The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1906-01-11
Continued from last week. }

''He must be loony' on the subject"
said the skipper. Its the safest place
OH the whole ship"
While this little conversation was
proceeding the commander never ceas-
ed watching his own deck, the other
vessels and the enemy's fleet from the
various Sits and eyeholes Of the con-
ming tower. At frequent intervals he
also had occasion to manipulate some
one or other of his various Instruments.
''Ah, ha! They're opening up in reg
ular ORDER" he muttered as a puff of
smoke followed by 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 a white
smother Of foam near at hand.
Frying distance with their six inch
rifles laconically observed the youth
full officer. Il should cali it not much
over two miles"
Both fleets were now rushing toward
one another as fast as their mighty en-
soon became general. The main fight
ing line of each, composed of the bat
tleships and heavier armoreu cruisers
moved forward in regular column OF
attack. Upon meeting they would pass
between one another's intervals and
exchange volleys from their huge broad
side and turret rifles at murderously
;,r1, Of nj
Their side, such as unprotected cruisers
and commerce deStroyers, lowered up
Oh the TANKS, ready to participate in
the easy victories Of rout or to en-
gage in duel with such Of their own
class as might offer.
1.-THE big fellow Is swinging his fore
turret around to train on US" remark
ell Mortimer quietly.
With q roar like that Of lion when
about to jump at his prey, Lieutenant
Beresford slammed down hard on a
lever and shouted dozen orders
through as many speaking tubes. Al
most instantaneously the whole fabric
qujvered 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.
Eyes, sir" came back the reply. But
the vernier''
"D-n the vernier.' was shouted
through the tube. You don't need
any finder at tins range. Let them
But the rest of his speech was lost in a
roar as if whole magazine had eX-
ploded; the ship reeled and staggered
like a sore stricken man, and two ci-
CARS with their ends bitten off lay roll
ing from side to side, unnotced, upon
the floor Of the coming tower.
"A lucky shot indeed! They've spoil
ed the working of our main battery in
great shape"' 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,
only this time it was in recoil from her
own discharge.
Turn about is fair play. my bullies!'
laughed Beresford discordantly. THAT
shot must have found its way somehow
to her very vitals. Looks as if her ma
chinery had suffered, the way her
steam is blowing Off"
In half a minute the action had be-
come general. The reports from the
mighty ten and twelve inch rifles, the
conclusion of which often bursts blood
vessels in strong mems heads. were
roaring and resounding upon every
hand. The by no means insignificant
secondary batteries served to fill in the
gaps, and the crackle and rattle from
the small arms We're completely indis-
tingushable. Now were to be seen the
fell results Of scientific warfare.
A huge battleship of the enemy blew
up, scattering death and destruction
among friend and foe alike within her
compass, and one of the American IT.
mored cruisers went down beneath the
concentrated fire of two black mon
sters, with her guns still being served
and Old Glory floating detianty at 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 Il 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 unscathed
Their superstructures were practically
demolished, and great rents and gap
ing holes were visible everywhere, in
UNPROTECTED surface and armor plating
floating hulks with both engines and
guns smashed out of all usefulness,
piled knee deep with scarlet horrors,
and the few left alive upon them I'M
able to do more than hope for the
chance of rescue before they were
swallowed up by the remorseless sea.
But there were still left Il 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 at their helms, were
now bearing down upon one anSther.
Among those of them flying American
colors was the Rhode Island.
Great Caesars ghost" howled Lieu
tenant Beresford in wild desperation.