The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-09-17
PROMOTED
GorlginaL1

ness and some have greatness thrust upon them. I had it thrust upon me, and don't mind telling you fin con adence that I came within half a min ute of being disgruced Instead of get ting my principal promotion. On your promise to keep the matter a secret I'll tell you all about it
 It was ln the summer of 1898 or Havana. Hot? We'll. it couldn't be hotter except under a volcano, just the kind of weather for one to He in a hammock aud smoke cigarettes. But we had regular duties all day. and both day and night we didn't know but that a Spanish torpedo boat would blow us skywurd. We never felt easy. Every time any of us saw launch or a yawl in the distance we'd make as much fuss as lf a torpedo were under our bows. Ever see one of 'em? They're the ugllest things aaoat. Once in an aquarium | saw the worst look ing fish that swlms. a hcllbender. and a torpedo boat always reminds me of that fish-compact. low. black. all Iron, the torpedo sticking out at the bow, the whole vomiting smoke like a drag on. And it goes right through the wa ter without the slightest reference to wave crests. niuging spray about dia- bollcally.
 That's what a torpedo boat is.
 One night ! was In charge of the searchllght | shouldn't have been put In charge. for had been doing duty in the capta'u's launch an day, go- ing between the ships of Che fleet, and was tired out. However, l was on watch and kept the light moving. One of tho men with me was taken sick, and sent him below. The other I sent to the galley to get me a cup of coffee. He stayed away long enough to bail the ocean. while was left alone with the light
 When a man sas been keeping one Of those things moving tin 2 o'clock fin 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 10 sleep. Even the great Furragut when a little middy of ten years went to sleep on watch. but he didn't suffer for doing SO as man would have Co. The officer who caught him took or his pea jacket and put it over him. | did an could Co keep my mind fixed on the punishm,nts prescribed for sleep lns on watch iD time of war, from dismissal Co hanging at the yardarm, but it didn't }o any good. The first thing Encw-or. rather. didn't know 1 was sound asleep. 10 makes my hair curl today Co think Of it-.n the United States navy. looking out for the most dreaded cause for destruction known. the ship. p.rhaps thc whole feet de- pendent upon my wotchfulness, and asleep at che searchNsht!
 Suddenly awoEc. l gave a yell and touched lu electric connection. In few sccou mosc the whole ships company c-uc tum5iug up the com panlon w.sS from the mcancst jackie to the cgr in.
 Now. vhat dp you suppose was the cause of my aIrmG Right out in the track of Che scJrch,ight. coming for us like a shot. was something black. lt was moving SO straight that l only saw its bow. giving iJ ,hc appearance of a round s.sot on thc water. There was no smoke end it must have been literally riding tlc waves, for l could not see that it kicked up a particle of spray.
 You can imagine my sensations but not very perfectly. A moment before l bad been asleep What guardian angel had awakened lc: Suppose l had slept a few minutes longer! Though all this flashed on me as saw an in- strumcnt of auu,huati0n approaching my mind made another picture which I couldn't drive awoy-myself hanging by the neck at the yardarm.
 Suddenly thc advancing torpedo boat seemed to leave the water and start for the sky. It took me just two sec onds to face the glass, and there, crawling upward on its outer surface was a gnat! had mistaken the shad- ow cast by the little beast for a tor pedo boat Here I was out of one scrapc and into another. had aroused the ship for nothing. Before l could get back to my position in rear of the searcher the captain himself had caught hold of it and was turning it about rapidly.
 What is it? Where is itY' he cried excitedly.
 'I-the fact is. captain-you see'-
 Before l could tell him that l had mistaken a gnats shadow for a torpe- do boat the real thing stood out plain ly under the searchor. There she was, the ugly black looking craft l have described 10 you, coming for us, blow ing the water Into two fans, a dense cloud of smoke pouring from the stack.
 I tell you, the captain didn't wait for anybody to repeat his orders, and in less time than it takes 10 tell it a shot had gone for that torpedo boat But It wasn't needed. The Spanlards, sec ing they were discovered. turned as quickly as possible and showed us their boats stern.
 Just as soon as the affair had quieted rs..--., st,. ,.,,t,fr, afounnn mn fO mo nnu