The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1907-08-15
NINE SHOTS AND NINE HITS.

While at target practice at sea Oh
the battleship Georgia a few day
ago a bareback from a gun jus
fired ignited a charge of powde
which mad been brought up to re
load the gun. and in moment filleC
the turret with fire and poisonous
gases. Lieutenant Goodrich, Mid
shipman Cruise and eight gunneri
were fatally injured. Between
spasms Lieutenant Goodrich lls
years of age) asked how many hits
had been made, and when told that
there were nine shots and nine hits,
his burned and distorted face relax
ed into something like a smile, and
little later he died His last words
were an inquiry as 10 how his com
rades were faring.
That was no battle. but the world
may read the simple story and from
it understand what a war on the sea
with the United States would mean,
The boy was burned to a crisp and
dying. but he had a smile for the
news that from nine shots there
were nine hits. The spirit and the
accuracy of the United States navy
were both exemplified there. When
Nelson was dying he asked Hardy
how many ships of the enemy had
been done for. and when Hardy an
swered, IL think fifteen" Nelson in
diving whisper said, II had count
ed on at least twenty. THE inyincible
spirit could be quenched by nothing
but death The same spirit was in
the soul of the dying boy lieutenant.
But with the spirit was the exact
ness Of execution Nine shots and
nine hits" Let that be told with
the rest of the story. With great
guns so handled and with that spirit
behind the guns. the world may
known what would be were a battle.
being fought The Georgia and the
other ships might be sunk, but they
would be giving an account of them
selves as they went down. 1t would
be "a it was in Hampton Roads. The
Merrimac rammed the Cumberland.
then backed away. The command
er of the Merrimac shouted to Nor
ris, the commader OF the Cumber-
land, Surrender or ! will sink youl"
and the answer went Immediately
back. Sink away" And 50 a sec
ond blow was delivered, and with
the water running into the guns of
the Cumberland, with cheer Of
the Cumberland crew last broad
side was fred and the stately ship
went down.
A little way off was the Congress.
She had been commanded by Lieu
tenant Joe Smith, son of the old
Commodore. Set ON fire by the
shots of the Merrimac, at last her
flag was lowered. The father of
Joe was from a distance watching |
the unequal fight through glass.
When the flag of the Congress went
down. he turned, laid aside the glass /
and said. Joe is dead. !" And it
was true. Joe had been killed an
hour before.
But strange thing happened
When the Cumberland went down.
Her wounds were such that she did
not list .or roll. but went sduarely
Town. aad when the waters closed
over her. the flag at her peak re-
NAMED above the waters and con
.inued To wave there for weeks.
until finally whipped to shreds by
he winds symbol that though
hips might be sunk, whole navies
overwhelmed, still the flag of the
r epublie would continue to wave,
very stripe aud every star in place.
/ sign of invincible heroism and ir-
power.
OF course this story Of the Cumb-
,rland and Congress is an old one; it
has been often told; but in these
lays Of struggle for gold and mani
festations of a spirit of anarchy that
. seeking to undermine society. il ,
ought to be often told; il and the
others of our navy, which for CEN
fury now has been repeatedly tried
and never for one moment has failed
IN any duty. and which, when a
.risis has been upon Il. has always
displayed the heroism which was