The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-23

OF The Cubans. were seeking safety IN re
engins-room. Mr. Walsh stood out on the
forward deck OF this troubled vessel aud
In the pilot-house was his fellow country
mar, Dynamite John VBTien, with bis
hand on the wheel
said Walsh Indeed he rosred iil, For
Cod sake, pat her over a bit
% Brien thought he was doing vel
enough: and he shouted hack: No. We
are doing pretty well; that thing back
there with the popgun cannot hit US in a
hundred years
TIE other Irishman roared back: For
Gods sake, man, put her over a bit and
let me have go az them
The white water was going ever our
bow Al the time but the Three Friends
was making more knots than she had
ever made since she was on her trial trip.
FROM the pilot-house OBrien locked
ooNh on Walsh These were two Irish
men IN rather serious condition Of az
Ialfs. Every thirty seconds there was
lhat nash from the gun astern.
Walsh Had His Way.
''Then O'Brien said 10 Walsh from his
place in the pilot-house: Well. IL you
viii have it. here it is And he spun the
wheel. The tug was broadside on TO the
enemy in a minute after that which en-
abled Walsh to aim his piece over the
side. His crew. from several queer coun-
tries, had anchored the wheels Of the gun
and strengthened the ropes which hitehed
u N order TO obyiate any danger Of re-
coil.
Walsh put his eye along the piece and
Jerked the lanyard. There was a roar
winch, right beside you, was Ike that of
tWelve-inch gun. The shrapnel burst
right under the bow Of the guardia cos
Ia 1t burst on impact, and some of the
pieces carried away lot of gingerbread
work OF the little Spaniard.
she did not overtake US much more
after that
In addition to the Cubans. who were
shooting Up at the moon with a lot of
careless Mausers. there was Mike Walsh,
late oil the Maine. who was fitting an
Ctner smell TO the gun and swearing he
could DO better al the second attempt.
Dyna mite John OBrien, out of the pilot
mouse, looked down at the chief gunner
and said: I think that will do YOU. Mike.
our place is the Caribbean Sea and per-
MAPS a touch of the Yucatan Straits
Inc little Spaniard, whose officers
never thought we had a gun or would
risk hanging by using il, and who were
pretty nearly due TO overhaul us 10 see
what we could do with the rifles. that Is.
II nothing happened to the dynamite,
slowed down speed and sent up a rocket.
the very colors of which meant, Have en-
countered enemy; assistance needed
Real Danger Appeared.
"And there came out from a neighbor-
ing bay real gunbOat, mounting at least
one four-inch gun forward. That we knew
OF when she came cut into the moonlight.
although she was far away, for We saw a
fash at her bow which meant business.
ard thereafter, after proper time allow
ance, there came TO US the thud of a gun
which would have done our business for
US had the shell landed. We needed but
one of those. and even our chances 10
fight them off at close quarters to a finish
were hopeless.
speaking of the Irish, Dynamite John
o. Brien leaned out of the pilothouse and
remarked TO Mr.. Michael Walsh, who was
getting his guns crew back in.o position
where they could hold the wheels of the
twelve-pounder again, Mike, you need not
be afraid; she is on her course again, and
these people could not catch her in a week
of Sundays.
And the Cuban who had the long ma
chete mark on his cheek from his hair 10
his Jaw, at the report of Mr.. Walsh S
twelve-pounder. had tumbled into the en-
gineroom, faintirg.
"O'Brien says that when he Is at sea
and has serious business on hand he likes;
to have people with him who are not from
MatanZas County, but from County Con-
naugEt."