The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-06
IN THE AUXILIARY NAVY.
FROM THE DIARY OF NO. 8 OF THE
AFTER PORT GUN.


Cruise of the Yankee-Running
Away From a Supposed Spanish
Fleet-The Attack on the Gun
Boat and Forts at CienfuegOs-The
WOunding of Kennedy-BOId Eff
frontery of the Kid i'm His Con-
tempt for Spanish MarIksmen-A
Hot Fight.
Continued from Last Week.)
Copyright, 1898, by S. S. Mcclure Coz
The waving finger of light sweeping the
heavens above the distant horizon meant
to US the presence of friend or foe, and
the question was one we had little desire
to solve at that moment. Rumors of
Spanish warships lurking in the waters
adjacent to Cuba were rife, and it had
even been stated that another squadron
only inferior to Cervera's fleet was some
where in the neighborhood.
We of the Yankee We're willing, and /
may say without undue boasting, eager to
meet any vessel of equal size or even
larger, but to give battle to whole fleet
was a little too much. Therefore, when
the word was passed to go to general
quarters" there was no sulking, no hest
fancy.
The battery was ready an record time
One gun was placed in trim, ammunition
matches opened, cartridges whipped on
deck, and the pieces prepared for instant
use so rapidly that the officer of the d.
vision, Lieut.. Greene, gave us warm
praise.
Then we waited.
1t is difficult for layman--a citizen
who has not experienced the test of action
and danger in battle-to understand or APP
preclate our feelings that night. 1t is
hard to describe them, to paint with mere
words the intense seriousness and gravity
of the situation. You can imagine dark
night at sea-a night so black that the
senses feel oppressed and an indefinite fear
of the unexpected. You can add to these
a thrill of impending danger and vision
of capture by a cruel enemy and the
thought that the very next second VIII
sound the signal for an uproar and out
break of combat, but your Impressions
will fall far short Of the reahty-that
must be experienced to be appreciated
AS we stood at our stations surrounding
Number Eight gun, ! tried to read the
faces of my companions, to see II could
find in them traces of worry or anxiety,
or of fear. The situation warranted even
the latter emotion. The dim light cast by
the Pickering battle lanterns sent fantastic
shadows dancing- over deck apd bulkhead,
and caused the men at the guns to re-
semble in their stained white WORKING
clothes, so many gaunt specters.
But they were specters with grim pur-
pose in view, and as the officer of the dl-
vision strobe back and forth, alert ana
watchful they followed his movements
with their eyes, eager for the word that
would set them in action. They were not
veterans. and their experience in war could
have been measured by days, put they
were honestly ready 10 fight and to sned
the last drop of their blood Tor the mas
waving over the taffrail.
It was a tcklish situation. Even the
'sJ<id" with his careless, happy go-lucky
mind would have admitted that; bal as
time passed without bringing a break IN
tbe nonotonv of waiting, we began to feel
restless. The tension was still great, but
the first sense of apprehension was gone.
II do wish something would happppeh'
rnuttered Hay, after while. Can you
sec anvthing from that port, Morrie?"
"A wall of blackness, that's all,' replied
the Rochester man.
.We,ve changed our course several
times" spoke up Flagg. Il think the
old man is scooting for cover.
Fool il he didn't" growled Tommy
''They have pretty habit OF court mar mar,
tialinn naval officers when they risk their
shin unnecessarily. If Capt. BroWnson
shon1d fail TO do everything in his power
70 escape from what his judgment tellS
him is Overwhelming odds, he'd find him
self in trouble. Discretion is the better
part of valor, even in the navy.
Suddenly we began to notice a peculiar
GLOW tingiug the darkness and rejecting
from the polished parts of the gun IL
came suddenly and with squirt OF rudoy
| light unmistakable.
sTfs a fire somewhere" exclaimed
F1agg. Look! it's getting brighter"
"It comes from this ship" cried stump,
| edging toward the port. is II possible
| the old hooker is on fireE
| We waited for the ringing Of the alarm
| hell or the call to fire quarters, but the
| minutes slipped by without bringing the
| summons Outside the glare tlnged the
| surface of the sea, sparkling from FOAM
crested waves, and forming circle OF
| dancing light through which the 1ahKee
sneeded on in her flight for safety.
Our curiosity increased apace, and we
| watched eagerly for passing messengers
or for some stray word that would ex-
| plain the peculiar phenomenon 1t was
| kennedy who finally solved the mystery
| Kennedy the luckless, he whom we dub
sity to allow his wearing apparel to hnd
It's way into the clutches of Jimmy Legs.
| Kennedy had slipped near the port, and
| was trying to perform the difficult feat
of scanning the upper deck from the
| opening.
nicIxing' No. T." called out Tommy. do
YOU want to get on the report?''
For the hundredth and 'steenth timer
| added Stump with grin.
''Perhaps he's seasick," suggested Dye.
cts about due. He hasn't heaved up
his boots since noon"
"Did YOU hear what Outlets said to him
Yesterday" spoke up Hay. He was
| 'wigging' Kennedy, and he remarked in
his tender war: Look here you hero,
why don't you brace up and be a man?
! You are continually sick or on the report,
| and you aren't worth your salt. Get
| down below, now. and fill your billet
! Poor dewitt he tries to do his best l
| guess"
Just then Kennedy faced around toward
| us. and we saw that he was laughing.
what do you think?' he said. TITS a