New-York tribune., 1909-07-25
YIps sum-


could be heard. and everything was as dark as
the Internal regions are supposed to be Greater
grew the excitement we drew up almost abeam
Of Fort Henry. and still their searchlights had
not been able 10 pick UP. When success seemed
a certainty. suddenly Of the monitors OF our
feet a perfect food of electric lights burst out
Almost instantly the forts searchghts were turned
full on US and heard the thunder OF their
heavy guns they opened fire. 1t was all on
We had lost.
Hardly had the flagship signalled US TO go about
when the admiral signaIled the captain OF that
monitor report board his ship. The monitor
carried naval militia and commanded by naval
militia officers. and. we later found out her
captain had ordered the lights turned on because
he had permitted one Of his watches TO turn in
although at the time his was al general
quarters. and the complained that they could
not swing their hamTnocks in the dark"
There followed a sympathetic pause. and then
one Of the officers asked: We'll, what happened TO
those militia peope?
For thing" continued the narrator grirnly'
for even time had made the incident appeal to
him as being excrucatngly funny those militia
lubbers didn't tag around with us any more that
year; and for another. that flagship they do say
that the Old Man broke all records for real old
fashioned seagoing swearing when he got that
monitors captain in his cabin for little socabie
exchange of condolences.
The rnanduvres wound up with our steaming by
Fortress Monroe IN broad daylight rakin8 them
with broadsides while they blew out Of the water
with their heavy guns running over a dozen or
so submarine mines and torpedoes on the way In
II was a grand sight for the spectators on Shore
and We about scared the life out Of two old negroes
who were sailing into Hampton Roads with a
cargo of watermelons. and who, when some of US
on the Hartford, with a perverted sense Of humor'
trained a battery OF light guns full on them and
fred a few rounds Of blanks. dropped the tiller.
forgot all about sailing their craft, fell on their
knees and besought Divine Providence for mercy
In fact this almost broke up the show, for they
nearly capsized and had to put a crew In tho
ufeboat and stand by to lower it and pick them up
If they had
Two weeks at sea made US all long for the sight
Of land and no one was sorry when set sail for
one of the coast towns, We stayed in port for
about week, the days being taken up with drills
and studying navigation and kindred subjects 1t
was while in port there that Of the worst fights
ever saw took place Two men IN my class had
had trouble with each other. formal challenge
had been passed and accepted. and 1t was decided
to pull fight off at the first possible opportunity
The senior class men would not permit any ighting
on board ship for fear Of the consequences but II
was considered safe to hold the fight on shore
According the code, a first class man must
act as referee, another timekeeper each man
must be accompanied by two seconds generaIly
taken from his own Glass; and the rounds were to
he of three minutes each. So one afternoon a
reouisition was put in for cutter TO go out for
row. and Of course. the men applying were those
who were connected directly or indirectly with the
heht II was granted, and we all manned the
cutter and started off I was one Of the seconds
We had to row fully two miles before we got out
of sight Of the feet Then beached the bOat
and began hunt for a level piece of ground which
would do for a ring The seconds had brought with
them concealed under their jumpers. towels. witch
hazel and sponges The only piece OF ground
available was right the shore line, with a
marked slant, thus giving the man who drew the
uphill corner a decided advantage. 1t couldn't be
helped however and the seconds tossed for posi-
tons.
The men stripped the waist Time! called
the timekeeper and the fight with a rush
The men fought with bare fists. and before tho
fifth round was over both were bleeding like stuck
pigs. Both men were game, and. neither seemed
able to knockout, the fight looked like IL
might go indefinitely. Time passing, how
ever and had get back TO the ship for quar-
ters,' class held a consultation and
announced that the fight would have to be called
off within ten minutes unless it was ended before
that time.
Then the seconds held a consultation and finally
they agreed that the last round should be of
ten minutes. That awful round. But. de-
spite the fact that terrific punishment given
and taken, neither apparently had strength
enough a knockout. and they both
their feet when time called.
L declare this fight a draw said the referee.
and you fellows have got 10 shake hands. That
settles it
AM rrAcTTcpuNTpn nATTrpU