The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-07-24

in action, and a procession of men were
wheeling the fixed ammunition from
the hoist. Just before he went below
to the splinter deck, where We're the
central office and the electricians room,
! the men burst out cheering.
A lieutenant, grimy and blood-spat-
tered, seeing him, shouted:
''Hullo, Emery. BY George, we've put
one of them out of action! How goes
it up above? Lord, they've had to turn
+, the hose on the poor devils in the fire.
room to keep them at their work
Poor old Turtle is killed"
Emery did not have time to reply.
The message on the bit of crumpled
paper burned in his hand; he must
hasten At last he reached the placs
he sought. An electric light blazed
brightly in the confined space filed
with switchboards, wires, and instru-
ments. Quickly he read the Admirafs
message, shouting it at top voice, for
his numbed ears could place no value
on the strength of sound.
Down the face of the chief electrician
sweat was pouring. His face was
drawn with vexation and worry.
"Confound it, man." he replied, Il can
send no message; our wires are burnt
out. / told them not to monkey with
that new-fangled obliterator on the
Tennessee; but I suppose she tried 1T
on--this the result? I can get no re-
spone from anybody. The whole thing
is gone to the mischief.
He babbled on like a foolish, profane
boy.
81 tried to ring up the conning-tower
a dozen times to tell you what has hap
pened," he added in a tone of useless
complaint. Just look"
Emery did not stop to hear more. He
rushed to the foot of the ladder and
bounded up two steps at a time. When
he reached the main deck, he met the
officer who before had spoken to him.
For Gods sake, where is there a
signal-fag?' he asked hoarsely.
The officer shook his head. Then
Emery remembered that he had seen
one lying in the gangway. He shook
himsel free from the lieutenant's de-
tanning grasp, and, choking from the
reek of powder gas, he stepped out with
the sky above him. There lay the flag,
just under the ruins of the flying bridge.
He ran up the ladder to the after
bridge The six-pounder guns here
We're all deserted. Amid a pile OF
tossed and bloody hammocks lay the
bodies of four or five marines. The
brave fellows had fought there unpro-
tected until almost all had been killed
or wounded.
AS Emery came up to the open space
he could clearly see that something had
happened to the battle-ship just astern,
the Utah; she was yawing badly, and
was well down by the head. The waters
rippled and FLASHED over the bow and
forecastle, UP to the forward turret; |
about its base they swirled and foamed. |
Her great screws were turning third
out OF water Her forward compart- |
ments must have filed to bring her so |
far down, yet she was endeavoring to |
hold her place in the line. and all or |
her guns We're going. There were some |
men working out on the deck. sheltering |
themselves, as they stood waist-deep in |
the water, under the lee of the forward |
turret Everywhere the water was Jut- |
ting and spouting where the missiles
struck AtweIve-inch projectile smash
ed the top of a wave just astern of the
and Ieapt upward. tearing the |
Quivering air into wild roars of anger.
Emery tossed the flag above his head
and began TO wigwag furiously, signal
ing the AdmiraTs order, for the ships
to starboard their helms and make for
the British line, bows on. Well did he
know that it was the forlon hope; the