Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-02-05

such traps were not as efficient in those
days as they are to-day, and as the
small boats, for the most part equipped
with howitzers only, made their sor-
ties during the night, when the dark
ness made it difficult to detect such
distinctions, those heavy chains were
quite sufficient TO tie up the daring
| little feet and pile ii in confusion,
while the heavier guns of the fort did
the rest
Plat slowly and cautiously worked
his way back to the Pswnee with full
information of the situation for Ad
miral Balch.
What are we going to do about
itf' the admiral asked. I'VE must get
up that river"
There's only one ching to do, adj
mirai," replied Platt; 1--WE must cut
the chains"
Yes, and be blown into eternity
doing it," blurted out the admiral.
We'll" said Plat, give me a cou,
pie OF men and nervy officer to help
out, and Wen run up the river with
muffied oars and Wen cut those chains
or know the reason why"
A NERvEBACKING EXPERIENCE.
Admiral, then ensign Joe Coghlan,
was the officer" said bluff old Com
mander Piatt in telling of the expert
ence, "Ah, he was one of the nerviest,
bravest, most loyal men | ever knew.
Yes. he was young" continued the
gray haired veteran, but he had the
priceless courage of youth and the rare
discretion of age.
Slowly we worked our way from
the head of Port Royal sound, three
miles up that tortuous river Tulli.
iinney. There We're times, my boy,
when we had TO hold our very breath.
so close were we to the shore. We
could hear the tread of the sentries,
even hear them ms they breathed heav-
lily or sighed-for those were the days
when signs were common. my friend.
we reached the spot where the
chains lay buried in the water 1t
makes my blood creep even now to
think of the danger we were in One
shot from one of those nasty guns IN
that port would have sent us all to
Davy Jones, and ii would not have
required more than one little indis-
Greet action or unnecessary noise to
have started that shot ON It's way.
Dear old Joe was as cool as a
cucumber. He seemed to know just
what was to be done without the tell
ing. Quietly and coolly we set to
work and before the gray light Of
dawn crept into the skies the chains
lay harmless in the river bed. Back
again to our ship we worked our way
and when we reached her Joe turned
to me and gave just a heavy sigh.
There was lot of hell in that
only found 1t out
And there was Admiral Bnlch re-
| ported that result of the investigation
| TO Admiral Dahlgren. We were com
plimented. But | know that the salts
| faction OF having helped saw that
| bunch OF chains under water brought
more Joy to dear old Joe's heart than
all the compliments Of the universe.
Gle was that kind of man. And
! there were many of them I'm those old
| days. too-men who did not stop to
count the glory of a deed hut only
to get the results they were after to
win out in the great battle before
them.
Part of the little fleet steamed up
the river the next day. The Pluto,
notwithstanding the destruction Of the
chain, was blown to pieces. But the
| Pawnee, following. with one shot from
| her nine-inch gun soon put the fort out
| of commission We landed and did the
rest
II lost sight OF Joe for years" con
| tinued Commander Platt But one day
while sitting in certain hotel In
| Washington, noticed gentleman
walking up and down, apparently
| closely observing me. Finally he came
over to where | sat.
"'Platt, old fellow, isn't that your
he exclaimed
Eyes, ii was l. and he was dear old
Joe Coghan, returned from the battle
Of Manila bay covered with glory, but
the same old Joe.
"The nation lost hero when he died
He was one of the bravest men that
ever lived and his bravery was all the
mora yaIua hia IN h{s country haaauca
it was tempered with cool head and
cautious bearing at all times, Utica
Star.
Specimens OF Irish wit.
An Albany, n. Y letter to the Veter-
| ans Advocate gives the following specI-
| mems Of Irish wit as furnished by Gen
| Palmer mhn 50 Id .eIthnre uaa an