The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-08
CAPTURE OF The SANDWICH.
The Origin of "MiIiions for Defense bu,
Not On- Cent for Tiibute."

The Origin of ''Miliions for Defense but
Not One Cent for Tiibute.'
From the Philadelphia Times.
That night there was a busy hum
along the streets of Port Platte, the
village at the head of a small harbor
on the south sid of San Domingo. The
sun was slowly descending behind the
blue peaks of the island, and all knew
that deep darkness might almost in
stantly succeed the brief twilight Of the
tropics. But the rapid approach OF
night was forgotten in the general
alarm. for an American frigate. with all
her canvas spread. was bearing down
upon the French haven. Suddenly the
dreaded vessel furled her courses and
hove to as IL to reconnoitre. After
scanning narrowly the little anchorage,
however, she put about and set her
courses again, and her ghostly form
was soon swallowed by the gathering
darkness.
Ii was in 1900. Some four years be-
fore the French government, incensed
with the United States for making the
Jay treaty with Great Britain and for
electing John Adams to the presidency,
recalled Its minister and began to cap
ture our merchantmen. President
Adams. however, hoped for a peaceful
DAeAAc VI ~ baNoAibll Ut lCHuts III
sent commissioners to Paris. Ennis
saries of Prince Talleyrand. signing tho
initials ~. Y. d." wrote to the Ameri-
can ENJOYS. offering immunity to our
IL the United States would
bride several French officials literally.
The ENJOYS sent the correspondence
to the president, who laid II before con-
gress. The nation was reused. Mil
lions for defense: not one cent for trib-
utei" was the cry. and several very fine
warships were built as rapidly as work.
men could put them together. In Feb
ruary. 1893. Commodore Truxtun, in the
3s-gun frigate Constellation, captured
h French 3s-gun L'Insurgente in the
Caribbean sea, and a year later. just
before u story opens, pursued, at
leaked and vanquished the French La
Vengeance, of So guns.
"Truxtun! Truxtun! La Constella-
toni" passed from lip to lip with in
stinctive CONSERVATION that afternoon
at Port Platte. Night came on, the
moon did not appear, and scudding
clouds obscured the stars. The reyeil.e
was beaten at the fort and the people
retired TO dream of their fortunate es-
cape from a visit by the daring cruis-
ers of the American squadron. Could
they have pierced the darkness seaword
their self-complacency would have re-
ceived a rude shock. The frigate. when
she lost sight Of the island. came about
ana under full sail stood In for shore.
Just then the heavy roar Of a cannon
came booming over the water. and one
after another all but the lights of the
garrison disappeared.
Now is your time" said Commo-
dore Talbot 10 his Lieutenant: have
the second cutter manned sir. and
come to me for further orders" Then.
looking at the compass n observ-
ing the log and the surroundings. he
went below.
Enter" he commanded. a few min
utes lster. in response to a knock at
the sabin door. Are you ready so
soon?" he inquired. a Lieutenant Hull
stood before him again.
"All ready. sir"
Then. sir" said the commodore.
you will enter the harbor of Fort
Platte without being discovered. as
certain whether the craft that we saw
lying under the guns OF the fort Is the
sandwich ard report 10 me"
How shall 7 ascertain that fact
without boarding herr"
You will know her to be the Sand
witch by the black stripes around her
white masts, and by the shortness OF