The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-05
J. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, SATURDAY DECEMBER s. 1908


Around the masts and forward on the forecastle
look after the maneuverng ship. trimming
the yards and the manipulation of the sails were cus
tered. Some Of them armed with boarding axes
hatches be used in cutting the
wreckage Of the battle should it be necessary.
On the quarterback the little squad of marines of
the ship drawn up ready to repel boarders by
pouring in shattering fire of musketry and to en-
deayor to keep down the small-arm fire of the
in the way.
In the tops were little groups of agile, alert top
men, each under the command of carefully selected
1ndshipman Their business pick officers
and crew OF the enemy by musket fire. In each top
there was bucket of loaded pistols and number of
spare muskets These men aloft We're also to look to
the spars and the rigging for which, far hui
were among the most dangerous the ship for in ad
dition to the liability of being shot, always
ther chance OF escape would be of the very smallest
Little Boston transferred forecase-
important command the mantop
Far below the water-lne in the dark depths of the
ship, where 1t was supposed the expected wounded
would be best protected the enemy's gun-ire
surgeon ana ms mates were calmly and phlegmaticaly
arranging the rude surgical appliances that upon
the operating table The place was called the cockpit
The cots with which it was provided to be
filed with the Boston and the other lads on
the ship did not like to think of it. They dismissed it
from their minds as far as it was possible.
All these various preparations completed in
less time than it takes to tell them, by the practsed
times in play, they doing earnest. The
sight of the grim English brig sweeping down
them warned them it would be different
Mr.. Reilly, the first lieutenant, stood quar-
terdeck waiting for the announcements Presently the
several officers reported
All ready forward, sir
All ready in the waist, SIR
All ready aft sir"
"Al1 ready below, SIR
When he had received the reports of all he turned
to the quiet captain and informed him that ship
was clear for action the at their stations the
guns loaded and that all ready for the expected
battle.
Meanwhile the stranger, after firing lee-gun to
call attention to another signal which set,
which, of course, they paid attention for Blakey
could notsmake out the English signal, also beat to
quarters and made ready to engage. The Americans
could hear the faint ruffle Of rolling
the wind giving evidence of their willingness for
ing battle.
Before the conflict Joined, however. Blakely
determined to try to wrest the from the
enemy. He suddenly called his to their stations
which handled with the precision of machine
shot up into the wind and fell off the sarboard
tack, but. before the sheets hauled home the
English ship maneuvered just retained
her weathery position. Two three times Blakely
tried to steal this advantage but the Engishman clung
to it with tenacious obstnacy and his windward posi-
ton could not be taken away from him.
Seeing the futility of his effort therefore
at last abandoned the endeavor free, up
his courses to check the Wasps way,
weather gun in defiance. The challenge
accepted The English captain, seeing that Blakely
had abandoned his effort to get the weather
was now jogging along waiting for him. set sail
to close and bore down slowly, but the
permitted upon the Wasp which, she fired her
3
(To be contnued.)
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