The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-23
How They Saved
the Gunner
B, F. A. mitchell

Still firing. At last one side gave in
under the longer range of the other
and steamed away.
When the fight was over the can.
TAIN of the Terror was going about
among the wounded. speaking a word
OF praise to one. encouragement to an
other and sympathy to the diving.
Nhlle speaking hopefully to tar who
had lost an arm he heard voice be-
hind him:
Cheer up, Tom; we're going to sail
Tor home. Think how proud father
will be of you when | tell him how
you served that gun, how when every
other man of the gun squad had been
disabled YOU hung on and fired the
final shot that sank that submarine
and saved the Ship from being blown
Sky high. think see mother and
the girls and little Jim coming down
the walk To meet us. mother putting
her arm about Won. weeping for joy
at getting you home ana a pride at
your bravery
Steady, Old man, You're going to
pull through. The blood has stopped
flowing. All you want is something of
the grit You showed in sticking TO
your gun and saving us all by the cool
pointing you did at that submarine.
Brace up, my boy, and all will be we'll
Keep your mind fixed on Salle
Think how she Is waiting and watch
Ing for you to come back to her. You
bet we'll have a rattlin wedding.
think | see myself as best man prop.
! pin you up, and ! see Sallie tryin' to
| keep back some O the smiles that
| crowd on to those pretty red lips of
hers, her eyes dancin' with happiness
and pride in the gunner that sank an
enemy ship and saved his own from a
SUBJ
The captain while listening to these
words turned and saw two men, the
one lying on the deck, pale and Ian
guild. the other kneeling beside him
holding his hand. He had known that
one of his guns had finished an enemy
ship and that gun had saved the Ter
ror from an enemy submarine. Who
fired the shot he had not known Now
he knew that one man had fired both
shots and that he had stood by his
gun when every other man at the piece
had been stretched on the deck OF
blown to pieces.
Tom he said.
The hero's eyes were closed, and he
did not open them The man kneeline
beside him was about to rise, salute
and stand at attention when the Officer
placed his hand on his shoulder and
prevented him.
brothers." asked the captain.
Eyes, sir"
SIS there anything that you thinl
will help to brace him!'
He might be tided over, sir, If hi
heard gun or volley or If the marines
would rattle drum. He kept up til
| the fight ended. but when the firm!
ceased he fell away"
AT this point an order was signalet
from the admiral to give chase to ont
of the enemys ships that was laggin'
behind the rest of the retreating fleet
The CAPTAIN Of the Terror Transmitted
the order to the proper officer and q
man the forward guns. AS soon a.
tho Terror came within range OF tn
vessel she pursued there was lou'
BOOM
Tom opened his eyes.
Were at IT again, Tom said hi
brother. "Wouldn't you like to be a
that Gun? You can't do that, my DO
NOT inst now. though you will In time
No doubt you'll fire many shot a1te
vou,re rot your strength hack.
There came from the forecastle IN
roll Of a drum. The captain mad oruei
cd II He had ordered the firing. toe
NOT that he expected to damage III
rotrooting vessel, but that he hope
the brave man who had saved MS shi
,,,cht no tided over the shoals OF deaf
and saved for his reward.
Another gun. =,
Tom made an effort to SIT up III
brother gently held him down.
mot vet. old man. not yet. you
no IN It again soon enough.
"Uhat's goin' on?" asked Tom In
,oob,a voice. az thought we'd whlF
ped 'em.
$50 we did. We knocked the smltI
oroone ont of EN-. One Of 'em Is trylh
- cot owav. and our men are trying I
sink her"
Are they doing 1t +,
.you bet, A few more shots VIII q
-. hrs,noss You're lookin' bette
oId fAllow There's The light OF ufe
vorr eve You're going TO get wei
/ and ,,.o, CON,
dor" supplied the captain, VINO ia
rot,,rred from directing the operation
ara,,st the enemy's ship to direct tn
ewing NJ the hero of the fight You
: 10 mentioned in orders and promo
- ord sent home on leave. and at th
next fight you'll probably command
feet" 90 20 a,
with this the captain went OH 10 q
4 tend TO other matters.
spulr" said Tom. get me soin
rroc reckon I'm going to pu
through. - oyor,