The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-04-19

Their view comprehended that 4 crisis
vos indeed at hand. As the clouds OF
smoke belched from the great guns "
hind the yellow emhanknents thlnned
and drjfted away before the evening
breeze the vanguard of the enemy ;
fleet arose out Of the mist Tar out III Nea'
The distance was as yet 100 great -
distinguish the number OF tHne ai'i'
force. but those who turned their glasses
toward the southeast made out Il long
black double line of giant cruisers ~
ing like n great double-headcl serpent
atviSt the sea and sky. And as they
looked. APPALLED, at the majesty OF inc
sight. there came a bright red ndSh
bursting as jagged forks OF lshtnlhs
along the side of the serpent hahh
and from the low sane hills surrlouhieN
nv the sullen guns of the defense arose
n yellow cloud as the great Io-lhch
shells hurled from the guns OF france
and Spain rained as Il mighty storm OF
hail across the intervening waves upon
the narrow point Of land. the boosted
defense Of The proudest city III the west
ern world.
Rut there came no answering flash
from the American guns. no slgn 81 E1e
from the low sand e~mbankmentS except
the 1nttering of the crimsGn-barred nag
floating defiantly above the fortress
turned for the time into 4 very hell be-
low. Strong men caught their breath
and many a hand dashed away the tears
which dimmel the eyes that watched
so eagerly for an answering defiance
from the forts at Sandy Hook. Thcs
then. was to be the end: The guns that
had been feared by all the world were
silenccd when the time for them to
, speak most cloquently had come? Five
hours Of daylight yet remained and III
that time the alien admirals could bring
their ships beyond the danger of the
guns along the shore.
On the vessels of the foreign fleet the
sailors We're cheering till the echo or
their shouts almost reached the ears OF
the waiting multitude miles away.
What if the passage to the city was
lined with submerged torpedoes and all
the obstacles of modern naval warfare :?
The great guns of the enemy had been
silenccd. and although the foremoSt
ships persisted. there We're Il score be-
hind to press on over their shattered
hulls. The great double-headcd serpent
began to move slowly forward. feeling
is way carefully yet pressing on as
though urged by IN Irresistible force.
and as each ship drew nigh the silenccd
forts each sent 4 storm OF shot about
the spanglcd flag: all the hate of Il dec
s'i' VI t'' NstP - fN ~ ~ 80
firing on an apparently dcfenseless fee.
The message that flashed over the
wires to New York. Washington and !
into the telegraph offices of every city
in the land pal@l the checks of the mil
lions who waited brcathleSsly for news !
from the scene Of strife. The alien fiecl
had passed the guns ut Sandy Hook;
men had dreaded such news. but when
it came there were few who conpe-
hendcd if. At Washington Il wild mob
urged about the building Of the chef
executive; what would he do, what eN-
cuse had he AMI his cabinet to offer |
that they had allowed an enemy to
force 50 easily the very gates of tic
nation? But within the room where the
cabinet had "aIcred there was Il calm
that contrasted strangely with the tn
multi Of to millions throughout the
land: did not the president and those
who served him comprehend that the
honor of tnc nation was at stake?
1t was Il few minutes to 6 O'Clock. lust
at the hour when the foreign fleet was
drawing near 10 the jaws of the Mar
rows, that the president took out his
watch.
In half an hour" said he. calmly
turning to the secretary of war. I'VE
will know the end. II was at 6 that
liz closed the case of the watch with a
snap. and picked up an evening paper
which lay on the table.
III.
The end has come. The vanguard of
the enemy Were we'll In toward the
mouth Of TIL. narr0ws, paying no heed
to the fire from the forts that thanked
tht. mnNinU limo on nitbn- edo rTb,.,