Evening star., 1909-05-02

Grandstands erected and draped with flags,
and two hundred bare-egged school children were
taught to sing the national air. The naval officers
had special train to Acajutla where they the
navy for the first time, and had many drinks at the
expense of the crew. The ceremonies began at two
o'clock and were tremendously impressive At
three the big gun hosted by aid Of donkey en-
gine, poised in air for moment and then lowered
into place. The navy promptly turned turtle and
sank to the bottom of the ocean.
National JOY turned into mourning The crowd
went back to San Salvador, and Red Hawkins find
ing himself without occupation set to work on the
sunken hulk In time the navy raised pumped
out and repainted; but the gun still lies in three
fathoms of water, operated, suppose, freproof
hotel for mermaids
Interest in the Grand Republic never fully re-
vived. though Congress got hold of a small howitzer
belonging to the mountain artillery and sent down
to Hawkins Hawkins kept the howtzer aboard
while the vessel tied to the wharf but whenever
the navy went to sea he used to wheel the armament
ashore and leave it there. If there occasion to
fire salute, burn powder for any other purpose,
he always hauled the gun to terra frma first. Haw-
kins careful man, and he wasn't taking any
more chances with that navy
WHEN the Fourth of July round it happen
" ed that the United States cruiser Bennington
in the harbor, and is usual with vessels it
fired the presidential salute of twenty one guns
Whatever else may be said of Hawkins, he was a
patriot: he escorted the ordnance ashore and the
men on the Bennington heard answering salute of
Hawkins, with the Rear Admiral who had gone
down to AcaJutla to about getting some canned
butter through the custom house. boarded the Ben
nington Captain Thomas received them in his
cabin, and listened to elaborate apology Haw-
k1nS said that the powder had given after he had
fired his ninth gun but that the Rear Admiral had
made memorandum to send more from San Saliva
dor The powder arrived the next day. ard Haw-
klns fired the remaining twelve guns "
MoNAHAN finished his coffee and lit a cigarette
~ : hope | haven't bored you, he said, look
ing Miss Martndale
Bored mel. returned Miss Martindale with enthu-
siasm. Il think you're the most interesting man
ever met. What was the ultimate fate of the navy?"
If | may walk home with you quoth Peter
Monahan, Il tell you on the way
Oh let US hear" chorused the other diners.
Perhaps, | suggested, Mr. Monahan may have
his reward, without depriving us OF our pleasure.
Miss Martindale blushed prettly Certainly
Mr.. Monahan may take me home she said. But
what was the ultimate fate of the navy:"
CUICIDE!' exclaimed the historian You will
- remember that late in "a the Ezetas driven
from Salvador. Central American Presidents are
removed from Office as tree stumps removed from
the ground by dynamite. Antonio Ezeta sought
refuge at Acalutla. where he was taken aboard the
Bennington. The rebels feared he might be put on
the Pacific Mail liner City OF Panama. which
about to sail and then somebody thought of the
navy Hawkins wasn't to be found; but of the
donkey engine men got up steam, and the Grand
Republic went into active service
Just about nightfa the passengers on the Pana-
got good and frightened at the behavior of the
volunteers the Grand Republic, and couple of
rockets sent up signals to the Bennington
Captain Thomas ordered an-eectrican aloft to turn
on the searchlght The rebels had never seen
searchght before. They took it to be sign from
God; SO they fell fiat on their faces, and the navy
drfted into the breakers, Ezeta didn't leave the
Bennington however, and Hawkins whose evening
had been spent at gambling resort in Sonsonate,
afterward decorated for heroic conduct in pre-
venting the exchange"
The end of the narrative brought about the end Of
the dinner, and Monahan, with triumphant smile.
walked off with little Miss Martindae.
A N hour later. Charlie An
drewS and | ran into