The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-25
How They Saved
the Gunner
B, F. A. Mitchell

1
en- rammed each other. prpedoed 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 afioat 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 a word
or praise to one. encouragement to an
other and sympathy to the dying.
While speaking hopefully to 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 / tell him how
you served that gun. how when every
other man Of the gun squad had been
disabled you hung on and fred 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 at
your bravery.
STEADY, old mani You're going to
i 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 Sallie
Think how she is waiting and watch
Ing for you to come back to her. You
bet We'll have rattlin' wedding.
think l 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
fred the shot he had not known Now
he knew that one man had fred 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 officer
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, If he
heard gun or a volley or II the marines
would rattle drum. He kept up till
the fight ended, but when the firing
ceased he fell away"
At this point an order was signaled
from the admiral to give chase to one
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
man the forward guns. AS soon as
the Terror came within range Of the
vessel she pursued there was loud
boom.
Tom opened his eyes.
We're at It again, Tom" said his
brother. Wouldn't you like to be at
that gum You can't do that, my boy
mot just now. though you will in time.
No doubt you'll fire many a shot after
you've got your strength back"
There came from the forecastle the
roll Of drum. The captain had order
ed II. He had ordered the firing. too,
not that he expected to damage the
retreating vessel. but that he hoped
the brave man 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.
"Not yet, old man, not yet You'll
be In It again soon enough"
whats goin' onT' asked Tom in g
feeble voice. II thought we'd whip
ped EN-"
$50 we did We knocked the smith
Greens out OF EN- One Of 'em Il trying
to get away. and our men are trying to
sink her"
Are they doing itT'
"You bet! few moce shots win do
the business. You're lookin' better.
old fellow. There's the light OF life in
your eye You're going to get well.
and
You're going to be an admiral some
day" supplied the captain, who had
returned from directing the operations
against the enemy's ship to direct the
saving Of the hero OF the fight. You're
to be mentioned In orders and promot-
ed and sent home on leave, and at the |
next fight you'll probably command a
fleet"
With this the captain went on to at |