Evening star., 1915-04-11

/ the mainland. II was q
* steep-edged. wind blown bit OF
New England territory that swims like
2 ship far out on the Atlantic. in the
great misty ocean gate between paint
Cd Gay Head. on Marthas Vineyard.
and the hrown-banded lighthouse of
Montauk Point, L. ].
Vrnfmportant to the world, but famous
in American history and legend. is this
Block Island. or Manisees. as the In
dtans called II, meaning the Isle of
Cod Here, ever since American liberty
was born, there have clung generations
NJ seafaring. storm fighting New Eng
land men. proud to call themselves
Rhode Islanders. though the state to
which they belong is so far away that
they can only just see its coast
Block Islands men and women stood
on Mohegan Bluff and Beacon HUI ana
Clay Head, watching their sky MI with
eghting tops and enemy flags. and their
sea oppressed by enemy craft. Among
those who stood there that day were
descenda nts of men who had fought at
sea In every American war. some were
cestors had crept into Long Island
sound In little sloops. and even In row
ing boats, to harry tall kings ships
Strong hearted. like their forefathers,
we're these men. They looked out on
heir beset horizon and doubled their
sun-burned hands into fists, longing to
get among the foe with ship to ship.
gun to gun and the battle flag of
America shining.
This was no tame population. to be
terrified like driven herd Smacks-
unafrafd into the back snary of storm
Swordfishermen were here. who went
daily without a 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 enormous thing
stopped half mile out with the guns
of the secondary batteries 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 a 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 back
ward motion, to the cruiser.
X *
Ave, We take the hint. damn ye'"
growled an old man. HE means" he
turned to the rest. that 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 concealed under his coat
Are we going to take it laying
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 II
we was dead maple leaves afore a
southeastern galer
The destroyers had stopped. The
erews swung their guns toward the
shore
From the cruiser dropped six ships
boats. full Of bluejackets. They swung
ed in line. There was click of
breech bolts shot home-so quick that
il 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. We take the is
land" he said in precise English.
Fall in, We hold you responsible for
the good order of the rest of your peo-
pie There must be no attempt at re-
sistance."
While he spoke, another detachment
of the landing party had been busy
among the huddle OF boats In the har-
Dor. Some were being made up into
tow. Others were being scuttled at
their moorings. A third detachment
was knocking holes into the smaller
craft hauled up on shore.a
Three sailors were just driving boat
hooks through the bottom of an up
turned catboat. when a tall young fish,
erman leaped at them with an oaken
tiller handle and struck one down.
The other two closed on him. but let
go again almost instantly. at the sound
Of sharp order. They tore themselves
away and jumped aside.
There was another order. In the same
sharp voice. Instantly. while the fish,
erman still stood. staring. with his
weapon in the motion of striking, a
blast of fire spat at him from six car
bi1es bhnsd His head ,bro went up exposing his
hands before him. all the fingers out
spread. With his eyes wide open, he
tottered and pitched face down.
Another order and the sailors wheel
ed. covering the islanders.
Dan!' screamed girl in the crowd.
Hush. Don't lookr' An older woman
caught her around the neck and press
ed the girls face to her breast
He brought It on himself" said tho
lieutenant to the fisherman. Take
warning! That Is war; He turned
and walked to the beach.
The dead man lay where he had
fallen. The bluejackets. lowering their
carbines. came to rest beyond him, fac
Ing the Block Islanders impassively
None of these had said a word Save
Tor the outcry OF the girl and the wom-
ans Hush there had been utter
silence. as II the discharge of the
weapons had swept away speech.
Slowly clenching and unc1enching their
hands, the big. weather-beaten, strong
men stared at the corpse that lay hud-
One of the women touched a white
haired, white-bearded islander on the
arm. Wont they let US have him?
She turned her eyes toward the dead
man. 1T don't seem hardly right
to let him lay there"
The old man looked at her as II walk
ing from a trance. He passed his rough
hand over his brow. With his slow,
wide fisherman's stride he stepped for
ward. The sailors instantly brought
their weapons UP.
The old man pointed dumbly to the
corpse. In reply. sailor indicated the
lieutenant with a gesture
The fisherman walked to the lfeuten-
ant. II wanted to ask you he be-
gan. but a signal man interrupted him,
pointing at his head. Tho Block Is
lander looked at him. bewildered- I'm
patiently. the sailor pointed again.
t.ra