The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-05

while the Wasp being to eeward, must, in certain
wait the other mans pleasure, Captain Bakely
showed colors and paid attention to the signal
but continued slowly beating up toward the enemy.
The wind had fallen SO light that the ships were
practically even keels. On board the Wasp things
went just the they did ordinary occasions.
The ships approached each other slowly that Blaey
did not send his men to quarters. Mess call was
sounded by the boatswain the watches We're pped to
dinner in succession, and the deliberately
put away, before the American captain deemed it
to his final preparations for action.
Meanwhile the officers and were in a fever of
excitement Long days Of waiting for ship the SLOW
gradual approach of the before them that morning
the battling lightness of the wind all combined to
duce desperate anxiety in everybodys heart Even
the veterans seen battle, Boston
the steerage, Billy Bovine forecase,
who made great pretensons of Indifference at first at
gave away to general desire
Blaely calmly pacing the quarterback and old Jack
Lang, leaning the hammock cloths in the
alone appeared by prevailing
element.
"Mr Reilly" finally said the captain, Quietly turn
ing to his first lieutenant beat to quarters, sir.
Not only the first lieutenant ready for the
signal, but the drummer since early in the morning.
had been hanging about near the mainmas trying to
dodge the of the captain and mpatently lingering
sticks, until would have thought he would have
them thru For the last half-hour he had been
perfect agony of impatence, and the young
turned and looked at him and opened his mouth the
youngster without waiting for the order madly began
to pound the drum
tat-tat, grim old
action rafting along the decks of the sleep.
tension, with wild cheer
the to their stations to clear the ship for
action.
With eager hands they tore loose the lashings
the in and loaded them with solid shot for
first smashing blow.
Down in the bowels of the ship the magazine
opened; the gunner and his mates, covered with long
woollen garments and with list slippers their
feet stationed inside wetted woolen
which masked the door to the magazine and mnimzed
the danger OF an explosion from sparks of fire Outside
hatchways the ships boys powder monkeys they
called, with their black leather passing
transporting the powder cartridges, dangling
from their shoulders.
The shot-racks were piled with solid
heavy thrty-two pound carronades. with stands of
grape canister for close-range
venient to hand. The arrn-chests broken
opened and man provided himself with cutlass
and pistol. Following the example Of old Lang and
of the other veterans, the men took off their
shirts and jackets kicked off their shoes drew their
in little tighter and elected to fight thus
naked. It hot, sunny day at best, with
freshng breeze to temper the summer warmth, and
when to high temperature season should be
added the heat of battle they would have
superfuous clothing Already perspiration poured
the lean and sinewy bodies the New Englanders as
beaded the brawny mighty chest
the old Hercules of the ship, the chief boatswains
mate Some of the men bound handkerchiefs about
their heads to be handy in they needed
Those who were detailed to act as first and second
boarders put leather boarding caps with
bright Most of the officers, armed with
ctlass and pistol carefully prmed wore boarding cans
also. Some of them had plates of steel dropping
down their cheeks looking almost like helmets
oIs Of nointed were nacad =, ta
provided for them to be used in repelng boarders.
The mess chests all other movable stuff that
might impede the working of the the free
ment OF the men were StoWed DeloW IN the hold out OF
the way and the sprnlled sand so
that when they became slippery the feet of the
would hold. Division tubs were filled with water and
placed conveniently at hand Pumps overhauled
tested and found to be in good working order the
hose along the deck to be handy in of fire.
The carpenter and his mates provided with
plugs to stop dangerous holes in the ship
stationed at vital points. The lashngs
boats secured and looked to- and they were
wrapped with heavy to prevent splnters being
driven inboard in they were struck. Heavy rope
nettings made ready to be triced fore
along the waist to hinder and embarrass the in
sought to board.
Grappling-irons. huge iron hooks the Of
stout rope, iron chains, laid conveniently