Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-10-07

tempests rs wrecked the Spanish arma-
da might any day swoop upon the
squadron. No hiding behind the earth
works, no digging in of cavalry spurs
Mt the sound Of retreat. Mlghtier than
all the fortresses on all the coasts Is
the ocean when it bombards dotilla.
In the cemeteries for Federal and
Confederate dead arc the bodies OF
most Of those who fell on the land.
But where those are who went down
in the war vessels will. not be known
until the sea gives up Its dead. The
Jack Tars knew that. while loving
arms might carry the men who fell
on the land and bury them with solemn
liturgy anil the honors of war. for the
bodies of those who dropped from the
ratlines Into the sen or went down
with all on board lnder the stroke OF
gunbont there remained the shark and
the whale and the endless tossing Of
the sea which cannot rest. Once
year, In the decoration Of the graves.
those who fell In the land were remem-
bered But how about the graves OF
those who went down at sea? Moth
ing but the archangel's trumpet shall
reach their lowly bed. few Of them
were gathered Into naval cemeteries OF
the land, and we every year garland
the sod that covers them. But who
will put flowers on the fallen crew Of
the exploded Westiicd and Shawsheen
and the sunkcn Southtield and the
Winfield Scott? Bullets threatening In
front, bombs threatening from above,
torpedoes threatening from beneath.
and the ocean. with Its reputation OF
G00O years for shipwreck. lying all
around. nm not right in saying 1t re-
CURED a special courage for the navy
in 1863 Us ii required especial courage
in 1905:
Christ the Admiral.
1t looks picturesque and beautiful to
see a war vessel going out through the
Narrows, sailors in new rig singing.
life on the ocean wave,
A home on the rolling deep.
the colors gracefully dipping to pass
ing ships. the decks Immediately clean
and the guns at quarantine firing
parting salute. But the poetry is Ill
gone out of that ship as 1t comes out
Of that engagement. It's deck red with
human blood. whcclhouse gone, the
cabins pile of shattered mirrors ana
destroyed furniture. steering Wheei
broken, smokestack crushed. hun
dred pound Whitworth rifle shot hay-
ing left It's mark from port to star
board. the shrouds rent away. ladders
splintered and decks plowed up and
smoke blackencd and scaded corpses
living among those who are gasping
their last gasp far away from home
and kindred, whom they love rs we
love wife aud parents and children.
Oh. men of tie American navy re-
turned from Manila and Santiago and
Havana, as well rs those who are sur
yiyors of the naval conflicts of lS63
and 1864, men Of the western gulf
SQUADRON, of the eastern gulf squad
ron. of the south Atlantic squadron, OF
TIE north Atlantic squadron. or the
Mississippi squadron. Of the Pacific
squadron, of the West India squad
ron and Of the Potomac 1otilla, hear
our thanks! Take the benediction OF
our churches. Accept the hospitali-
ties of the nation If we had our
way, we would get you not only pen
sion, but q home and a princcly ward
robe and an equipage and banquet
while you live and after your departure
n catafaluue and a mausoleum OF
sculptured marble, with model of the
ship in which you won the day 1t Is
considered n gallant thing when in
naval fight the flagship with Its blue
ensign goes ahead up river or into
BAY. its admiral standing in the
shrouds watching and giving orders.
But have to tell you, o veterans OF
the American navy, if you are as loyal
to Christ as you were to the govern
ment. there is flagship sailing ahead
of you Of which Christ is the admiral,
and he watches from the shrouds, and
the heavens are the blue ensign. and he
leads you toward the harbor. and all
the broadsides of earth and hell can
not damage you. and ye whose gar
ments were once red with your own
blood shall have robe washed and
made white in the blood Of the Lamb.
Then strike eight bells! High noon in
heaven!
A Word For Veterans.
While we are heartily greeting and
banqueting the sailor patriots just now
returned we must not forget the vet
Grams of the navy now in marine hos
pitfalls or spending their old days IN
their own or their chlldren's home
steads. o sc veterans, | charge you
bear up under the aches and weak
nesses that you still carry from the
wartimes. You are not as stalwart Us
you would have been but fo.that merry
Gus strain and for that terrinc eX-
posure. Let every ache and pain. in
stead of depressing. remind you OF
your fidelity You have in nerve
and muscle and bone and dimmed eye
sight and difficult hearing and short
ness Of breath many intimations that
you are gradually going down. 1t is
the service of many years ago that is
telling on you. BE of good cheer. We
owe you Just rs much as though your
lifeblood had gurgled through the SOUP
pers Of the ship in the Red river ex-
petition or rs though you had gone
dawn with tho NTpIvillp off HatteraS,