The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-11
III

the Invader set foot was not
on the mainland 1t was
steep edged. wind blown bit
Of New England territory that swims
like ship far out on the Atlantic
In the great misty ocean gate between
painted Gay Head. on Martha's Vine
yard and the brown branded light
house Of Montauk Point, Long Island.
Cnimportaut to the world, but ia
nous in American history and legend.
is this Block Island or Manisees. as
the Indians called it, meaning the
Isle OF God. Here, ever since Ameri-
can liberty was born, there have
chung generations of seafaring, storm
fighting New England men, proud to
cali themselves Rhode islanders,
though the State to which they be-
only just see its coast.
Block Islands men and women
stood on Mohegan Bluff and Beacon
Hill and Clay Head watching their
sky fill with fighting tops and enemy
flags. and their sea oppressed by en-
envy craft. Among those who stood
there that day were descendants of
men who had fought at sea in every
American war. Some were there who
could boast that their ancestors had
crept into Long Island Sound in little
sloops, and even in rowing boats, to
harry tall Kings ships,
Strong hearted, like their fore
fathers, were these men. They looked
out on their beset horizon and doubled
their sunburned hands into fists,
longing to get among the foe with
ship to ship. gun to gun and the bat
tie flag of America shining.
This was no tame population, to be
terrified like a driven herd. Smacks-
men were these, accustomed to look
ing unafraid into the black snarl of
storm. Swordfshermen were here,
who went daily. without second
thought, to fight the 1.-THE sportsman
Of the sea in his own element.
A cruiser rushed at their island.
Heavy with turreted guns and broad
side batteries. tall with laced iron
mast towers and wide tunnels and
ponderous cranes, swarthy gray over
all like Vulcan's smithy, the enor-
nous thing stopped half a mile out
with the guns of the secondary bat
teries pointing at the land. From
under her quarter. around bow and
stern. swept destroyers with cooked
tunnels splitting smoke and with
ready. alert men at the lean little
guns.
They moved straight for the little
harbor. in long line. On the bridge
Of the foremost an officer waved a
hand at the crowd OF fishermen on the
shore. pointed to his guns and, with
a backward motion, to the cruiser,
AYE! We take the hint, damn
ye," growded an old man. He
MEANS" he turned to the rest, "hat
we'd better not make a fuss. Drop
that" He turned sharply to a
younger man who had just joined the
group. He had shotgun. half con-
cealed under his coat.
Are we going to take 1t laying
down." demanded the armed man.
The old man pushed him backward
with both hands. you fool That
thing out there could blow US off the
island. men. women and children. as
if we was dead maple leaves afore
southeastern GALE"
The destroyers had stopped. The
crews swung their guns toward the
shore.
From the cruiser dropped six ships
boats full OF bluejackets. They swung
past the destroyers. beached and
formed in line. There was a click OF
breech bolts shot home-so quick that
II was as but one sound.
A Lieutenant advanced his men with
the swinging navy trot. He pointed
to men in the little throng, selecting
six Of the older ones.
I'VE take the island" he said "
precise English. Fall in! We holt
you responsible for the good order o
the rest Of your people. There mus
be no attempt at resistance"
While he spoke another detachmen
|. block Island men helped in tn
c0ntWc Of u roopship during the Wa
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