Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-10

"Its growing as it comes"
Again the junior acquiesced.
"We've got no chance against 1t II 1t
strikes us?"
Harridance shook his head.
"Then the Lord have mercy on u.s."
"Amen,'' replied the junior, fervently.
He was very serious now.
Both gazed in silence for moment.
each wondering what the end would
be.
Suddenly Hanson exclaimed: 'There's
| a derelict at the base of the column.
"And what of that?" asked Harrl'
dance. 1T only makes destruction
certain for u.s.
THE wreck will prove our salvatlon'
God willing"
Il don't follow you. The waterspeut
is bringing down the wreck with
force that will send US to the bottom
like bag of lead"
Its heaven-sent target, as you IL
see." said Hanson. We've one torpedo
left. I think?'
"Only one. but believe it's all right"
"The tube is Worlable?' Hanson
still spoke interrogatively.
"Uninjured, Judging from the look OF
it,"
.In any case it would be more etfec
tive than the Nordenfelt even if we haG
the gun left. AS we haven't, there's nc
alternative"
The Junior wondered vaguely what
his captain meant. He understood II
part when Hanson worked his way tt
the tube and began to uncover it with
out seeking help. Harridance joined
him, and in silence took share IN the
task. Soon the tube was fully exposed.
and Hanson made a rapid survey to
see that all was we'll with it. The tube
and the torpedo in it had escaped all
damage in the gale and the weapon lay
there snugly, ready. even to the ttted
warhead, for discharge at any OBJECT
which might be selected.
The waterspout came slowly on, gam
ing force as it approached. 1t was a
thousand yards away when Hanson
trained the tube and prepared to thrust
the missile into the water. The aiming
was a simple matter, for the thing to be
destroyed was large and near. by TINS
time the derelict, almost submerged:
was clear to all.
Slowly but infallibly the waterspout
drew near, the hull of No. 80 in It's
path. The thousand yards were re-
duced to 500; still the captain did not
fire his precious shot: another hundred
wards were passed. and the crew for the
most part closed their eyes. Not more
than 200 yards separated No. 80 from
her foe when the impulse charge was
fired. and the tube vomited forth the
last torpedo.
Hanson had seen many torpedoes
fired. but never one the course OF
which he watched so hungrily as this
On the contamination of that deadly
shot the safety of the boat and every
soul on board depended. There was NO
mincing matters, no shutting OF the
eyes to that one simple, awful fact
There lay the low. black battered hull
rising and falling to the seas, with nc
power of motion left: her engines
stilled, inert and helpless: there in
front was the thing which looked more
deadly and malignant as it grew. Ere
quently in his career had Hanson
thought of what might happen if his
country went to war. He had pictured
the awful strain on his nerves when or
the eve of battle: he had imagined al
the horrors of the newest forms OF
fights at sea. of men going down II
hosts, pinned in their mighty works OF
steel and iron, sunk by one skillful tor
pedo or one lucky shot from monste.
gun.
When the explosion came there wa:
a dull roar which rose above the noise
of the dying gale, and pillar of spray
shot skyward. The torpedo had hit it:
mark, and the gloomy, hungry column
had made the final stage of its de
structive journey.
: For nearly one long minute all or
, board kept silence, then there was ;
shout of joy. chorus of deliveranc'
from those who until that time hat
looked upon themselves as lost. Han
son led the shout himself, and Harri
, dance joined in with wild enthusiasm
IF we can keep her afoat till hell
comes we're saved,'' cried Hanson
"There's no more wind, and the sea viii
soon go down. Work for yor lives t.
Keep ueI up. DOy ,. anu we IL SHOW liz
world that No. 90 can weather even Bis
cay gales and get to port
They got signal of distress up-ar
old square flag and an oily frocl1 rolled
up as ball, flying just below the tat
, tered pennant-and never a man gave
in until collier tramp, making an I'M
. profitable trip in ballast. discerned tho
quarry and came joyfully alongside
Then one or two fell senseless where
they stood, and knew of nothing till
they awoke in the close, dark forecastle
of the steamer.
! She'll keep af1oat all right now, sir
said the captain of the tramp. "There's
no sea on, and she's coming astern like
a cork. A couple of my men are on
board till you are ready to go back
Won't you rest bit in my cabin ?
Your young mans at the whisky and
cheese and biscuits already, and speaks