The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-31
A E'RIGnTFUL EXPERIENCE.
The Awful sensations of a Naval EN-
counter Graphically Described.

The feelings OF the men and the scenes
In the hour Of battle on modern warshiI
present a large field to the imaginative.
AS the enemy is perceived on the horizon
the ship is cleared for action, boats and
everything wooden that might cause the
terrible spiinters are cast overheard. and
the men are summoned to quarters. The
gigantic monster of steel throbs like iiv-
ing heart as ponderous engines drive her
through the foam-capped waves. The
swash OF waters as the leviathan plunges
onward with a fearful energy. the sharp
commands of the officers. the rush OF men
to their positions, stand out in memory
forever afterward.
All eyes are on the little speck in the
distant horizon each moment growing
larger and larger whose outline. barely
traced at first, finally looms up grim and
foreboding. Silently she approaches.
Moving straight ahead, as if no opponent
barred her path. Three miles separate
them now. The silence grows oppressive:
the strain is fearful; great beads OF sweat
stand out on the foreheads OF the men in
the turrets, immovable as statues beside
the gigantic guns. Silently. speedily and
majestcaliy the opponents approach each
other. But two miles separate them now.
Harki A terrific roar resounds over the
hillowy waves; the approaching ship Is
blotted out in an instant by a cloud of
smoke. We breathe freer; the strain is
over now; the battle has begun. Like pieces
OF machinery the men in the two broad
SIDE turrets move TO their respective du-
ties. 4 fearful, shock shakes the gigantic
ship from stem to stern: a roar that deaf
ems bursts forth: a cloud or sitting powder
permeates the decks; a great sigh of relief
goes up from every man: we are answer
ing shot with shot now. The blood rushes
feverishly thoroughly The veins: they MI up
as II 10 burst: the eye shines clear and
fierce. and a strange ecstasy steals over
every man. The swash OF the waters. the
sharp words Of command. the torrid
breathing OF the engines suddenly breaks
forth again-oniy In fash to be drowned
by constant roar. The smaller guns have
opened; we have approached within a mile:
the sharp crack of the rifles OF the sharp
shooters is not perceptibe In the general
din but we feel. with strange confidence
in ourselves, that they are there
Mechanically each man works at lbs
post :. shock. slight but perceptible, runs
through the ship. We have been struck.
n great shot has plowed its way through
the vessel Bleeding men are hurried TO
the hospital: the dead are cast aside 20
make room for the living. shell strikes
the ar'nor and explodes. doing little dam
age: another follows and enters the ship;
men fal! with a startled cry. then lie s.
lent: others write IN terrible agony. the
mon AT the light unprotected guns gre or
titred &c desert them: the men hshiud -he
armor are safe enough as yet-brusaf ard
blacktned. but safe. All the unpcJiected
armcr Of the ship has been flown tc
pieces row: the wreckage Of the tcp-Fa1l-
met liz slowly blocking the guns: fire be-
gins tc break ont here and here the water
IS pouring in through large re rs in the
hull.
Teep down I'm the ship are tee heroes
who cn'y know that the battle . raging
by the roar of the guns Suddenly the
electric lights 20 out; shot has Disabled
the dynamo, and ill-smelllng OF lamps
alone pierce the fearful darkness II be-
comes suffoCatirg and the men gaSn for
air; inferno can be TO worse They know
the tunnels have been shot away but the
torrid. fetid atmosphere must be endured