The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-20

L j.
rang FOR the messenger.
Good morning. gentlemen" said the
President. Maxim, do not let them hull
you"
But Photor returned, when the others
had gone away with two msty saiormen
close by them, and was admitted 10 the
President once more.
Mr. President" he said, that was a
cipher message. Number Nineteen as An
chester told us, might be the number of
many house, but also it was the Mari
posa's yard number when she was on the
stocks; and William Is the name of the
Emperor of Germany. Anchester's girl is
a chip of the old block, and she'll put 1t
together right. Now then, the fleet"
1.-The fleet" replied the President, will
so to seat at shutdown. Let them hunt
HI &c they will
When Anchester went on deck next
mCfD4hs nobody spoke to him. so, after
a few turns he climbed the ladder to the
Mariposas superstructure and walked
forward between groups of men who
watched him insolently. 1t came over him
that he wasn't wanted and for the first
time in many years he had a queer pain
in his chest.
The Slaxiposa was steaming ten knots
due south, as part of the open fleet forma-
ton. Ahead, Anchester could see an
other battleship and a stable cruiser. On
the port DOW ne 0ldue out Two more bat
tleShlps and to the starboard there were
half a dozen torpedo craft guarding the
flank. DucRing his head a bit. he saw
across to port on the Marposas beam
two other cruisers and battleship and
beyond them more torpedo boats. Every
ship was painted blacllish gray. Anchester
sized them up with a critical eye. He
knew them for the Flying Squadron. Just
then an officer came up deck.
'What can 4 dc? % inquired Anchester
Anything you please sir" replied the
officer and passed on.
Anchester considered something terrible
But by night his proud spirit WAS broken.
lie missed the formality of his office. No
body wanted ito see him about anything.
A Japanese boy brought food to the
stateroom on the lower tier reserved for
his use. And 1t was this youngster that
reported the prisoner missing from his
quarters, soon after breakfast, three days
later
If Captain Maxim felt the loss he had
no time to give his regrets. For there was
smoke to the eastward.
1t was a spotless morning, and the hori-
zon line was a cash of purplish black be-
tween the sea and sky. The smoke was
reported to the bridge at just before
eight bells in the forenoon watch. Then
1t dropped away again and nobody caught
sight of 1t for an hour, when a big
cloud of it stained the blue.
Twenty minutes afterward his marine
orderly spoke to him.
Mr.. Matson makes out six ships, sir
and would you like to come out?"
THE flagship is signaling, sir" called
quartermaster to Mr.. Matson. And then
! they read the orders: ENEMY approach
| ing. Clear for action. Cruiser division fail
out and form second line within signal
distance Torpedo boats stand by in rear
of first division. Take position and heave
to. awaiting orders
And while the ships were cleared the
smoke grew denser BY the time the
boats were put overheard and set adrift
the enemy was in sight as to the tops
of him, and they could reckon him up
| five battleships and an armored cruiser,
| coming along fast. That settled the Sec
ond division. The flagship signaled again:
Second division, make port of rendez-
/ vous. Await orders. Torpedo vessels close
in. First division advance in line, best
1 speed. Follow general orders already bull
letined. Mariposa take enemy's armored
| cruiser"
THAT means every ship for herself
| said Captain Maxim, eagerly. Full speed
ahead Mr. Goliath. and we will engage
| the ship on his extreme left. Do you
make her out?"
Salamanca, or her class" said the ex-
ecutive, and then the gongs rang far be-
| low and the Mariposa steamed due east
at seventeen knots.
"Mr Goliath said the captain, I'VE
will sink the Salamanca, and watch out
| for torpedoes."
| But the Salamanca had her own opln-
ions about that. Her bow turret dropped
| a ten-nch shell within a hundred yards
| of the Mariposas stern before Mr.. Col
| bath could address Some purely official
| remark to the young gentleman in com
| mand of the forward turret, and the next
le1,1 4fa1 aro1f not inst hnfn ha
"They brought their shooters with them
this time" observed Mr.. Matson. whom
| excitement rendered reasonably amusing.
! though In peace he was dignified as u
church picnic. At the same moment the
Salamanca's No 3 shot came aboard. 1t
| struck the top Of the forward turret a
| g1aneing blow, passed under the bridge
! with a slant to starboard. Knocked six
| FOUNDER off It's pins, and exploded on the
| superstructure wall, blowing the starr
| board end of the bridge to pieces, and
raising an agonized cry from the men
near by, some of whom were hit.
| "Get to work." directed Maxim. "and
watch out for torpedoes."
every possible gun" was the order.
| Salamanca was coming In range, and the
| Mariposa's marines went to the second
airy battery ready TO pepper the Destroy
| ers, which were plainly maneuvering to
| get on the flank. and at the torpedo boats
Meantime the ships were getting into
! comfortable reach for hammering, and
| small sized projectiles began falling on
the Mariposa's deck. The Salamanca
came on insspite of everything. Twelve
inch shell 9kwere dropped In and around
her as fast as the bow turret could de-
| liver them, and the two forward eight
inch rifles knocked the tunnels out Of
her after they got in range. Still she
came on Matson noticed that she was
signaling from her after mast, up and
down which ran strings of little flags,
though there wasn't a thing in sight
through the dense smoke.
"Hit lower" called Maxim "D-n it,,
we're just tickling herr
"a hundred IL you hull her this shot"
whispered the turret officer to his gun
pointer.
And Bill Grenquist. the star gun -peint-
err had his best eye on the mark that
| day, when the Mariposa, steaming seven
| teen knots due east. met seven hundred
pounds of nickel steel travelling due west
| at a somewhat higher rate. II took her
| fair In the face at the base of the for
| ward turret exploding on the armor and
| tearing a big hole in the armored deck.
| At the same moment an eight-inch shell
| pierced the Mariposas bow almost
| sauarely on the stem. passing through
| the forward chain compartment and ex-
/ plodng on the base Of the military mass.
! These shocks were felt in all parts of