Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-08-01

machine. The Rhode Island, in com
mon with the rest Of the fleet, wal
stripped down to her metal skin, ready
to grapple with the foe. Down in bel
bowels the whole force Of engineers
and firemen were hard at It, the smoke
belched from out the towering stacks
in mighty volume, and the roar Of
steam escaping from the safety valves
showed that even the boilers were Q
sharer in the general excitement Of tht
situation.
Sound general quarters"
To the call of bugle and rattle OF
drum every single soul on board, even
including Obadiah Todds, the worker
on cloth and buttons, went to the par
ticular station assigned them. Officers
and men entered the big turrets, man
ned guns Of the secondary battery
clambered up into the fighting tops OF
Joined the powder division below
decks. The engineers and tiremen had
their own special lines Of effort to fol
low out. Not single idler could be
found among the hundreds who com
posed the crew Of the big fighting ship
OF what purely commercial or munic'
ipal institution could such thing be
said?
Cast loose and provide" exultantly
cried the commander, for even such
things as micrOmeter scales and cubes
of smokeless powder have not been
sufficient to destroy the ancient lust OF
battle when the breath of the enemy
Is in the air.
With this third and final order, before
commencing action the crew stripped
to the waist and went seriously to
work. The huge shackles and clamps
which hold the big masses Of metal
rigid in seaway were thrown of and
each gun duly loaded with the particu-
lar variety Of ammunition for which 1t
had IN appetite This latter fodder was
already being delivered from the mag
azines below by the perspirins and
blasphemous powder division.
Up in the armor inclosed coming
tower of the Rhode Island sat Lieu
tenant Beresforl, surrounded with
speaking tubes. push buttons and vari-
Gus other more or less intricate signal
ing apparatus. With him was Lieuten-
ant Mortimer. Both men had un!ighted
cigars tightly clinched between their
teeth. and the captain had removed lin
en- collar and nccktie, at the same time
carefully buttoning up his uniform
coat.
I'VE ought to fetch in between those
two biggest fellows" remarked the
younger officer in a peculiarly sweet
tone of voice. THE one OIL the star
board is just about our size. but the
other ship looks rather larger"
80 she is" assented the skipper
grimly. According to reports. she must
be first class battleship, although they
have nominally rated her as Il second.
She is one-third again our tonnage and
throws very nearly twice the weight of
broadside metal.
did you notice that Todds. the mas
ter tailor. had put OH his bullet proof
coat" observed Mortimer, with Il
broad grin.
NO. laughed Beresford. where Is
his station"
"At one Of the secondary gun tubs"
replied Mortimer.
"He must be 'loony' on the subject"
said the skipper. It's the safest place
Oh the whole ship"
While this little conversation was
proceeding the -mmander never ceas-
ed watching his own deck, the other
vessels and the enemy's feet froil the
various slits and eyeLoles OF the con-
ming tower. At frequent intervals he
also had occasion to manipulate some
enc or other of his various Instruments.
"Ah, ha. They're opening up In reg
ular ORDER" lie muttered rs Il puff Of
smoke followed by a very fair report
came from the headmOst Of the enc
my'S ships.
A small black object hurtled across
the water, cutting the top Of the waves
in its progress and sinking in Il white
smother of foam near ut hand.
Trying distance with their six inch
rifles" laconically observed the youth
full officer. II should call it not much
over two miles"
Both fleets were now rushing toward
one another as fast as their mighty en-
gines could take them, and the lighting
soon became general. The main fight
ing line of each, composed of the bat
tleships and heavier armored cruisers.
moved forward in regular column of
attack. Upon meeting they would pass
between one anothcr's intervals and
exchange volleys from their huge broad
side and turret rifles at murderously
short range. The lighter craft of ell
ther side, such as unprotected cruisers
and commerce destrOyers, lowered up
on the fianks, ready to participate in
the easy victories Of rOut or to en-
gage in Il duel with such Of their own
class as might offer.
'The big fellow is swinging his fore
turret around to train OIL u.s." remark
ed Mortimer quietly.
With roar like that Of lion when
about to jump at his prey, Lieutenant
Beresford slammed down hard on Il
lever and shouted dozen orders
through as many speaking tubes. Al
most instantaneously the whole fabric
auivered as the ship increased her al
ready high rate of speed and fairly
leaped ahead of her comrades.
"Are you ready there, Brownson|
called the captain through the tube
that led to the forward main battery.
"Ycs, SIR" came back the reply. But
the vernier'-
oh the vernier"' was shouted
through the tube. "You don't need
any finder ut this range. Let them
But the rest of his speech was lost In n
roar as IL whole magazine had ex-
ploded; the ship reeled and staggered
like sore stricken man, and two ci-
gars with their ends bitten off lay roll
ing from side to side, unnOticed. upon
the floor of the coming tower.
"a lucky shot indeed! They've spoil
ed the working of our main battery In
great shapew howled Beresford. with
bloodshOt eyes and lips fOaming In
rage. "Let her go, BrOwnson" he
yelled again.
Scarcely We're the words well out of
his mouth before the ship again reeled,