Evening journal., 1907-10-11
THE RAID ON
MINERVA ISLAND.

iOTltlnalsI
"Boat. ahoyl Any harbor on that
islandg"
Eyes, but you can't go in there"
"why notY'
That's Minerva island. Occupied
and managed by women. They don't
allow any men there. Cot guns
mounted to protect the channel"
"oId girls or young onesT'
MOSTLY young ones"
That was enough for the yachtsmen.
A council was held. and 1t was deter
mined to make conquest Of Minerva
island or die in the attempt. There
We're Lynn Pomeroy, Truly Miller,
Reid Scarborough and Henry Rud-
dock. They had all been graduated
the preceding June in the same class
at college. and Pomeroy, the wealthy
one Of the lot, had invited the rest for
a summer cruise on his yacht the Vul-
can. Ten minutes after the council
broke up they sailed between two
points Of land up toward the harbor.
They had not gone far before a boat
put or from shore manned by six
girls in white. with blue sailor collars
and blue tam-o'shanter hats with
white bands They came alongside the
yacht, aud one in the stern politely
requested the party to keep of pom-
eroy bowed nearly to the deck and
declared that he had come TO make
an inspection Of Minerva island and
write UP an account OF it for the bcne-
ft Of the women Of America who were
/ interested in It. lie was informed
that this would not be permitted
Then. with warning to proceed no
farther, the boat was pulled away.
The yacht sailed on up the channel
between two forts. Suddenly dozen
I girls In each fort sprang to the guns.
and two shots were fired simultane-
ously. One cut away the yachts bow
spirit; the other put hole amidships.
This looked serious. The wreckage
forward occasioned a loss Of control,
and the yacht drifted down stern fore
most. AS soon as possible the anchor
was dropped, and the Vulcan remain
ed hors de combat half a mile below
the forts Not having guns aboard, an
offensive move was impracticable.
Soon after dark Henry Ruddock, a
scapegrace Of the first order and the
crack liar Of his class in college. bid
adieu to his shlpmates and, plunging
into the water, struck out for the shore.
He got within a few yards Of it when
be gave n cry for help a boat put out
from a landing, and. following his cries.
he was rescued. Taken ashore and
revived, he was asked TO explain.
"Those men on the yacht" he gasped,
'are a set Of devils. Just because adj
vocated letting you young ladies' alone
they pitched me overheard, knowing
couldn't swim a stroke"
Tho wretches.' exclaimed the girls
at once.
How / got as far as I did I don't
know. Permit me TO thank you Young
ladies for my life" The last words
were spoken in a tremulous voice. and
the girls simultaneously exclaimed:
Poor felloww
Nothing was heard aboard the yacht
OF the man who had been thrown
overheard" He was treated kindly by
the owners and defenders Of Minerva
island and at once started violent
love affair Concealed, Of course) With
the captain Of the battery The next
evening TRULY Miller was pulled In
the dingey under cover Of the darkness
past the forts up TO the main dock near
where We're the principal buildings OF
the community. He, too, was pitched
overheard and, reaching the dock
asked the first woman he met to take
him at once before the governor OF the
island. The governor scowled, and Nil
Ter told his story. He had swum ashore
to inform the ladies that the men on
the yacht were intending to tow the
yacht past the forts at midnight witt
the dingey, He had protested. bui
without avail, and had then resolved tC
spoil the game.
The. governor Informed him that q
searchlight was in position and would
be used If the night was so dark thai
/. 1t would be needed. but since the moor
would rise at 10 o'clock It would prob
ably not be needed. She thanked him
however, for his noble conduct and or
dered him treated we'll till he coult
be sent away, - ~~-a "a
No attempt was made to pass tn,
forts, and the next day a man wal
! seen from The. shore TO cut the dingey'i
; painter and pun away from the yacht
followed by shots. II. was. Scarbor
ough, who came ashore with anothe'
cock and bull story about the men oil
the yacht and their intention to stea
ashore in body and put the denizenl
OF the island TO the sword. The crew
on the yacht now consisted. Of Pom
eroy, who was obliged 70 fire revolver
with both hands. to make an appear
ance. Of men instead Of q man. Thel
Pomeroy deserted. and the four mel
agreed TO protect the women agalns
those who remained in the yacht. an,
not one should get ashore If 1t require,
all their four lives to prevent It. Th
yacht was now lying at anchor with
out soul aboard
Several days passed The yachtsmel
averred that the deserted appearanc,
OF the yacht indicated. some underhan,
cutthroat scheme was to be perpetrat
ed. on the evening OF the fourth da,
the men asked for a boat to recon
nolter. 1t was given them, and the.
left the dock. never to be seen on )
again, The next morning the zach
I