The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1898-10-22

Many of the best stories Of the war
nave been untold because they did not
properly come under the head Of legiti-
mate news, and the war correspondent
at the front had little time for side issues.
Many a bit of humor pathos, many
a graphic silhouette against the grim
background of war, many spirited scene
and many a livid recollection Of past
dangers still linger in the minds of the
war correspondents who while at the
front were thinking only of getting
through the real news to an anxious ma
ton. But now it is different. The ten
sion has been removed, and the after
math of war should not be overlooked.
The stories which appear below are true
Stories says the New York Herald, all
written by newspaper men who either
witnessed the incidents described or ex-
perienced them personally.
Running Mine Field.
Lieut. Mckinstry, Of the artillery, had
been hard at work sinking submarine
mines in Key West harbor. At last, one
day late in April, the work was done, and
double line of sunken torpedoes was
stretched across the bay. Electric wires
connected them with old Fort Taylor.
The touch of a finger on a switchboard
would suffice to blow to pieces any over
jealous intruder.
So the lieutenant distributed among the
newspaper representatives and Key West
shipping agents formal notice stating
that on and after that date Key West
became a closed port. No vessel would
be permitted to clear enter between
shutdown and sunrise. The order took eff
feet Immediately, and the deadly electric
current was to be turned on that very
night.
Key West had been just a trifle nervous
about a possible night attack So the
aVerage citizen learned of Lieut.. Mckin-
stry's order with satisfaction Most of
the newspaper dispatch boats were in port
at the time and received due warning.
The Albert F. Dewey, smallest of the
HeraldS fleet however, was WallOWing
about somewhere in the blockade line
off Havana that day, and she was due
in Key West with dispatches that night.
Lieut. Mckinstry said that they would
look out for her. A launch was to be sta
toned off Fort Taylor, and when the
Dewey was sighted the launch would run
out and warn her back. She could then
lie outside the mine field until daylight.
With big white bone in her teeth and
a Ratchet hung on the safety valve the
Dewey cine churning UP the bay about
half past 10 o'clock. She was doing as
near thirteen knots an hour as she ever
did in her life, for she meant to catch the
cable early that night and clear for the
South again at dawn.
1.-THE Dewey's coming in!' The word
was passed along DuFdl street ana
through the hotel porches. Soon the coal
dock was crowded with the usual throngs
waiting the latest news from the front.
Night glasses were brought to bear on
the little tugboat, and everybody expected
to see her bolted outside Fort Taylor.
But on she came, her speed hardly slack
ened. Capt. Hyer was at her wheel, SUBJ
timely ignorant of new government orders
and the threatening mines.
A naphtha launch was seen to shoot out
from the shadow of the old fort. There
was a hail and an answering shout from
the Dewey, but the warning was not un-
derstood. The little dispatch boat rushed
past the launch and left her hopelessly
behind, the noise Of the Dewey's engines
drowning the frantic yells from the stern
of the launch.
The next instant the Dewey's foaming
bows struck something heavy. She lurched
and quivered her whole length. Then
there was a, scraping, grating noise along
her starboard bow. But no; there was no
explosion. She sheered off gamely, while
Hyer threw his helm over, only stopping
to eXclaim What the devil was that
we struck?"
On she came. and once more she struck
and scraped some submerged obstruction,
this time on her port quarter. .r.
Ten minutes later she lay quietly at her
pier and score of voices were shouting
1.-THE mines! The mines! How did you
dodge the mines? Don't you know the
port is closed?' .-r
mines, eh?" said Capt. Hyer, as he
gave the orders to make her fast. Mines,
were they? Well, I'm ID If we didn't
of em somewhere out there. Mines, eh?
The blamed things must be filled with
vinegar, reckon" ~"
Some Of us started to "jolly'' Lieut..
McKinstry the next morning about his
vinegar filled mines. .H a.
Ay1k foe% Coz
the officer. "Fortunately for you, we
weren't taking any chances Of an acct
dent. The officer at the lookout in Fort
Taylor was cautioned about the Dewey.
He turned off the current in time to let
her through safely
Grim Duel Between Single Ship and
Battery. ' "~ +.
What is 1t which shapes mans first
thought or word when he first finds speech
in a moment Of great danger or terrible
injury?
When a six-inch shell from the Sacopa
battery at Santiago burst in forward
gun station between decks on the Texas,
tearing one man to pieces and injuring
several others seriously, filling the space
with smoke and flame and the fear of
death, man whose breast was torn by
fragments of iron and who was evidently
fatally hurt leaned against a stanchion
and said with CHASTITY irony to the rNen
who came to assist him-"Here's a chance
for your first aid to the injured. ssa 49,.
He and his mates held the first aid
drill in contempt because of the extra
trouble involved and this ironical expires.
sion was the first thing which sprang
from his lips as he stood there in agony.
Other men, who were still conscious
when carried to the ''sick bay" asked OF
their bearers, was it an accident or a
Dago shell?' and were comforted wher
told that it had been the latter.
This was pre-eminently the duel of the
war-the engagement between the Texas
and the Sacopa battery. Capt. Philip
commodore noW-Was told to go in close
enough to menace the Santiago gunner<
for the purpose of covering movement Of
the fleet to protect the landing Of troop:
further east.
The Texas steamed in until her large,
guns could reach the battery easily ant
while her men were getting the range
with accuracy by means Of q rangefinde,
and rifle shot or two the Sacopa gun
ners accepted what they believed was
challenge and the duel was begun.
The Texas was splendid mark TIL,
battery was a difficult one to hit. II .
shell went a little low it was buried harm
lessly in ,earthworks. II it was a trif,
high it went over Spanish guns and gun
ners The worst Of it was that the Texa
that day had only few common" she'll
in her magazine, and these Capt. Phili]
would not expend thinking he might zee,
them mora later on. Common shall ar