The broad ax., 1897-11-27
Sea>Fieht Of the Future.

1
At sea again. Never mind the year
or the day, or the latitude and longi-
tude. Perhaps We are looking into Q
future that may never come. Aloft our
cruiser looks bare, for her topmasts are
housed Allow she is dingy, for the
once white hull is painted Q leaden
green. Mr.. Evans walks the bridge In
ne forenoon watch with set lips and
anxious eyes.
"gteamsr on the port bovT
a dead silence, broken only By ne
churning Of the pistons, falls upon the
ship, while Mr.. Evans questions tne
lookout The stranger Is suspicious.
In half an hour suspicion grows to csr-
tainty. II IL q cruiser flying q strange
nag. The executive oficer takes the
bridge with speaking trumpet In hand.
The captain stands beside him. Mr.
Evans goes aft and takes command Of
his division, the first, consisting Of the
two after S-ineh guns and the two g.
Founders that frown over the tarfrail.
The captain mods at midshipman,
who delivers an order In q low tone.
The next instant the sharp rat-a-tat
Of . drum breaks upon the air. FOR
several minutes all appears to be con-
fusion, as men come bounding up from
the hatchways to the deck and take
their places at the guns. Others rig
shel1 whips and stand by to hoist
heavy ammunition from the hold.
Others go aloft to the machine aud
rapid-fre guns in the tops. The ma
rine guard, with glittering rides.
musters on the quarterback.
"Silencei Cast loose and providep'
commands the executive oficer, In
short, sharp tones.
Sight covers are thrown on, tompions
and muzzle-bags removed, sponges snd
hammers laid on deck, buckets and tIibs
Of water put near the big guns. Rifles.
cutiasses and revolyers are brought.
and belts and bayonets are strapped
on.
First division, sir" says Mr.. Evans,
touching his cap. to let the executive
oficer- know that the guns under his
command are ready. The other dfvi-
sions follow. and the orders are given
to sponge and load. Meanwhile the
lookout has reported the flag of the
rapidly approaching cruiser, and she
has been identified. She Is prepared for
action.
Keep the port guns trained on her
and wait orders" says the captain.
Three thousand, Twenty eight
hundredT' calls the man at the range
indicator.
Ready with the port forward
eight"
"Ay, az. sir"
Try him al two thousand i've hun
dred." ~
RAISE. lower. raise: well. elevator"
comes the low tone of the gun captain.
Right Internationally"
Booml
The thunderous shock Of the mighty
s-inch, loaded with a full charge and
an armor-piercing shell. makes the
deck jump. The deep-toned report is
By another, and a great
white cloud bursts from the port bow
Of the advancing enemy.
'Hard-a-starboardr' exelaims the
captain. At the same time he turns 20 |
the executive oficer and says: ITO
stay here Is mere folly. SIR We shall
be food for their rifiemen"
He leaves the bridge and goes over
10 the coming tower. where the boat |
swain Is already at the wheel, and |
where both commander and pet
" officer are. ten minutes
later, sent to eternity by an g. |
inch projectile. which smashes the thin
steel walls Of the tower as II they were
glass. The executive ofscer springs to |
the bridge and fights his ship from that |
historic point Of command. Crash upon |
crash smites the air Shouts OF on |
GERS follow fast
First riIlenen on the sfarbosrd |
quarters Firemen IN the port eangway: