Smyrna times., 1901-07-03
How a Yankee
Did It - ~ ~
BY Nj. QUAD.
BY Nj. QUAD.
copyright, 1901. by C. B. Lewis.

was in the marine hospital at Cal
iao Peru, when war was declared on
Chile and was just able to limp around
when two of the Peruvian gunboats
were chased into port and the Chilean
man-of-war Vengeance took up her sta
tion to blockade. There was a third
Ounboat in the harbOr, and there was a
great deal of boasting as to what lle
trio would do when they got ready to
mitch in. The very least they would
do would be to sink the Chilean within
a quarter of an hour. The people
foamed and ragged, and the navy wait.
ed. Those gunbOats had no business
TO 60 out against that modern ironclad,
armed with the latest and most power
full guns, and their officers knew it, but |
there came a day when public opinion
drove them out. The fight lasted 20 |
minutes. One gunboat got back to sink |
in the harbor, while the other two went |
down outside The people were fairly |
wild over the defeat, and women as |
we'll as men hOwled for vengeance.
The day after the fight, while still |
had my quarters in the hospital. one
of the lady visitors happened to speak |
to me and discovered that | was an
American. She began talking of the
fight, and never saw a madden wom-
an. She was grieved. huniliated and
angered over the defeat of her country
men, and when | sided with her it
brought out startling proposition. She
was the widow of Calinte, Of vast
wealth and much social and political
influence and believed that the defeat
of the PeruvianS was caused by the
timidity of the admiral. She asked me
If it was not possible that the Venge-
ance could be blown up. and when
replied that it was possible what did
she do but offer me every chance to
bring about such a calamity. That
meant the use of steam launch which
she owned. with all the money necessa-
ry to fit her as n torpedo boat. and $780,
600 cash in hand if | succeeded. The
old girl fairly took my breath away as
she piled up the business, and. having
once got the idea, she would not let go
OF it. She insisted that l get into her
carriage and drive home with her, and
then she sent for half a dozen of her
most influential friends and demanded
that | lay before them a plan and at
once begin work. 1t was a queer posi-
tion for the mate of a Yankee craft
who knew nothing of naval affairs and
had never been aboard of a man-of-
war and had no claim to ingenuity.
knew absolutely nothing of torpedoes,
and Instead of a plan | had only an
idea. That was good enough for them.
however. They had heard of the cute
Yankee and believed that he could ac.
complish anything he set about. l had
no more idea than the man in the moon
of going into anything seriously, and
yet two days later found me "bossing
the job" | had offered my services to
tit out launch and run her out and
blow up the man-of-war, and the presi-
dent Of Peru wasn't in it with me for
popularity. 1t took all the police force
OF Callao to keep the enthusiastic popu-
iation off my feet and save my arms
from being paralyzed.
In my teetotal ignorance l was wise
enough to assume to know it all, and
mat passed for the brightest sort of
aeumen and the most solid nerve.
soon discovered. however. that Il
wasn't necessary for me to know
much and that previous experience
was not demanded. The launch was q
lalr sized one, using naphtha anC
therefore smokeless, and but few
changes were necessary to fit her will
torpedo. There were naval officer:
at hand who knew all about torpedoes
spars and electricity, and, seeming Il
work under my direction, we had tn,
launch fitted within q week. a spa
was solidly affixed to her bows an,
projected a distance of 30 feet. I,
tne end Of this was attached an irol
torpedo containing 100 pounds Of gisn
powder, which was to be exploded b.
eieetrlcity at the moment of contac
WIN the man-ofwar. | had counte
On crew of three, one to fire and on
10 steer, while | would con the launc
INTO position and press the buttor
"hen we were all ready, not a ma
could be found in Callao to go wit
me- AS high as $4,000 was Offered
put there was no moving a patrio
~ was considered a sure thing this
3e launch would be blown to piecG
alohg with the blockader, and, q
tnough all loved their country, the
ulunt want any sure thing in theirs.
IN this emergency and thinking
put the men to shame Donna Calm
Came forward and offered to 60 alon
-, anu she was very much in earnest to
Inc scheme didn't work. The me
sun hung off, and under no consider
uon would l have taken a woms
aiOng. The affair was at a dead stan
sun when decided to go alone. | b;
sne electric wires run aft to the whe,
aIu one night at 10 o'clock left Il
mnarr Tor five mile run through Il
uarkhess and against a cboppy sea
svmpass. There had been SO much ia
aoout the enterprise that | expect