The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-12
SIMPSONS RIDE.
George D. Emery in Minneapolis Times.
Published by request.)

tPubhshed by requeSt)
Ont from the harbor at break of day,
Decks all cleared for the coming fray,
Guns all shotted and fires piled high,
While battle-flags at each masthead fly,
The fleet OF Spain comes speeding fast,
Like the hdnted tiger that turns at last
To make the hunter his manged prey
And Sampson is seven miles away.
And faster still those ships OF war
Steamed boldly out from the Shelt'ring blr
And swifter yet from their turrets came,
With echoing roar and jet of flame,
The screaming shot and the bursting shell
That round Columbia'S vessels fell,
And westward their flying course they lay
And Sampson IS seven miles away.
But there is i ship on the Carib wave,
And on her deck is hero brave;
And there through the flush of the nrarning Hgse
The Commodore with eager sight,
Has marked the smoky pail that lay
An inky cloud DER the land-locked bay;
And watchful noted with anxious eye
That cloud spread southwark along the sky
Till it strouds the tops OF the mountains gray
And Sampson is seven miles away.
'Tlle foe is ooming!' The trumpets peal
Thrills each vessel from truck to keel,
The sparks leap up from the tunnels tall
While hearts beat high at duty'S call;
Aud the ready tars with ringing cheers
Spring to the guns as the foernan nears,
Every nerve and muscle in perfect play
Though Sampson is seven miles away.
Eyes to the Vest where the Brooklyn rides,
As prompt to her helm each warship glides;
Where SchIeyS bright pennant is waving free,
'Clcse on the foe and follow me y
What though he knew that every gun
In the Spanish fleet was aimed at one
And he the focus of that dread storm,
Where the King OF terrors in awful form
Swept DER the wave in that deadly chase,
He stood erect and with smiling face,
Calmly he led to the welcome fray
Though Sampson was seven miles away.
Now swift Viscaya's angry prov
Swings toward the Brooklyn's foaning bow
Intent to spring at her coming foe
And crush her side at a single blow.
Only the Brooklyn OF all the fleet
In speed with the Spanard may compete;
Hers are the guns Of all the rest
Served the SNiitcSt and aimed the best
"Port hard your helm" the Captain cries,
And round in circle the good ship flies
AS the eagle wheels in his lofty flight
Ere he sweeps to his prey with conquerine might.
One moment she turns from the coming foe;
Switsss swiftly out from the pending blow,
The next she parts the foaming tide
And charges straight for the Spanlard's side,
While deaaiier yet her fiery rain
Beats cesseless down on the ship OF Spain
Til the guns and sailors of proud CASTLE
Are swept by the torrent OF fire and steel
A mingled MASS DER her bloody deck
Ai.d ST snded she lies sinking wreck,
Blu, there still was wok tor the conquerer gray
For Sampson WAS seven miles away.
Colon, pllQS Oh inc ileet OF SPAN,
Far 1.-THE otng speeds amain,
On 10 & e chase or the ,ameS away
To shame the pride OF this glorious day.
Open the matches and turretS free,
Welcome the breath of the open sea,
But ply the furnace and urge the speed,
For never before had ship such need;
Faster and faster her engines play
And Sampson is seven miles away.
Lo! what warshp comes bravely on
Right in our wake? It's the Oregon.
God Of the battles, how swift she runs.
!" Try her, Clarke, with your heavy guns.
Wide, but you have her range at last.
Try ano her, but crowd her fast
We to tire headlsnd will veer away.
And pen the foe in the circling bay"
Down celow in the fiery hell
Heroes labored and heroes fell,
But swlftcr heats her foaming screw,
And louder cheers her loval crew,
While the foe IS filled with wild diSrnay-
Though sampson is seven miles away.
"Now a shot from the forward guns
HurTah, to her masthead the white flag runs,
shes yeufs N.Y. lads, and bravey won,
Gods vengeance falls on the naughty Don."
But 10 what ship comes yonder, pray?
lis Sam Son-only TOUR miles away.
They cheer the hero with honors due,
The Brooklyn swift and her gallant crew,
The Oregon and her glorious fight
Pride of Co;umbias newborn might
And Clarke is climbing the steel-clad side
OF the foe who bows his stubborn pride,
w en- iol TO seaward a signal flies;
1t ctis the heart with panied surprise,
For it claims the fruit of the splendid fray
For Samrson-stl three miles away.
Honor shall be where honor is due,
The heart OF the nation Still beats true,
And Congress may quarrel and boards may Slight,
But the people know who won that fight
And earned forever the victor's bay.
While Sampson was seven miles away.
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