The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-13
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p.,+,. The Kind You Have AlHayS BeIgh
Signature "a: &N2Azz<Se
MIDNIGHT CONVERSATIONAL

On Board D. H. Miller, off Cienfuegos,
July Pa conversation which offered a
great deal of interest to alarge audience
took place off the Isle of Pines, on the
southern coast of Cuba, on the night of
July Is. The hour was midnight. The
stars shone clearly overhead. Away to
the northward vivid and frequent flashes
of lightning outlined the heavy cloud mas
ses which hung along the horizon. All
on board the Decatur H. Miller were
asleep save those on duty. The decks
were thickly strewn with the forms of
sleeping soldiers who found the decks a
more comfortable dornitory than the hot
and oppressive quarters proved for them
below. The Miller was pounding her way
through the serges of the CARIBBEAN Sea
at her usual pace of nine knots an hour.
The conversation started with some sea-
talk in the shape of a signal-light which
cleaned from the darkness on the port
quarter. An unknown something was out
there telling the Miller to stop her engines
But the Miller kept on. The light shot
forward, and from dim, low-lyfng form
on the surface of the water there came a.
fash and a report. That was another
and a more emphatic way of saying Stop
It was treated as the light had been. Then
the dark form showed three shgnal lights,
one above the other, and ran up to within
''heave to- came through a megaphone.
This produced the desired effect, and the
megaphone voice again came across the
water, and it came in a tone that implied
a very decided dissatisfaction with what
had been done. Its tone was angry.
t. ? Of
A less distinct megaphone replied from
out pilot-house, 1.-The D. H. Miller"
What is that ship beyond your"
The Arkadia-"
why did you not stop in answer to our
signals?"
81 did not understand the signal"
why did you not stop when we fred?'
4 thought you might be a Spaniard-"
''Have you soldiers on board2'
Eyes. Three hundred Of them"
Very WELL Now, want TO tell you
that you are a natural born - fool.
You have endangered the life of every
man on board your ship. If l hadn't known
that transports were coming. / should
have filled you full of holes for not stop
ping when we fired. AS for Spaniarls you
need not be afraid Of them. There is moth
ing on this coast that dare cross our lines,
or even go outside Of the farbor. You will
probably be stoppetd by five or six patrol
boats between mere and Cape Cruz. You
need not worry about any Spanierds, but
when anything here tells you 20 stop
you stop. Now so ahead. and good luck
to you all"
This little speech may have been lack
ing in punctillio and in those lines OF fine
courtesy which are a marked Characters
tic of the officers of our navy, but It
was marvel of directness. force, iucidty,
and truth. Its meaning was as clear as
the day. It was answered by a burst OF
hearty applause and cheers from the men
who thronged the sides Of the Miller.
Three rousing cheers came from the little
gunboat, which proved 20 be the saucy
and nervy Eagle, one Of the most dash
ing and successful boats on the blockad-
ing line. Then the signal-lights went out,
and the dusky shape slid away into the
darkness toward the coast.
II was quite an episode. The men lay
awake on the deck discussing u, and We
Of the cabin sat IL pajanas. nightsh.-cs.
and underwear. for a review Of the situa-
ton. We pronounced our snip captain 20
be guilty OF a high crime and mLs5e-
meanor Capt. Emery. 1atless. bare
footed. and clad only in uRdignifed and
unofficial underwear, proceeded on his
fearful er-and. But. upon his arrival.
ne evidently exercised the authority which
he was vested by reason OF MS official
position. and modified the sentence. He
proceeded 10 say things IN manner
which may be learned az West Point
though the form Is not inclD1ed in she pre-
scrioed studies % the institution From
RE sulphu-ous smell zhich was waited
through the cabin windows during ne
next few minutes. i was quite clear . rae
resi- OF Us that the Captain Of Company 2. {
Eleventh United States Infantry. vas
doing us duty Ike mza-and q sinner j
Within those minutes. the captain q Vss +
Miller gained some valuable Information +
WITH regard 20 ne wisdom and safety %
monkeyIng WITH Ehe vessels Of tie United I
States nary The next tine r. Is cslsesi /
upon 70 stop. ard that Is likely 70 b a; /
any nou- % The day OF zlEet = s prob /
abe that ne engines % Ihs M-Eler VII i
cease their throassng without the loss % 1
tina 4 c. z
Mr.. SnaSss-"My dear. isn't the grocer On |
the next corner Celtic centlcEnans Mrs |
Susgss-"No. indeed lie sells ios cash
onlz."