Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-16
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DAILY SHORT STORY
BUNKER HILL AFLoAT.
Copyright, 1904. by T. c. Mcclure

teen Americans We're REINFORCED by
thirty Chinese soldiers, and two heavy
cannon We're mounted on our decks to
bid defiance to pirates.
On the morning of our second day
out, which happened TO be on the Sd
of July, we found q suspicious looking
junk bearing down on us from the
west. She ran down TO within mile
Of us, apparently established our iden-
tity to her satisfaction and then laid
her course parallel with ours. AS we
had a light breeze all day, the junk
held her own, and just at shutdown two
more craft of her size came down on
us from the lee of the Chinchin is
lands. Word must have been sent on
at least three days ahead of us that
we We're treasure ship.
Night closed down with the three
junks a mile to windward. and each of
them held its position through the long
hours. We could have gone off 10 lee
ward and made a stern chase of it. or
we could have turned and hoped that
they would not dare to follow.
NO, I'll be hanged If I do" shouted
Captain White when the crew gath
cred aft and asked him if he should
take that course. I'm bound for ia
pan under charter. and if there were
six junks instead of three l wouldn't
vary point from my course. bern
an American who'll run away from
anything! They won't attack till morn
ing. and tomorrow is the glorious
Fourth. Wen dress the ship and then
dress the pirates"
We would have daylight at + o'clock,
and when the first signs of dawn came
stealing over the waters there wIs
wind enough to do with the Ranger
as we saw tit.
Every flag we had aboard, no matter
what the nationality, was hoiSted. and
in addition to them the steward was
ordered 10 make other flags of the cab
in sheets and tablecloths. and every
blue or red shirt in the mems chests
was likewise converted into bunting.
Tie old craft must have had queer
look to the pirates. and when she her
aided the day with salute of cannon
and small arms. followed by three
rOusing cheers, the fellows must have
wondered what sort of menagerie
they had been following during the
night. The cook Lad breakfast ut
once. and by sunrise we were waiting
for move on the part Of the junlls.
Then the native officer was sent for,
and Captain White asked:
We'll. are You going To fight"
IF not too many come was the re
ply.
Too many. You slab sided son of
gun, What difference does 1t make to
us how many there are? Trot out your
gang while l give them a word or
two"
The Chinese soldiers came shutting
forward. and one glance was enough
to show that they had no heart for Il
fight.
You miserable, cowardly trash"
shouted the captain as lie caught one
of the gang and lifted him of his feet
and cracked his heels together. Now,
then, are you going to help US? Wake
up here and listen to me, You'll either
fight like devils or We'll chuck you
overheard to the sharks. Mates. take
hold and help me to kick some grit
into their cowardiy hearts
1t was the funniest scene ever wit
messed before battle. For ten min
utes we booted the soldiers up and
down the decks. with the crew laugh
ing ana cheering. and We ceased kick
ing only when they promised to do
their full duty. They feared our boot
toes more than the cannon of the junkS.
They were scattered along between the
guns, where our men could keep an
eve on them. and we were all at our
stations when one of the junks flew a
signal and the three bore down on us.
Our ordnance was twelve Founders,
with fuse shell for the first charges.
and there was hardly n whisper among
the men as the foremost junk came
sailing down to get us within range of
her four pound pieces. The captain let
her loose to within two cable lengths
and then gave the order to fire. The two
starboard guns were discharged at al
most the same second, and as the men
knew little or nothing of big gun prac-
tice it was luck or accident that sent
the shells where they landed. Both
went plump into the junks hull on her
port bow, and both exploded inside of
her. The pirate was literally blown
out of the water. 1t wasn't thirty Sec
onds from the time the shells struck
DSE DeIUTS sue WIS Out VI SlSAL bIitltA
water, and not one of her forty or fifty
men escaped death.
Now for the next shouted Cap
tain White when his voice could be
heard above the cheering. and the star
board watch ran 10 the braces and
brought the ship around so that our
port battery could he brought to bear.
AS we came around we had the sec
ond junk almost under our bows, and
such Of our men as We're not at the
guns, assisted by the soldiers, opened
fire with muskets. We got n hot fire
back. but only for & couple of minutes.
Then the big guns pumped their shells
into her, and she was simply torn open
TO follow number one to the bottom.
Out of her complement of fifty men we
observed about half dozen cIinging
10 the wreckaCc. The third junk hung
in the wind for q moment and then