbridse, Of which wonders were ex-
pected.
lie had been chosen by the Secretary
of the Navy and had received his pre-
parat0rT orders. which were to the ef-
feet that he would be retained on board
tie Idaho until hostilities were immi-
N ~ II
command. Meanwhile the work Of fit
ting her for SEA had been pushed at the
navy yard with all dispatch. The Balm
bridge was the first of our new semi
submarine magnetic torpedo boats,
those maTvcls OF American ingenuity
and skill.
Jack started for the navy yard at
once. and on arriving reported to the
commInda1t. Admiral Dana, who told
him In Lis bluff. kindly way to go ahead
and ht our his craft as rapidly as pos
slble. taking whatever was necessary
for her equipment without the usual
formallties. adding cheerily: I'VE can
attend 20 all that after you come back,
Delafcld."
As be stands there before the admiral
receiving his Instructions, let US glance
at the officer upon whom. perhaps, will
hang The result Of the battle very soon
TO be fought outside the Heads. Tall,
erect, and finely formed, Lieutenant
Delafeid impresses one instantly as a
man Of no mean physical strength. His
face gives evidence OF courage, Arm
ness and great will power-Just the at.
tributes, in fact which should most
properly belong TO the man ordered TO
command an unknown quantity like
the BainJr'dEe yet to be tried by the
test of actua! battle. When he leaves
the office Of the admiral, his elastic
step and easy carriage show that his
task has not overburdened him with |
anxiety. but, on the contrary, indicate |
To all
his ability TO carry the work before him
to a successful issue.
On his way down to the wharf where |
the Bainbridge lay, he passed groups |
of Office. easerIy' d!%s siug the latest
news. I h@i SIN .ienuiy or con- |
gratula'ory r-ihark for him; but,
scarcely stopping to reply, he hurried
on board his new command. The Balm.
bridge was one OF the latest additions
to our h-et, and while 1t was anticipat-
ed that she would accomplish great
things. the only real test had come
sooner tLGn any one would have pro-
pheSjcJ. W0rkuen were swarminy
over her n such numbers that she re-
semb,ed = human bee hive. Her length
Ues probably IN the neighborhood OF
one hundred and fifty feet, but her
narrow beam and sharply slopins sides
made her .-.cGr Ike n needle floating
IN the water. She was painted an olive
green, TO secure iuvlsibility at night.
The most prominent objects IN sight
III hcr deck were low coming tower
md two elongated matches, one for
ward IN IOneaft. There were forthe dis
magnetic torpedo guns, and
we're arranged 10 protect the torpedoes
ntll they were needed, at which time
he guns were elevated BY electricity,
rained on the enemy and d.ed, the
Whole operation requiring but . few
ecouds. The motive power Of the
raft was also electricity, obtained
rom Improved Tesla storage batteries
the latest type, giving the boat q !
Dced Of forty knots an hour.
Within two days Lieutenant Delafield
ad completed the outfit Of the Balm
ridge, and had stored On board four Of
nose terrible engines Of destruction,
lie magnetic torpedoes, which were Of
lie ordinary cigar shape, having the en- =
-gy for propulsion stored In q heavy q
ywheel revolving In q longitudinal,
critical plane at rate Of tsn thou ! q
md rsYelguons minute. This apQlI. Z