Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-14
A BATTLE SCARED
"ADMIRAL"
BY FRANK PRESBREY

| or exciting experience, even one III WHICH
human lives are involved, there is likely to
be some little, minor feature with humor-
Gus side to it that will call forth smile, if
not sudden burst of laughter. Seems as
if in such trying moments ones feelings seek
a quick vent and seize upon any little Incl
dent as a safety valve"
This particular piece of philosophy was
expressed by the grim old Captain of our
steamer as we were lazilv churning along the
lower coast of Florida and had been in
vited to smoke my after luncheon cigar in
one of the easy steamer chairs under the
awning of the Captains deck adjoining the
bridge.
"Yes," replied; "but what's the story?"
for had learned that the Captain usually
prefaced his best stories with some bit Of
had just made.
"Wel1," he said, Il never get down on
these Southern seas without thinking of
that third of July, 1898, when our fellows
pushed the Spanish fleet up on the shore
after their attempt to steal out of Santiago
Harbor.
II was first officer of the Dasher, one of
the auxiliary steamers that the Government
had chartered and rushed into service. We
had been engaged in carrying provisions
from Tampa down to the ships of the fleet.
And it was ticklish business too, because no
one really knew, up to the last few days,
and we expected to be overhauled and cap
tured almost any time we got outside Of
land.
This particular trip had been an eventful
one, and, after rounding Cape Maisi, on the
eastern end of Cuba, we soon sighted our
splendid fleet of fighters ranged in that fatal
semicircle round the entrance OF Santiago,
like pack of hounds watching for fox to
come out of his hole. 1t was great sight,
tell YOU! The smoke was lazily curling up
out of each stack, showing that steam was
up and everything ready for the spring from
the leash the moment the fox showed his
head
1--WE had our orders, and in short time
were close alongside the big old Oregon,
which, YOU remember, had just made that
wonderful trip round the Horn to take part
| in the fracas don't believe there ever was
hotter day, even in the Tropics, than this
Sunday, the third of July. Things were
simply sizzling everywhere, and the ocean
| itself seemed to be steaming.
"After we had warped alongside, and the
crew had begun carrying aboard the con-
sgnment of bread, potatoes, onions, and
other stuff, l stepped into the Captains
room to see if could get any comfort out of
the electric tan winch was working over
time. had just spoken to old Admiral, the
Captains pet tomcat-and huge fellow he
was-who was lying on the floor stretched
out as wide as possible fairly gasping for air,
when-holy Mackerel!-there was a con-
cussion and a deafening roar which sent me
sprawling and nearly knocked my head off
All l remember seeing that instant was
big cat going almost to the ceiling, with a
tail as big around as grapefruit, and every
leg, claw, and hair standing straight out.
The Oregon had let 60 one of its big forward
turret guns right alongside of us; for the
Spanish fox had started out of its hole.
an just one instant everything on earth
in the way of activity seemed to be doing.
rushed to the door, and the thing that
caught my eye was that old tomcat going
aft on the upper deck like streak of creased
lightning, with every sail set to catch the
wind, and fairly clawing at the deck in his
effort to make time.
an almost less time than it has taken to
tell you, that one shot had grown into a
deafcning roar from almost every gun in the
| fleet that could bear on the fox. Our lash
| ings had been cut loose, and away went the
| fleet in that dramatic rush to victory for us
| and death to the Spaniards.
@As my Captain and stood on the bridge
and watched the sight, he turned to me and
Cold piubt I'm an old mar, and hovap't