The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-09-05
TIE RAID ON
MINERVA ISLAND.

why uot?''
That's Minerva island. Occupied
and managed by women. They don't
allow any men there. Got guns
mounted to protect the channel"
"Old girls or young onesT
Mostly young ones
That was enough for the yachtsnen.
council was held, and it was deter
mined to make conquest of Minerva
island or die in the attempt. There
We're Lynn PGmeroy, 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
summer cruise on his yacht, the Eui-
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 Il bout
put off 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, and one in the stern politely
requested the party to keep off. Pom
eroy bowed nearly to the deck and
an Inspection of Minerva island and
write up account of it for the bene-
fit of the women Of America who were
interested in it. He was informed
that this would not be permitted.
Then, with a warning to proceed no
farther, the boat was pulled away.
The yacht sailed on up the channel
between two forts. Suddenly q dozen
girls in each fort sprang to the guns,
and two shots were fired simultane-
ously. One cut away the yachts bow
spirit; tho other put Il hole amilships.
This looked serious. The wreckage
forward occasioncd loss of control,
and the yacht driftcd down stern fore
most. AS soon as possible the anchor
was dropped, and the Vulcan remain
cd horS dc combat half q mile below
the forts. Not having guns aboard, an
offensive move was impracticable.
Soon after dark Henry Ruddock, a
scapcgrace of the first order and the
crack liar of his class in college. bid
adieu to his shipmatcs and, plunging
into the water, struck out for the hore
He got within Il few yards Of it when
he gave cry for help. A boat put out
from landing, and, following his cries.
he was rescued. Taken ashore and
tSL, iis W iSktSl 10 eADIiln,
''Those men on the yacht" he gasped.
care set Of devils. Just because I adj
yocated letting you young. ladies alone
they pitched me overheard. knowing 1
couldn't swim stroke"
1.-THE wrctches!" exclaimed the girls
at once.
How I got as far as I did I don't
know. Permit me to thank you young
ladies for my lfe.'' The last words
were spoken in Il trcmulous voice, and
the girls simultaneously exciaimed:
Poor fellow"
Nothing was heard aboard the yacht
of the man who had been thrown
ovcrboartl.' He was treated kindly by
the owners and defenders of Minerva
island and at once started n violent
/ love affair Concealed, OF coursc) 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 were the principal buildings of
the community. He. too was "pitchcl
overheard and, reaching the dock
asked the first woman he met to take
him at once before the governor Of the
Island. The governor scOv!ed and Mil
Ter told his story He had swum ashore
to inform the ladies that the men on
the yacht We're intending to tow the
yacht past the forts at midnight wifi,
/ the dinGey. lie had protested but
/ without avail, and had then resolved TO
/ spoil the game
| Inc governor Informed him that n
| searchli%ht was in position and would
( be used If the night was so dark that
IT would be nodded, but since the moon
/ would rise ut 10 o'clock it would prob
ably not be needed. She thanked him,
/ however, for his noble conduct ami or
! d"red him treated we'll till he could
/ be sent away.
NO attempt was made to pass the
forts. and the ncXt day a man was
seen from tho shore TO cut the dineea,..s.
! painter ana pun away from the Yacht,
I followed by shots. 1t was Sc1rbor-
! oUgh, who came ashore with another
cock and bull story about the mon on
! the yacht and their intention to s+n.I!
ashore in 4 body ana put the dcnfzcn.
OF the island to the sword. The, CROW
! on the yacht now consisted of POW
| eroE, who was obliged 10 fire rey0lycr;
| with both hands to make an anpc,r-
! ance OF men instead of n man. Then
fomeroy deserted. and the four mon
/ agreed to protect the women acainst
! tDo5e Who remained in the yacht. ANA
not one should get ashore if it r,,n1,;I,.1
All their four lives to prevent it. The
| Yacht NN-Nc NOW l,-i,,,,