The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-22
FLAGS ON A MAN Of WAR.
The Fighting Goes ON Until n National
Ensign Comes Down for Good.


A story is told Of a cabin boy on board
a man-of-war who, by his action in pull
ing down the enemy flag during a bat
tie, gained q victory for his commander.
The story illustrates the value OF the ma
,onal flag in a naval action. and how
much depends upon the sailors seeing IL
flying from the masthead above them.
10 was just at the beginning OF a battle
between two ships that the cabin boy.
who had never been in a fight, asked one
Of the sailors how long It would take
the enemy 10 surrender, and what his
own ship would have 10 do 70 beat the
other.
do you see that?" asked the sailor.
pointing TO the flag which was flying
from the masthead of the other ship.
"As Ions as that is flying the other fell
lows Will fight, but when It comes down
they viii stop and their ship viii sur
render"
The cabin boy was too small to fight
but he made up his mind 10 get tho flag
for his Captain. During the battle. when
the ships were dashed together he crawl
cd on board the cnemy's vessel, and
while the sailors were busy fighting
climbed the rope ladder which ran up
the mast and pulling the flag from its
place. wrapped 10 around his body and
carried il back 20 his own ship. The
sailors were fighting bravely. until one
looking Up and seeing that the flag was
gone. cried out TO his companions that
the Captain had pulled down the flag
and there was no use fighting longer.
The men threw down their arms, ana
the mistake was not discovered until 1t
was too late, for the cabin boys COM
rades had seized the ship.
The flag of his country Is what every
sailor and soldier throughout the world
fights for during a battle. when tho flag
is gone they lose heart and give up
easily. Some OF the bravest deeds have
been in defence OF the flag, and 10 get 1t
back again when the enemy have cap
turcd IL. When O. ship goes into battle
the national flag is run up 10 tho mast
head. the highest point on the vessel.
where 70 flies until the engagement i5
over Sometimes when the other ship
Is the stronger. or It's sailors fight better,
and the captain sees that ne is beaten,
he pulls down his Gag 10 show the enemy
that he has had enough and wants 90
surrender. This act IS called striking
the coioTs' 10 is a usual thing TO run
mp white flag in the place Of the one
which has been hauled down. but often
the simple act of striking the colOrs is
enough to- end a battle. SO long as the
Captain OF q ship sees any flag except
a white one flying from the cnemy's ves-
sci he VIII continue TO fire upon IL, for
~ is a sign that the sailors have not
given up ana are ready TO fgnt longer.
Sometimes, during O. naval battle The
ropes which hold the flag are shot away
but i'm such cases there are always some
brave sailors who will climb the mast
and put another in its place. During
the Revolutionary war when the ship
commanded by Paul Jones was lighting
an English vessel. the American flag was
shot away and fell overheard into tho
water one of the sailors. who saw IL
fan. jumped after H. and although he
was wounded swan with 30 back TO the
ship when 10 was fastened TO the top
of the mast again. When the flag went
overheard the Englishmen began 70 cheer
for they thought that Paul Jones had
surrendered, but when they saw 10 flying
from the masthead once more they
changed their minds and finally suTrend-
cred themselves. The action Of the
wounded sailor IN jumping into the wa
ter to rescue the flag made his compan-
ions fight all the harder
Every one who has read American his
tory knows about the battle Of Lake
Erie. and of how Commodore Perry care
ried the flag from his sinking ship and
h0isted 40 upon another. When the En-
Glish Captain saw Perry going IN row.
boat from tho sinking ship with tho flag
thrown over his shoulder, he ordered
his sailors 10 sink the boat so that the
flag couldn't Doe hOistcd az the masthead
or another American vessel He knew
that If the American sailors saw that
their flag was lost they would lose heart
and surrende,, and as he expected. when
they saw the flag flying again they work