The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1914-05-21
BLUE READY FOR
MEXICAN WAR
To Him Is IniruSiad Duty Of
Supplying Vessels.
FOUGHT IN CUBA IN 1898.
BY Giving cubans Whisky He Was En-
sblcd to Draw Map Showing Exact
Location Of Spanish Vessels-story
Of Brave Exploits and His Promotion
In the Service.


In the Service.
Washington. DO you remember
what the governor Of North Carolina
said 20 the governor of South Caro-
lina7 Well the application of that
Immortal principle made Victor Blue
famous.
Just now he is Rear Admiral Blue,
I'm command Of the bureau of naviga-
tion Of the navy department. That
bureau Is to the navy II good deal
what n peculiarly broad gnuged train
dispatcher. with collateral authority
over the general manager. might be
60 railrOud. IL practically runs the
department During the war with
Mexico II will be Blues duty to see
that the sllps are provisioncd and
conlcd and manned. Between times he
will give the commanders their sailing
orders. The chief Of this bureau IL the
eyes aud legs nnd right hnnd of the
average civilian secretary OF the navy.
When he wnS Lieutenant Blue. Snmp.
sons fleet WIS lying outside Santiago
bnrbor waiting for Ccrvcra's fleet 10
cone out. II didn't come No one
wis even positive that Il was In
"i'll find out" said Bluc
lie went ashore nlonp. depending on
the guidance aud escort of the Cuban
patriots who were cnmpcd IN the tall
grass thcrcnbouts. The patriots had
been badly skinned up tbnt day In n
sharp slirmlsh with the Spuninrds
The Cuban chief wuS one of the
grouchIcst Cuban chiefs Blue had ever
encountered. Wounded patriots were
lying nll over the cnmp grooming.
Lieutenant Blue asked for guides aud
nn escort.
Not . mnn" said the savage gcncr
nl. "Not u oocf'
lie meant a. That was obvious. So
Blue didn't argue the ease with him
But IN his slender baggage were two
bottles of the best whisky that ever
softened the heart OF nun.
MY general" said Bluc softly.
"wili you Join me IN tonst 10 Cuba
llbrcg"
Would he7 lie did Blue handled
tho bottle aud illlcd lineup 50 full
of whisky that Il dribhled down the
sides. The general began to snze on
him with misty and nifectionate eyes.
MY general" said Blue. "bcfore !
30, will YOU not join me IN u tonst 10
the allies the United States nnd fair
Cubay
The general did. In another lineup. |
fui OF whisky that was charged with /,
aud love Pretty soon he !
put his arms around Blue nnd kissed
thli Young gentleman.
"A nHn yuu asked me for" wept
Oh" general "nnd ! refused YOU Alns.
ehru' TnLr 100 men, my heror'
H,rr tHuS eight men and wrigrled
through The tall grass until he came
a. the pn' ipitous edge or Santiago
harbur Sparkling IN the darkness be-
low him he saw the lights ~ Ger.
vera's ships lie reported ~ Samp
son, hut thai was not enough. Snmp
son wanted the position OF every ship
So that the Americans could
elevate their guns nnd shell them over
the hills which locked Santiago hnr.
bor, Blue went back another night
In danger of his life NJ every wriggle
through the grass-and climbed tree
which oyerhung the hnrbor's edge
There Ia manuged 10y a miracle 20
make n perfect map of the position OF
the Spanish ships, Between times he
had to come down out Of the tree and
boot his impetuous patriots into giving
mp their guns. The tree hung directly
over n populous Spanish fort. and
Spanish soldiers We're within easy pot
ing range, His Cuhans wanted 10 get
! few scalps before they went back 10
he jungle. Blues map making struck
hem as academic ana absurd and
waste OF time
For that exploit Bluc was jumped
I've numbers In rank. for "extraordi.
lary heroiSm" He had fairly divided
he Santiago honors with Lieutenant
iobson, although the latter's feat was
more spectacular