Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-07-22
DAILY SHORT STORY
Promoted.
IOriginal.l

How do /, so young, hold such high
rank in the naval service? Well,
there's a story about that, but if it
| got out it would ruin me. They say
some are great, some achieve great
ness and some have greatness thrust
upon them. / had it thrust upon me,
and l don't mind telling you in con-
fidence that L came within half min
ute of being dIsgraced instead OF get
| ting my principal promotion. On your
promise to keep the matter a secret
| I'll tell you all about it,
! 1t was in the summer of 1898 off
Havana. Hot? Well, it couldn't be
hotter except under volcano. just
the kind of weather for one to lie in
! hammock and smoke cigarettes. But
we had regular duties all day, and
both day and night we didn't know but
that Spanish torpedo boat would
blow us skyward. We never felt easy
Every time any of us saw launch or
yawl in the distance we'd make as
much fuss as if II torpedo were under
our bows. Ever see one of EN-?
They're the ugllest things ahoat. Once
in an aquarium / saw the worst look
ing fish that Swims, IA hellbender, and
torpedo boat always reminds me of
that tish-compact, low. black, all iron,
the torpedo sticking out ut the bow,
the whole vomiting smoke like drag
on. And 1t goes right through the wa
ter without the slightest reference 30
wave crests, fiinging spray about dia
bolically.
That's what n torpedo boat is.
One night | was in charge of the
searchlight l shouldn't have been put
in charge, for l had been doing duty
in the captains launch all day, go
ing between the ships of the fleet, and
was tired out. However, L was on
watch and kept the light moving. One
of the men with me was taken sick,
and l sent him below. The other /
sent TO the galley to get me cup of
coffee. He stayed away long enough
TO bail the ocean, while l was left
alone with the light
When n man has been keeping one
OF those things moving till o'clock In
the morning, he is apt to get tired, and
when he's tired he's apt to get sleepy.
and when he's sleepy he's apt TO go to
sleep. Even the great FarraSut when
little MILDLY of ten years went to
sleep on watch but he didn't suffer for
doing so as u man would have TO. The
officer who caught him took off his
pea jacket and put ii over him. l did
ali l could TO keep my mind fixed on
the punishments prescribed for sleep
ing OH watch in time of war, from
dismissal to hanging. ut the yardarm,
but it didn't do any good. The first
thing l knew-or, rather, didn't know
was sound asleep. 1t makes my hair
curl today to think of it-in the United
States navy, looking out for the most
dreaded cause for destruction known,
the ship. perhapsgthe whole fleet. de
pendent upon my watchfullesS, ana
asleep ut the searchlight!
Suddenly l awoEe. l gave a yell
and touched an electric connection. In
few seconds more the whole ships
company came tumbling up the COM
panion ways, from the meanest jackie
to the captain.
Now, what do you suppose was the
cause of my alarm? Right out in. the
track of the scarchlight, coming for us
like a shot, was something black. Ii
was moving so straight that l only
saw it's bow, giving il the appearance
of round spot on the water. There
was no smoke. and it must have been
literally riding the waves, for 1 could
not see that it kicked up particle of
spray.
You can imagine my sensations, but
not very perfectly. \ moment before l
had been asleep. What guardian angel
had awakened me? Suppose l had
slept IL few minutes longer. Though
all this flashed ON me as l saw an in
strument of humiliation approaching,
my mind made another picture which
couldn't drive away-myself hanging
by the neck at the yardarm.
Suddenly the advancing torpedo boat
seemed to leave the water and start
for the sky. 1t took me just two sec
onds to face the glass, and there, !
era wling upward ON its outer surface, |
was u gnat. / had mistaken the Shad- |
ow cast by the little BEAST for a tor |
pedo boat Here l was out of one |
scrape and into another. l had aroused |
the ship for nothing. Before 1 could |
get back to my position I'm rear of the |
searcher the captain himself had |
caught hold of 1t and was turning ii |
about rapidly.
What is it? Where is it?' he cried
excitedly.
1.-THE fact is. captain-yOu see
Before l could tell him that l had |
mistaken n gnats shadow for torpe-
do boat the real thing stood out plain
Nv under the searcher. There she was,
the ugly black looking craft l have
described to you. coming for us, plow-
ing the water into two fans, dense
cloud of smoke pouring from the stack.
tell you, the captain didn't wait for
anybody to repeat his orders, and in
less time than 1t takes to tell it shot
had gone for that torpedo boat. But
IL WASN'T needed The Snnniartls. see