The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24


pates on the sea- The wind was still too severe for
e nght sans to be used and Jones calmly proceeded
TO strip the Wasp for her fight by sending down the
gallant masts. ~
AS the two vessels neared each other the men
OF the Wasp noticed that the English brig without
her main-yard, which dashed forward
reefed and carried a boom mainsail aft which really
converted her into brigantine, handy rig,
rough weather permit her to carry at the time
1he loss OF the main-yard would have a serious
it counted for nothing indeed it did not the
brlgs hardness, by changing her rig to perfectly
Owing to the small spread of canvas they could
snow, the two ships approached other very de-
lberatey and both had abundant time to make every
preparation for battle
Ned Boston had often been called to quarters since
ne mad been on the sloop-of-war, but had it
Tor anything more serious than playing at This
tnae the beating call summoned him in deadly
1t seemed to his untutored that there
usually ominous note in the rafting of the drum in
answer to Which the sprang to their stations,
cheerful laughed and joked SO at the prospect
of the imminent battle. His heart was humping
on the contrary he felt serious and sober indeed
as ne ran hastily the forecastle, where his battle
station Was and superintended the loading
board mounted there
-, He afraid that he was trihe frightened, but
he determined to die rather than betray
rear Still his mind would back to the quiet, peace
ful Massachusetts home the old house among trees,
ms Aunt Little in her white cap the cows, and the
chickens; his dog the he rode-all things
seemed so attractive to him. He wondered why he
mad ever left them Then he thought of that brave
fighter, Commodore Little. would be worthy of his
training the boy determined as he pressed his Inns
together, and busted himself duties. He would
be brave He had name to make, training honor.
No one should call him coward. it was for
tunate that he had O he had not time
TO dwell on these things He did wonder if he would
be killed. and while he worked away his guns he
prayed harder than he ever done in his life for
God to take of him. Then he felt better =.
Captain Jones held the weather-gage, which, Of
course he intended to keep and the crew were sent
to the starboard battery with instructions to double
shot the guns and then keep them fast for close
range broadsde The result of the first
was Well known to the men of the Ship and when
Captain Jones remarked to them passed along
the decks for final inspection that his lads would do
for yonder ship what the Constitution had
Guerriere, his remarks were met by enthusiasm and
Boston felt himself a veritable hero at this mo-
ment The cheering of the men encouraged him. he
fanced he had mastered his fears and his little heart
sweled with pride at the thought that he about
to take part in real BATTLE especially the captain
stopped minute on the forecastle and spoke kind
and approving word to him. - p
The two ships approached each other slowly until
they came within fifty yards Of each other whereupon
Captain Jones sprang upon the slide of -carronade
and hailed the stranger Instantly the brig hauled
down the Spanish flag: AS she did the stops were
broken from several little balls Of bunting at the
heads and ga ends, and the splendid flag Eng
land ripped out in the fierce wind gray morn
ing The stars and stripes had been flying Wasp
since daybreak The two ships edging nearer
now and they were, in fact right abeam of
Ned Boston stood at the long twelve and stared
at the brig rolling until she almost bge
He could see the men at the the officers the
There big the briggs which
seemed to be pointed straight at him. compton was
out, and it looked fearfuly huge menacing The
boy began to have that SICK faint feeling again.
trembed Slightly he bit his lip to control He
would have found relief in screaming have
done So. But discipline and honor, two big
boy constrained him. He drew his sword and
the feel of the weapon treasured him little,
ordered his long twelve trained carefully on
the enemy.
Suddenly there blaze light from the ship
before him, then cloud of smoke, dull, heavy
menacing and then the of followed
by the parting of the tearing canvas crash
of splintered wood, shrek; cry; fallen
on the forecastle and lay grooming.
Boston unframed, and not afraid now.
That sight of the wounded made him angry.
burned to fire on the English ship, which swinging
nearer The smoke blew quickly before gale,
and he could the of the brig franticaly
loading their cannon. Now they pointing muskes
at the Wasp. Would Captain Jones begin?
(. The English ship opened the conflict by
side, accompanied by rafting fire of musketry For
few moments Jones held until he got exactly
the right position, when he the fire.
the broadside Of the. Wasp hurled back on the