The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-05-29

but the surf troublesome All lights
on the steamer had, OF course been
screened or eXtinguished. but a light
ed lantern had been hung over the
shore side for the purpose or guiding
returning boats.
My boat was nearing the Dauntless
for its sixth load. when we heard an
excited exclamation from the bridge,
and saw TO the northward, over the
mangrove bushes on the point, a pc
culiar white light sweeping the hort
2on. The steamer had not anchored.
hut was keeping her approximate po-
sition by means of her screw, and
had had on a full head OF steam ever
since approaching the coast. ready 10
do her best in case she had 10 run
for IT,
There was no time 10 lose, as to be
caught I'm this little pocket OF bay
meant disaster The engine ball rang
yiciously. black column OF smoke
poured from the funnel OF the Dannt.
less. and the race for life began
The Dauntless plunged through the
: water. and for a couple or miles We
,could trace her by the smoke and
sparks from her funnel In order to
clear the point she had 10 run
straight out to sea, at first in the di-
rection OF the enemy The search
light wavered here and there on the
shore line and over the surface OF the
water, and finally fell on the Daunt-
less
There was a painful moment for
those of us watching, and then came
the distant booming OF the guns; but
finally these sounds died away and
both pursuer and pursued faded from
sight
The hours dragged along but
finally morning came and ushered in
Va windy and sodden day. On the sup
position that the gunDoat would hon
or us with a visit during the day.
search was made as soon as II was
light for a suitable position for the
gun, with the intention OF doing our
best TO beat her on An almost ideal
natural gunpit was found near the
beach. In some violent storm a large
Jog had been hurled beyond the or
Iinary high.tide mark, and had fallen
across the mouth of a little gully
where sand 20 the thickness OF sew
eral feet had been blown up against
ID. The gun was set up in, the gully,
its muzzle pointing over the log
which served as a revetment for the
sand.
From fearing that the gunboat
would come In we now began 10
worry lest il should not We reason.
ed that the advantage was all on our
side, as we had good protection and
steady platform. which the gunboat
could not have.
In the meantime a IRE mad Deen
built and coffee made and bacon broil-
ed. and this, with some hard bread.
refreshed us greatly. IL was thought
best TO carry out tons OF military
stores, piled helter-skelter along the
beach, TO SOME place concealed from
view. and this slavish task consumed
the greater part OF the forenoon
While carrying out these tasks
many anxious glances were cast sea
Ss4S. and about IL o'clock a film OF
smoke was noticed far to the north
Closer and closer II came, until we
could make out the hull OF the vessel,
but we were kept I'm a fever OF IN
certainty az 10 its identity.
We loaded the gun and pointed Il
and the Cubans with their Mauser
rifles scattered along the beach. tax
ing shelter wherever they could.
I was already estimating the dis
lance for a trial shot when the yes
sci suddenly swung her broadside TO
and we recognized the Dauntless.
Capt. O'Brien. fearing that We might
use him as a target had swung
around purposely In order That We
might identity the vessel