Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-09-18
CHAPTER XT.

It was late in the afternoon when
the Sacramento, slowly feeling mex
way southwark, had come within
view of Ell Frailes- and Corregidor.
looming up like sentinels at the en-,
trance to the great, far-spreadina
bay.
Butt and his assistants, with the
field officer in command of the troops,
peered through their. binoculars or
telescopes for ign of cruiser or
transport along the rocky shores,
and marveled much that none could
be seen. Over against the evening
sun just sinking to the west the dim
outlines of the upper masts and spars
of some big vessel became visible for
three minutes, then faded from view.
The passengers swarmed on deck,
silent, anxious, ever and anon gaz.
ing upward at the bridge as though
in hope of look or word of encour.
agement.
1t was midsummer and more when
they left Honolulu, and by this time
the American force, land and naval,
in front of Manila ought to be ample
to overcome the Spaniards. But there
was ever. that vexing problem as to
what Aguinaldo and his followers
might do rather than see the great
city given over to the-Americans for
law and order instead of to- them
selves for loot and rapine. The fact
that all coast lights thus far were ex-
tinguished was enough to convince
the Sacramento's voyagers that they
were still unwelcome to the natives,
but both the shipmaster and the cav
airy officer commanding had counted
on finding cruiser, or dispatch boat
at least, on lookout for them and
ready to conduct them to safe an
chorage. But no such ship appeared,
and the alternative of going about
and steaming out to sea for the night
or dropping anchor where he lay was
just presenting itself to Butt when
from the lips of the second officer,
who had clambered up the shrouds,
there came the joyous shout: by
Jove! There's Corregidor light"
Surely enough, even before the
brief tropic twilight was over and
darkness had settled down, away to
the southwark, at regular ten-second
intervals, from the crest of the rock
bound, crumbling parapet on Correg-
idor island, brilliant light split
the cloudy vista and flashed q vel
come to the lone wanderer on the
face of the waters. It could mean
only one thing: Manila bay was
dominated by pewey's guns. The
Yankee was master Of Corregidor,
and had possessed himself Of both
fort end lighthouse. In all probatdl-
ity Manila itself had fallen.
Half speed ahead!" was the order,
and again the throb of the engines
went pulsing through the ship, and
the Sacramento slowly forged ahead
over a smooth summer sea-. At mid
night the pilot and glad tidings were
aboard, and at dawn the decks were
thronged with eager voyagers, and Q
great, full-throated cheer went UP
from the forecastle. head as the gray,
ghost-like shapes Of the warships
doomed up out Of the mist and dotted
the unruh1ed surface. Ut - Z. ~
But that cheer sank to nothingness
beside one which followed Is min.
utes later, when the red disk Of the
sun came peeping over the low, fog
draped range far to the eastward and
saluted by the boom Of the morning
gun from the battlemcnts of the old
city, there sailed to the peak ct the
flagstaff the brilliant colors and
graceful folds Of the stars snz
stripes,
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