Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-01-31

II. Word flew that he was leaving to
take command of the sister brig, the
Niagara, which lay a quarter Of a mile
or SO from where we stood. We all
wished to go, but he would have only
sound men; there were not dozen on
the ship who had all their blood in
them. AS they pulled away, Perry
standing in the stern, D'ri lifted a
bloody. tattered flag, and leaning from
the bulwarks, shook it over them,
cheering loudly.
"Give 'em HE'LL" he shouted. I'VE
IL TEX care o. the OF brig"
We were all crying, we poor devils
that were left behind. One, mere
boy, stood near me swinging his hat
above his head, cheering Hat and
hand fell to the deck as 1 turned to
him. He was Keeling. when D'ri caught
him quickly with his good arm and
bore him to the cockpit.
The little boat was barely length
on when heavy shot fell splashing
in her wake. Soon they were dropping
all around her. One crossed her bow,
ripping long furrow in the sea. A
chip few OF her stern; lift Of splin-
ters from an oar scattered behind her.
Plunging missiles marked her course
with plait Of foam, but she rode on
bravely. We saw her cropping under the
smoke clouds; we saw her nearing the
other brig, and were all on tiptoe.
The air cleared little, and we could
see them ship oars and go up the side.
Then we set our blood dripping with
cheers again, we who were wounded
on the deck Of the Lawrence. Lieut..
Yarnell ordered her one flag down. AS
It sank fiuttering, we groaned. Our dis
may went quickly from man to man.
Presently we could hear the cries Of
the wounded there below. A man came
staggering out Of the cockpit, and fell
to his hands and knees, creeping
toward us and protesting fiercely, the
blood dripping from his mouth be-
tween curses.
another shot would sink her."
Yarnell shouted.
"Let 'er sink, d-n 'er," said D'ri.
wish t. God c'ud put my foot
through 'er bottom. When the flag
goes down wan t. go tew."
The British turned their guns; we
were no longer in the smoky paths OF
laundering canister. The Niagara was
now under fire. We could see the dogs
Of war rushing at her in leashes Of
flame and smoke. Our little gunboats,
urged by oar and sweep, were Fastening
to the battle front. We could see their
men, waist-high above the bulwarks,
firing as they came. The Detroit and
the Queen Charlotte, two heavy briggs
Of the British line, had run afoul Of
each other. The Niagara, signalling
for close action, bore down upon them.
Crossing the bow of one ship and the
stern of the other, she raked them
with broadsides. We saw braces fly
and masts fall in the volley. The
Niagara sheered off, pouring shoals OF
metal on a British schooner, stripping
her bare. Our little boats had come
| up, and were boring into the briggs
In q brief time-it was then neal
three o'clock-a white flag, at the end
OF q boarding-pike, futtered over q
! British deck. D'ri, who had been sit
ting awhile, was now up and cheering
as he waved his crownless hat. He had
lent his flag. and, in the furry, some
one dropped 1t overheard. D'ri saw
It fall. and before we could stop him
he had leaped into the sea. FASTENED
to his help, tossing ropes end as
he came up, swimming with one arm
the flag In his teeth. ! towed him tc
the landing-stair and helped him
over. Leaning on my shoulder, he
shook out the tattered flag, its white
laced with his own blood.
Ready t jump in hell fer thet oil
rag any day." said he, as we all cheered
him.
Each grabbed a latter of the good
nag, pressing hard upon D'ri and put
it to his lips and kissed it proudly
Then we marched up and down, DIR
waving it above us-a bloody squat
as ever walked, shouting loudly. DR.
had begun to weaken with loss O
blood, SO coaxed him to go below
with me.
| The battle was over; Yankee bant
was playing near by.
Perry is coming! Perry is coming!
we heard them shouting above.
A feeble cry that had in it pride AM
Joy and inextinguishable devotion
passed many a fevered lip in the cock
pit.
There were those near who had wo
better peace, and they lay as ma
that listens to what were now th
merest mockery.
Perry came, when the sun was low
with number of British officers, an
received their surrender on his ow
bloody deck. I remember, as the
stood by the ruined bulwarks an
looked down upon tokens of wrec
and slaughter. dog began howlin
dismally in the cockpit.
| VICTIM OF THE STORM.