Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-08-01
compass, and one Of the American ar
mored cruisers went down beneath the

compass, ana one or the American ar
mored cruisers went down beneath the
concentrated fire Of two black mOn-
sters, with her guns still being served
and Old Glory floating detiantly ut the
masthead. The air was poisoned with
the dust and fumes from the various
chemical explosives, and the SCOT and
smoke from the overtaxed boilers lay
like pail over the scene OF carnage.
There was slight lull after the
fleets had SO passed through one an
other and were rounding up, prepara-
tory to repeating the maneuver. Not
a single one Of the surviving ships had
come out Of the first attack unscathcd.
Their superstructures were practically
demolished, and great rents ana gap
Ing holes were visible everywhere, in
unprotected surface and armor plating
alike. Moreover, several Of them were
floating huks with both engines and
guns smashed out of all Usefulness,
piled knee deep with scarlet horrors,
and the few left alive upon them un-
able to do more than hope for the
chance of rescue before they We're
swallowed up by the remOrseless sea.
But there were still left number Of
ships upon either side with the more
important engines intact and many OF
their great guns capable even yet OF
surprising their previous performance.
These ships, reckless and ugly. with
human blood pouring from their soup
pers and madmen ut their helms, were
now bearing down upon one another.
Among those of them flying American
colors was the Rhode Island.
Great Caesars ghost. howled Lieu
tenant Beresford in wild desperation.
whats the use Of fighting expensive
battles with cheap stuff! Here we are
just at the second waltz and not de-
cent rifle on board. Those cursed cast
ings in the carriages must have been
full of air bubbles. Contract work.
Ugh. What do we have dockyards
and government machine shops for
anyway? They'll save few dollars
and lose all before they finish. Morty,
my boy" and his voice softencd no
ticeably. I'm going to ram that big
fellow who knocked our rifles to pieces.
He seems to be unmanageable and can
hardly get away from US, but his guns
are as bitter as ever. It's case OF
must. One Of us will surely have to
ln Of I'M
utes. The speaking tubes are knocked
siliywise. Steam | must have, and
want you to see that get it,
Below deck the young lieutenant
found startling contrast TO the scene
of riot and confusion above. The vari-
Gus mechanicians were stoicaily per-
forming their prosaic duties just as II
they were Oh voyage, several oilers
were dodging hither and thither with
their long nCched cans among the pom
derouSly moving pieces Of machinery,
and the CHEF himself. with his gold
braided coat thrown to one side. was
carefully wipng off brass mounted
reversing lever with bunch of fresh
waste.
We're all right here so far. Morti-
mCr." he chuckled in reply to the
young officers hurried explanation OF
the coming move, but the boilers don't
seem To he making steam as they
ought"
w :!out waiting for more the lieu
tenant dartei toward the manhole
from which an iron ladder descended
to the furnace room still farther down.
He reached it just as his ship received
ana. her discharge from the enemy's
big guns, and tie shock threw him the
whole way 10 the floor beneath. Half
stunned. he lay in Il dark corner, ut
terly unable To move or speak for sew
eral minutes.
Upon either hand were rows of ruddy
furnace doors. All about lay coal. elm
ders, CRATE bars, rakes, buckets, shov-