Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-07-21
ABILENE WEEKLY REFLECTOR ABILENE KANSAS JULY o. a-El PAGES

Nine: II you don't answeR I'll Are Q
shot into you.
Stranger-H you do I'll return .
broadside.
Preble-I should like 10 catch you
II that. l now hail for an answer.
What ship is that!
litranger-This is his Britannia
majestys S4-gun ship of the line Dom
egai, Sir Richard Strachan. Send Q
boat on board.
7 rreble-Ihis Is the United States
A-gun ship Constitution, Captain Ed.
ward preble, and III be damned If I
send a boat on board any ship. Blow
your watches, boys.
The Two nations were at peace
at the time, and the two captains sus-
pected that each was pirate. They
lay to during the night. Explains
tons followed in the morning, when
the British ship proved to be not tho
formidable Donegal, but the 32-gun
frigate Maidstone.
Commodore Marlborough sighted
the enemy on Lake Champlain ON q
Sunday morning. He ran up the sig
nal for divine service, and, kneel.ng
on the deck among his men, offered
appropriate prayers. During the en-
gagement a British shot struck the
hencoop on the Saratoga, and re-
leased game cock, which flew into
the rigging and crowed Justify all
through the fight, the men loudly
cheering. Macdonough's victory
aroused the enthusiasm of the ma
ton.
A war cry that suggested the pres
ent "kememDer the Maine" was that
which General Sam Houston gave To
his troops at the battle OF san ia
cint0-the battle which gave freedom
and independence to Texas. Colonel
travis Was IA coinlndnu "a about 100
Texas soldiers IN the tort called the
Alamo at BeNar. There he was sur
rounded by Il greatly superior force
under the Mexican dictator, Santa
Anna.
On the morning vi March 8, 1886,
the little garrison OF the Alamo ca
pitulated On .ne pledge of the Mexl-
can genera mat ,nelr lives would be
spared. Misunderstanding this pledge,
Colonel trans and his entire force
were massacrea as soon as they had
surrendered. lnelr dead bodies were
gathered together, u huge pile OF
wood was heaped upon them, and
they were burned to ashes. This act
Of barbarity stirred the Texans to
intense wrath, and implanted IN their
breasts a fierce thirst for vengeance.
On April 10, 1886, General Houston.
with about 700 men, gave BATTLE at
San Jacinto to Santa Anna, with
nearly three times the number of
Mexicans. and in spite of the dis
parity Of nuHbers, llouston's little
force swept the Mexicans like chan
before the wind 1t was more slaugh-
ter than a battle. Just before the as
sault of the Texans was made on the
army of Santa Anna, Houston ad-
dressed his soldiers in fervid speech
closing with these words: Remember
the Alamo. These words lel upon
the ears of the Texans witt. wonder
full effect. Every soldier in the little
army at the same instant repeated
the words "The Alamo until the
words became cry for revenge tina
struck terror to the souls of the Mex
leans When the battle was over II
was found that only seventy Texans
hGl been killed, while $40 Mexicans
were left dead on the field.
The answer of Commodore Stock
ton to the Mexican governor of Cal
lfornia when we took possession OF
that country is worth recalling.
IF You march upon the town clos
threatened the governor,
you will find it the grave of your
men,"
"Tell the governor" said Stockton,
ITO have the bells ready to toll at
o'clock in the morning. shall be
there at that time"
Commodore Tatnall's blood IL
thicker than water" won grateful
recognition in England in 1859. See.
ing the British admiral, Sir James
Hope, in a tight place under the fire
If Chinese forts, TatnaIl CALAMITY
went to his rescue. In so doing he
was guilty of breach Of neutrality
out his answer, Blood is thicker
han water had the effect Of CON
loning the offense. Farragut's Damn
he torpedoes" in Mobile bay, and
Craven's after you, pilot" when his
hip was sinking in that same bay by
torpedo. ~" two sayings NJ heroes
II the late war that will last with
hose OF earlier wars. PerhaDs we
'hall increase our list in this war
With Spain.--Atlanta Constitution.