The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-09-22
How They Saved
the Gunner
b F. a. Mitchell.

b f. A. MITdn
The ships had met In, deadlyssconbest.
For hours they had pounded each 9th.
er, rammed each other, torpedoed each
other. Some had gone down with
crews ranging from 500 to 1000 men.
Some had limped away from the shot
and shell, but the bulk were afoat and
still firing. At last one side gave In
under the longer range Of the other
and steamed away.
When the fight was over the cap
tain Of the Terror was going about
among the wounded, speaking q word
of praise to one, encouragement to an
other and sympathy to the dying.
While speaking hopefully to a tar who
had lost an arm he heard a voice be-
hind him:
Cheer up, Tom; we're going to sail
for home. Think how proud father
will be Of you when I 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. I think I see mother and
the girls and little Jim coming down
the walk to meet us, mother putting
her arm about you, weeping for JOY
at getting you home and a pride ut
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 win be well,
keep your mind fixed on Salliey
Think how she is waiting and watch
ing for you to come back to her. You
bet we'll have a rattlin' wedding. I
think I see myself as best man prop
pin you up, and I see sallfe tryin' TO
keep back some o the smiles that
crowd on to those pretty red lips o.
hers, her eyes dancfn' with happiness
and pride in the gunner that sank an
enemy ship and saved his own from z
sub"
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 a gun had saved the Ter
TOR from an enemy submarine. Who
fred 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 or
blown to pieces.
''Tom," he said.
The hero's eyes were closed, and he
did not open them. The man kneeling
beside him was about to rise. salute
and stand at attention when the oficer
placed his hand on his shoulder and
prevented him.
"Brothers?" asked the captain.
Eyes, sir"
"Is there anything that you think
will help to brace him?''
."He might be tided over, sir, II he
heard a gun or a volley or IL the marines
would rattle a drum. He kept up till
the fight ended. but when the firing
ceased he fell away" i
At this point an order was signaled
from the admiral to give chase to q
Of the enemy's ships that was tagging
behind the rest of the retreating feet.
The captain Of the Terror transmitted
the order to the proper officer and to
the forward guns. AS soon 10
the Terror came within range Of the
vessel she pursued there was a loud
boom. 4, !.
Tom opened. his eyes,
We're at it, again. Tom" said his
brother. Wouldn't you like to be &C
that gun? You can't do that. my boy
mot just now. though you viii In time
No doubt you'll fire many q shot after
got your strength back"
There came from the forecastle tho
roll Of q drum. The captain had ords1 y
ed It. He had ordered the firing, too.
not that he expected to damage the
vessel, but. that he hoped
the brave nan who had saved his ship
might be tided over the shoals Of death
and saved for his reward.
Another gun.
Tom made an effort to sit up. His
brother gently held him down.
mot yet, old man. not yet. You'll
be In It again soon enough"
whats goin' on?' asked Tom In
feeble voice. II thought we'd whip
ped 'em."
80 we did. We knocked the smith
Greens out Of 'em. One Of 'em Is trying
to get away. and our men are trying 20
sink her."
Are they doing it?'
"You bet! A few more shots WIN DO
the business. You're lookin' better. 81
old fellow. There's the light Of life In
your eye. You're going to get WILL.
Il
you're going Is be an admiral some