Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1913-12-12

He saw a sputter of sparks. Quick as
thought he turned.
Men of the Gnat, overboard!" he
roared. Dynamite
Suiting action to his words, he dived
swiftly into the dark waters, and the
| next instant the Port of Tampa was
startled by an explosion which shat
tered the windows of the hotel and
brought thousands rushing out into the
night
Holton's first thought, as soon as his
head emerged above the water. was to
make sure of his position, which for
tunately was not ten yards from that
occupied by the Gnat. He made her in
several strokes, and was fished over
the side by sailor.
The man at the wheel had lighted a
red flare, and by this means the other
three men in the water were guided
to their vessel. Beyond few bruises,
all were uninjured
In the meantime Holton was not too
busy to notice that the explosion had
thrown the harbor into wild confusion.
Rowboats were everywhere, having
sprung on the water as though by
magic, and the decks of the transports
were alive with figures. Search-lights
were flashing in every direction; and
mems voices arose in a babel of con-
fusion.
AS soon as practicable Holton chang
ed his water-soaked clothing and went
ashore, leaving the Gnat to continue
her patrol.
There was little doubt in his mind
that the men in the vessel were bent
on the destruction of the transports;
that the explosives aboard her were
to be placed under the sterns of a
dozen or more of the steamships, and
then set off by single electric spark.
Holton believed that the tug had gone
as near to the slip as she intended to
go when he discovered her, and that
further operations were to have been
conducted from the row boat towing
astern.
Dawn was approaching as Holton
waited for the Gnat to make her in
shore turn, and as the light was now
f1ltering across the heavens he follow
ed his usual custom of putting out of
the bay for a look at things on the
open water. The air of the morning,
fresh and cool, blew against his face
and filed him with inspiration.
Today the transports would leave for
Cuba, his period of nightly grind would
end, and he, too, would start for the
battle-ground; for in his pocket were
orders to report to Admiral Sampson
for further instructions the moment
the transports were safely off the Gu
ban coast. And then?
No such Juror as attended their
previous sallies from port marked
their departure this time. The ardent
public had grown a bit weary of sue
cessive good-bys. and remained away
from the waterfront so that the only
eclat that marked the occasion was
furnished by the soldiers themselves.
Holton, trailing along in the little
inat, viewed with joyous eyes the scene
spread before him, and truly it was
one remarkable in many ways. Over
seven miles of water stretched the
feet, the transports steaming in long,
stately line, flanked by grim, leaden-
hued torpedo boats and gunboats,
which flew here and there, megaphon-
ing orders to the transport.
On the third day, Romano Key and
the blue mountains were raised to star
board. On June 20 the feet was off
the Cuban coast, twenty miles from
Santiago. Here the Seguranca, the
headquarters ship, steamed away from
the other transports, and went up to-
ward Aserraderos.
Holton, hardly knowing what was
up, following his instructions not to
lose this vessel, steamed after her and
eventually made out the mouse-colored
bulk of the New York, flagship of
SIMPSONS squadron.
Mindful of his orders to report to the
commander-in-chie as soon as the
transports were off the coast, Holton
put the Gnat under full Roadway, and
soon lay alongside the warships gang
| way. lie knew most OF the company
aboard her, and was warmly welcomed
as he went up the ladder.
Presently an orderly returned with a
summons for Holton. Sampson was
standing by table as Holton entered
and saluted. The young officer had
never seen him before, and he viewed
with great and kindling interest this
grave man with his thoughtful fore
head, his steady, scholarly blue eyes,
his white beard and mustache.
The admiral looked at Holton for a
moment, and then he said
"Mr Holton, fear | am about to
ask you to undertake dangerous mis-
sion"