Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-04-30

coast OF western America. 1t was built 1
several hundred years ago, by the Span
iards, and still stands. In 1895 it had a
handful of barefooted soldiers as a CARR.
son, in charge Of a commandant. The /
Philadelphia was not expected at Acapul.
co, and when she swung around head |
land in sight of the fortress, ran up the /
Mexican flag and began booming out |
salute of q guns, there was terrific COM. !
motion ashore.
Officers aboard the ship. through their
glasses, could see Mexican officers and
soldiers running madly about As they
watched, an old field piece was trundled
out from behind breastwork, and in
great excitement the Mexicans began to
answer the salute. They had only one gun
and the process of loading was slow. be-
cause the charges had to be rammcd home
from the muzale. AS the firing progressed
ashore, Mexican soldiers We're chasing
about. pulling UP handfuls Of dry grass
for waddine. Every time the gun was
fred flaming mass of grass shot out
from the muzZle.
MEXICANS' POWDER SUDDENLY En-
HAUSTED.
When the old piece had been fired l6
times the shooting came to a stop. The
officers of the Philadelphia began to Won
der what had happened, and even to spec
ulate as to whether an insult was being
offered to the American flag. that had
been raised over the old fort al Acapulco,
Presently they saw a dngy whaleboat
putting out from shore. When 1t drew
alongside the Philadelphia 1t was found
/ to contain a dozen ragged soldiers and a
young lieutenant in a gorgeous uniform
/ Tho lieutenant came up the gangway in
great haste and salaaned to the Ameri-
can captain. Then he broke out in n flood
of Spanish american English, to this ef
feet
THE commandment is very sorry. He Of
fers You his apologies. He did not know
you We're coming We have used up all
our powder But we have sent back TO the
mines to get some powder. l assure you
that the salute will be completed as soon
as possible"
/ The American officers managed to keep
their faces straight and bowed gravelY
in response to the explanation, after which
the agtated lieutenant went ashore. It
was several hours afterward, nearly sun
down. in fact, when the watchers aboard
the Philadelphia saw a cloud Of dust ris-
ing from one of the roads that led back
solved itself into a galloping mule htched
to a cart, the driver of which was flashing
necessarily with a heavy whip. The cart
finally bumped Its way into the fortress
and moment later there was another
comnlotion In the vicinity of the old field
piece. after which I'VE additional shots
were fired In slow successon. each accom-
panied by the usual blazing ball Of grass
C
The Philadelphia had another adven-
ture in salutes in Nicaragua, when she
arrived at Corinto. Her book, on being
consulted, did not indicate that there was
a garrison or fertilization ut Corinto and
the captain was In quandry as to wheth-
he should salute or not. He did not
want to offend Nicaragua by failing TO
salute, neither did he wish to embarrass
that country in case it was unable to re-
turn the salute. SO II decided to en-
ter Corinto without salutlng, do a little
quiet investigating while ashore and then
salute on the way out.
The American cruiser steamed into the
harbor and dropped anchor without firing
a gun. Soon after this it was decided to
have some target practice for the six
FOUNDER guns. and. accordingly couple Of
distance from the ship and the six-pound-
ers were turned loose. Only few shots
had been fred when there was n puff of
smoke from the shore and the faint echo
of some obsolete canon hoated across the
water. The Philadelphia continued her
target practice. Every time a six-pounder
barked in the direction of the target there
was another pun of smoke from the shore
and a popping noise from an old gun.
This continued until the Nicara guam SOL
dlers had fired As shots in mad endeavor
to keep pace with the unusual honor thew
thought was being bestowed upon them
by the United States, After the 45th shot
! they found themselves falling behind and
} gave up in despair.
Before the Philadelphia left Corinto the
, commandant of the garrison learned that
the Nicaraguan flag had not been saluted
; at all and that his own ramshackle battery
, had merely been running race with Am
erican taget practice He was offended
and the news of his grievance reached the
captain of the Philadelphia Just as she
, was about to sail. That officer decided at
once to make impressive amends and 10
, give Corinto a salute that 1t would re-
member to the end OF It's days.
The ship was steamed close to the for
tifcation n II left the harbor and the main
battery of ix-inch guns was stripped for
action, Ordinarily salutes are fired with
r tx-pounders. but Corinto's feelings had
been hurt and the American officers de-
: cided there should be no grounds for com
plant The conclusion Of the big guns
broke lot OF window glass in the town
ana scared the populaee half to death
. while the ancient artillery Of the garrison
popped away In answer. braveiy trying q
make Itself heard. This turned out to be
the first time in history that Nioaraguar
port had ever received salute from tn,
main battery Of a warship and the com
! mandant at Corinto was SO pulled up over
t the AFFAIR that he made u special report tc
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