Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-03-19
NEW AMMUNITION.
BY MILTON w. TOWNE.

ClallOn
One day shortly after the close OF
the American civil war a small fleet OF
United States wooden men-of-war was
lying at anchor in the harbor of Cher
bourg. 1t was a gala day, for Napo-
leon Ill, then emperor of France, and
the Empress Eugene were in Cher
bourg and had accepted an invitation
from the admiral to visit his flagship.
But before doing so the imperial cou-
pie inspected a French man-ofwar.
Now, 1t so happened that mess cook
on board the French ship, the Esper-
ance, was wholly unmindful of the
important ceremony that was about to
take place. Indeed, his captain had
not considered 1t necessary to inform
him. 1t would have been better had
he done so. His failure resulted in
bitter feeling between the crews of the
Esperance and the flagship Of the
American admiral.
Not knowing that the emperor and
empress were about to come aboard
the Esperance, Francois, a little bit of
a sawed Off Frenchman, with tiny
goatee and mustache to match, was
cleaning knives, forks and spoons on
the gun deck.
But, suddenly looking up, he saw
Lieutenant Du Bots coming from the
other end of the vessel. Francois
knew by the bells that struck at the
time that the lieutenant was going Off
duty and would go, as was his custom.
to his cabin for a change of uniform.
To reach his cabin he would be obliged
to pass the point where the cook sat
securing. Francois, not caring to in
cur an officers displeaSure for per-
forming his mental duty on deck, hur-
riedly threw the table articles into
mess pot stepped to the muZzle of
ten inch gun, took out the hampton
the wooden plug kept in the mouths Of
cannon when not in uSe-thruSt in the
mess kit and put the hampton back in
its place. When the lieutenant came
by Francois was standing respectfully
at attention.
Francois" said the officer, bring
some biscuits and a glass of wine to
my cabin"
"Well, hurry. l have but little time
before the ceremony takes place"
At the word ceremony Francois took
fright. Ceremony meant salutes. He
did not wish to leave the mess kit in
the gun for fear the latter would be
required for saluting purposes and the
kit would be lost But the lieutenant
glared at him, and he dare not delay.
He went below, carried the biscuit to
Lieutenant Du Bots cabin and was
about to hurry back on deck when
another officer, seeing him go by his
open door, directed him to bring him
a glass of wine. And so 1t was that
the little cook was kept hurrying to do
the bidding Of one person after an
other till something happened.
The officer of the deck, seeing
crowd gathering at the dock, raised his
glasses and, after a moments inspec-
ton, cried out, THE emperor is COM
ing" In a few minutes a barge left
the dock, and poor Francois, still run
ming about below, heard the guns
above begin to boom in salute.
Now, 1t happened that several petty
officers, including Pat Donagan, on
board the American admiral's flag
ship, had secured permission to bring
aboard their sweetheartS-at least their
vice sweetheartS-and the party were
enjoying themselves, when suddenly
the air filled with flying knives, forks
and spoons. In another moment they
heard the boom of gun. a fork
stuck In a girls cheek, knife cut
off a mans nose and Pat Donagan re-
ceived an injury which cost him an eye.
All knew that the Esperance in salut-
ing the emperor and empress had ac-
cidentally fired a yolley Of tableware
at the American flagship. Pat Dona-
gan, who was gunner, mad with
pain and the indignity Of being
wounded with butter knife, swore he
would have revenge.
1t was late in the afternoon when
the emperors barge was seen APP
preaching the flagship. Donagan was
in the saluting squad. The surgeon
had ordered him to remain in his bunk,
with his eye bandaged, but Pat had es-
capped and took position at his gun,
which pointed toward the Esperance.
Pat trained it on the galley Of that
ship and waited. He purposely forgot
something, the hampton, which he left
in the muzzle of his gun.
Presently the emperOr's barge was
seen heading toward the flagship.
Guns began to boom from the sides;
bands played; the yards were manned.
When 1t came Pat Donegan's turn to
fire his gun the report was few mo-
ments late. He was taking a sure
aim. Presently he fired, and hampton
went flying into the waters of the
harbor.
The imperial visit was a short one,
the hour being late. The imperial
couple departed amid a similar cere-
mony that had attended their arrival.
They had been gone but few minutes
when through the smoke that hung
over the water a group Of officers
standing on the quarterback discov-
cred a boat coming from the Esper-
ance.
On the gun deck below stood man,
literally with blood in his eye" He
was Pat DOnagan. He thought he
could surmise the errand on which
the boat was coming and watched 1t
with grim satisfaction. AS 1t came
nearer an officer In full uniform was
deserted sitting in the stern. When
under the gun deck OF the flagship he
nrosa bowed took off his hat and