The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-08-31

like frightened rats into their holes, the
steam launch with the cutter in tow
showed off from the battleship.
The location of the cable was known,
and when the cutter was a mile from
shore the graphing irons were thrown
overheard, and the work was begun in
earnest. The cutter. cast adrift from
the launch, worked in toward the shore,
while the launch moved out into the
harbor and was out of range when the
Spaniards opened fire.
Soon the water about the cutter fair
" sizzled with the rain CT rapid fire
projectiles, but the Yankee tars, with
their faces hard set and their eyes fixed
on the two men handling the graphing
lines. pulled doggedly away at the oars.
Karl and Cockswain WEIGH kept the
boat moving steadily in toward the
beach, nearer and nearer the batteries.
The poor Workmanship of the Span
iards caused the cutters crew to smile
grimly. and one irrepressible Irishman
in the bow muttered something under
his breath that caused a laugh among
the oarsmen.
'Silence in the boatl" commanded
Karl. "Cockswain We
Crash, crash and a shrek of pain
from the stroke oarsman. The flying
splinters wounded three or four of the
men, and the boat officer was down
with scarlet stream staining his white
service blouse just below the heart. A
we'll directed shot from a rapid fire gun
on the beach had smashed hole
through the gunwale. and at the same
time ball from a Mauser rifle had
brought down Karl
The naval cadet was moaning will,
pain and bleeding terribly from his
| wound. One of the men pulling at
stroke was dead. and his thwart mate
badly wounded. Fortunately the boat
| was not severely damaged. After a mo-
| ment of confusion the calm voice of
| Cockswain WEIGH brought the cutter
back on its course, and the graphing
| for the cable went on.
| On the battleship the accident to the
cutter was witnessed and the firing was
redoubled, but the rain Of lead and
steel from the shore continued, and the
cutters crew no longer laughed as they
| tugged at their oars. The men at the
graphing lines were leaning over the
side of the boat, and, encouraged by the
GOODNESS of the cockswain, whose face
betrayed not the slightest anxiety or
fear, their work went steadily on.
| "We've got itl' shouted both the
seamen in almost one voice as the iron
hooks dragging along the bottom caught
the big cable.
WEIGH waved the wigway fag for the
launch, which quickly headed toward
the cutter and came CALAMITY down to
them at full speed, amid a veritable
hell of shot and shell. All hands on the
graphing line, and the big cable was
hauled up over the side of the boat, and
just as Lieutenant De Koven came
alongside with the launch, WEIGH
brought the ak down upon the Shiny
cable and. after two or three strokes,
bottom, one of them moored 'l'y water
breaker attached to the graphing line.
By this time several other men were
down in the bottom of the cutter, while
the sides and floor gratings were splash
ed with blood. Quickly taking the cut
ter in tow, the launch headed out to-
ward the feet and out of range.
| Cockswain WEIGH and the cutter e
crew were the heroes of the hour. Down
in the sick bay several badly wounded
sailors and Cadet Karl were being ten
derby cared for by the medical men OF
the ship, while two dead bodies were
prepared for the sacred service of the
morrow.
When Karl was invalided home OIL
the dispatch boat, Cockswain WEIGH
took him out to her on the third cutter.
As the boat was speeding along WEIGH
bent over the young officer and said
''Here is the letter you left to be rea6
by the officers in the steerage. got il
from your desk, and you see the sea
hasn't been broken. And, if you will
sir" continued Welch, as he drew from
his blouse another envelope, addressed
in a characteristic hand, II wish yor
would give this letter to your sister fol
me-
"God bless you, WEIGH. murmureG
Karl, 'you are hero if ever there wa.
one. Your letter shall Le delivered if
reach home alive.
The officers on the dispatch boa
marveled much as they helped Kar
over the side to see him stop at thu
gangway and warmly shake the tai
cockswains hand, while the tears rolled
down the cadets pale cheeks.
A few weeks later Cockswain Welcl
received an official document contain
ing his discharge from the navy ani
inclosed in another envelope, addressed
to "B D. WEIGH, U. s. s. M" was {
commission of acting ensign, United
States navy. signed by Secretary Long
and addressed to Mr. Andrew S. Car
ter. But letter in lady's handwrit
ing received by B. D. WEIGH was fal
more interesting to it's recipient thar
either of those. M. Biglow in Shor
Stories.