The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-02-23

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D'RI SHAKING A BLOODY, TAT
TERED FLAG, SHOUTED: I'VE LII
TEX CARE o. THE OIL BRIG"
chip flew off her stern; lift OF spin
tiers from an oar scattered behind her.
Plunging missiles marked her course |
with a plat 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 a 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..
.Yarnen ordered her one flag down. AS
It sank fiuttering, we groaned. our us
NAV 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
10 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.
Get 'er sink. d-n 'er," said D'ri
"Wish t God I c'ud put my foot
through 'er bottom. When the flag
goes down l wan { go tew."
The British turned their guns; we
were no longer in the smoky paths. OF
laundering canister The Mia ara 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 hastenine
10 the battle front. We could see theil
men. waist-high above the bulwarks
frin~ as they came. The Detroit anc
the Queen Charlotte two heavy brigs
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 thu
stern of the other, she raked then
with broadsides. We saw braces Il.
and masts fall in the volley. tn
Niagara sheered off, pouring shoals o
metal on a British schooner, strippin
her bare. Our little boats had com
ND. and were boring into the brigS
In a brief time-it was then nea
three o'clock-a white flag, at the ell
of a boarding-pike, huttered over
British deck. D'ri, who had been 81
ting awhile, was now up and cheerlr
as he waved his crownless hat. He hf
lent his flag, and in the furry, son
one dropped it overheard. Drl sa
It fall, and before we could stop hi
he had leaped into the sea. | hasten'
to his help, tossing a ropes end
he came up, swimming with one arr
the flag in his teeth. towed him
the landing-stair and helped hi
over. Leaning on my shoulder,
shook out the tattered flag, its viii
laced with his own blood.
Ready t. jump in hell fer tibet
rag any day." said he, as we all cheer
him.
Each grabbed a latter of the go
flag. pressing hard upon D'ri and I
1t to his lips and kissed it proud
Then we marched up and down, J.
waving it above us-a bloody squ
as ever walked, shouting loudly.
had begun to weaken with loss
blood, so I coaxed him to go bel
with me.
The battle was over; Yankee bs
was playing near by.
PERRY is coming! Perry is comm
we heard them shouting above.
A feeble cry that had in it pride
10Y and inextinguishable devot
passed many fevered lip in the &C
pit.
There were those near who had
a better peace, and they lay as I
that listens to what were now
merest mockery.
Perry came, when the sun was
with a number of British officers,
received their surrender on his
bloody deck. l remember, as
stood by the ruined bulwarks
looked down upon tokens of WI
and slaughter, a dog began how
dismally in the cockpit