The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1911-07-07
SCARED BY THE FIRST SHOT
The laundering Boom of the oregon's
Big Gun In Opening the Attack on
Cervera's Fleet Proved Too Much
For the Nerves of the Old Veteran.

| seek Il QUICK vent anu StlIc hpOh any
little incident as a safety valve"
This particular piece Of philosophy
was expressed by the grim old captain
Of our steamer as we were laZily churn-
Ing along the lower coast Of Florida.
"I never get down on these southern
seas" continued the captain, without
thinking Of that Sd Of July. 1893, when
our fellows pushed the Spanish feet
up on the shore after their attempt to
steal out OF Santiago harbor.
81 was first officer Of the Dashcr, one
IF the auxiliary steamers that the gov
arnment had chartered and rushed into
service. We had been engaged In car
rying provisions from Tampa down to
! the ships of the feet, and 1t was ticklish
business, too. because no one really
knew up TO the last few days Just
where the Spanish feet actually was.
and we expected to be overhauled and
captured almost any time.
"This particular trip had been an
eventful one, and after rounding Cape
Maisi, on the eastern end Of Cuba. we
|
ers ranged in that fatal semicircle
round the entrance Of Santiago like n
pack Of hounds watching for fox TO
come out Of his hole. 1t was great
sight, tell you, The smoke was lazi-
| ly curling up out Of each stack, show
ing 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 I'm n short
! time were close alongside the big old
| Oregon. which, you remember, had
! lust made that wonderful trip round
! the Horn 10 take part i'm the fracas.
! / don't believe there ever was hot
ter day even I'm the tropics than this
! Sunday, the Sd of July. Things were
simply sizzling everywhere, and the
ocean itself seemed TO be stcaming.
after we had warped alongside and
the crew had begun carrying aboard
| the consignment of bread. potatoes, on
! ions and other stuff ] stepped into the
captains room to see If ] could get
any comfort out OF the electric fan
which was working overtime. | had
! lust spoken to old Admiral. the cap
| tain's pet tOmcat-and a huge fellow
! he was-who was lying on the floor
stretched out as wide rs possible, fair
! ly gaspng for air, when, holy mack
erel. there were Il COnCussion and
! dcafening roar which sent me sprawl
| ing and nearly knocked my head Off
! All | remember seeing that instant
was big cat going almost to the
| ceiling, with tail as big around rs
! grapefruit and every leg, claw and
| hair standing straight out. The Ore
gon had let go one of It's big forward
turret guns right alongside of us. for
! the Spanish fox had started out of its
! hole.
'In lust one instant everything on
earth I'm 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 n streak OF creased lightning, with
every sail set TO catch the wind and
fairly clawing at the deck I'm his effort
! to make time.
"In almost less time than 1t has TAX
| en- to tell Won that one shot had grown
| into deafcning roar from almost ev-
cry gun I'm the fleet that could bear on
! the fox. Our lashings had been cut
loose. and away went the feet in that
dramatic rush TO victory for us and
death to the Spanhrds.
LAS my captain and | stood on the
bridge and watched the sight he turned
to me and said: Knight, I'm an old
man and haven't but a few years more
to live at best. I'll give the rest Of
my years to see this fight 10 the finish,
and. by the gods, I'm going TO follow
en- And he gave the signal for full
| speed ahead
Say. but that was n sight, No man
who saw It will ever forget It. ihc
race was all I'm front of us. the Span
iards running for cover and putting up
the best fight they could In their half
baked condition and our fellows plug
ging them fast and furiously.
1--WE followed until the fight was all
over and then came about To return To
Santiago. The captain gave orders 20
serve supper I'm the officers mess, for
neither OF us i'm the excitement Of the
day had thought a thing about eating.
As we sat down 10 our meal he turned
10 me and said: Knight. have you seen
my old tomcat Admiral? I've hunted
Tor him all over The ship
Well ] replied. pulling out my
watch and looking at 1t. ~ he has kept
Sp the pace he was making when | saw
him last going aft ON the upper deck
he's due i'm about six minutes now on
, his third lap around the world
I'VE never did see old Admiral again.
and the captain mourncd him TIL his
dying day."-I'rank Presbrey In Chi.