The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-07-11

fContinued from last Issue.l


sells stared open mouthed at each 9th
err. Their turrets doomed darkly, and
cut OF the farther rays OF light, and
In the white glare the faces Of the
men standing upon the decks took on
a CHASTITY hue. With muttered CONVEX
sation and alert obedience TO orders
the men OF the Yakumo stepped from
their own deck to those beside them.
dividing themselves into equal parts.
II was hard TO realize in that spot OF
light. surrounded by the black shad-
ows of the night. where all was still
and stationary, that they were three
miles above the surface OF a tossing
sea. and that TO step out into the
gloom would be to step out Of life. lt
was ghostly interchange in world
OF unreality. Reluctantly and sor-
rowfully they took their places ON the
battle ships and turned TO bid farewell
10 the beautiful cruiser which had
been their home for 80 many nights.
They were all clear now. and not a
living thing was left upon her
Once more the dynamos OF the radio
planes Increased their speed. Slowly
they drew apart. the one clasping the
cruiser alone remaining motionless.
The searchlights, like steady eyes of
the night. still stared at the cruiser
whose every gun and every bolt was
brought out clear and distinct in the
radiance. During the day her crew
had cast on her broken top hamper,
which In any event would have been
useless, and now, swept clean by the
wind. she seemed illumined for her
death. With the parting rub OF her
armored sides against the Ito and the
Kashima she had babe a last good-by
to her sister ships. and now seemed
the center OF tragedy OF the night.
waiting for her execution. From the
deck OF every surrendered ship silent
and sorrowing men looked upon her
as II fascinated. and something OF pity
erept into the eyes which watched her
from the ports OF that conquering
fleet Of the air. They. too. were sail
ors.
she was held thus for a moment.
and the softened hearts OF the con-
querors gave TO her last honor. The
port Of Seventeen opened, a rope lad
der fell from its metal doorstep. and
down IL passed a gray haired man. who
had once commanded and loved such a
cruiser rs was she. u was Brockton.
The captives on the decks OF the captive
ships strained forward wondering what
II could mean The biue-clad figure
walked the leneth Of the Yakumo.
reached out hand 10 a short halyard.
and pulled down the flag OF surrender.
tie rolled II into buadle and tossed
II out into the wall u darkness. and
from beneath his copt withdrew a bun
die which he uafo,ded and affixed TO
the loops. Suddenly. as II bsstowing a
last honor upon the dying, he gave a
tug. and the flag Of Japan was flung
to the breeze. The Yakumo should
not pass TO death unhonorod. and WAS
destined TO be the only warrior TO go
down with colors flying. Wild cheer
of short duration burt from the van
pushed as the officer remounted his
ladder and closed his nort.
Then. released and liberated, she
fell. the brilliant rays following her
TO the end. Down. down. down. falling
al first on an even keel. she plunged.
her flag futtering wildly In the de-
scent. Gradually she turned bow on
as n preparing for the dive to death.
With terrific force she returned 10
the waves OF the Pacific. and entered
them. throwing up In that mighty im-
pact a tremendous cascade Of fcaming
waters. which dashed themselves into
the air In mad wraiths OF ghostly
white. surged back in angry pillows.
and resumed their quietude. The va.
kumo had gone TO the graveyard OF the
valiant. and the searchlights showed
nothing more than the crests OF tho
depths which had furnished her a
shroud
The men OF Japan who had wit.
messed her parting had been wrapped
in GREATNESS silence Now II was
broken by one great sob as the man
who had commanded her turned away
from the bridge of the Ito. blinded
WIN wars. ADONt Auriu the pOil TO
opened. and the lighting admiral
again addressed them but In a voice
which told that he. too. was not with
out sympathy
Admiral" he said, order all your
men 70 go below decks. We have
been loafing all day. and will have
to speed up now. II win be death to
stay exposed"
Aroused from their last look at the
Yakumo. they were amazed at this in.
formation. but compiled: and before
the last man had crowded down the
companionways the wind began shrill-
ing about their ears. Away through
the night with sudden velocity shot
the ,radioplanes at a speed which
would bring them to the coast long be-
fore darkness bad ceased. In all the
American feet there was not a man
who did not know that Lake Wash
ington at Seattle was their destina-
ton. It's landlocked sides. guarded by
towering hills and giant forests. and
overlooked by a splendid city. was TO
be the prison OF the enemy's craft.
Its length, its breadth, and its depth
were sufficient 10 float the combined
ma vlec of fhe world