Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-05-10
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|. The PEACEMAkER :. y
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BY F. A. mitchell.

Fathers ripe manhood has had thirty
birthdays.
The first Girard was a china mer-
chant sailing his own ships early
In the nineteenth century. He turned
over the business to his son thirty
years ago. Elihu the second discard
ed sails and used steam as a motive
power. When his son became a man
his father took him on his ship and
later made him master. Finally Elihu
the second retired and his son sailed
their ship, the Peacemaker, without
having the father on board to give him
orders.
When the worlds wal broke out,
iGirard second, had not been on a voy-
age for several years. He was devot-
ed to peace, al were his ancestors.
Hearing that German cruisers had es-
capped to pray on the commerce Of their
enemies, and fearing that his son might
become involved when out on the
ocean, he resolved to go with him on
his next trip.
Young Captain Girard was somewhat
discounted when his father informed
him of the fact, but said nothing. A
month elapsed before the P~eacemaker
was ready for her voyage, during which
time her captain vas making prepara-
lions for defense.
my son, l presume thee knows I am
opposed to any kind of warfare. If a
German cruiser mistakes the Peace
maker for a ship belonging to one of
It's enemies, ] desire to make no re-
sistance, but lower the flag at once"
"Just so, father" was the flial re-
ply.
IT see no preparations for Defense"
added the father, looking wei the YES
sci for guns. Preparations for de-
Tense only excite irritation" replied
the captain evasively.
The old man went aboard, the cap
tain followed and the Peacemaker
Started out into the Atlantic.
One day Girard the second was sit
ting on deck in a peaceful revery. His
eyesight was failing and he did not no.
tice a cruiser flying the German flag
about three miles distant and heading
for the P~eacemaker.
Father" said the captain who was
near the old man, 81 have something
to show you in my cabin. Please
come below with me-"
The father arose from his chair and
followed his son below. The former
entered the captains cabin and the
latter locked the door.
Father" he said from without,
slook through the portfolio and you
will see a German cruiser coming"
The old man looked in time to see
a shot skipping over the water passing
a cables length from the bow.
Bring her to a STOP" he shouted.
"Not a bit of it," replied the son.
ave got as much right to sail this
pond without interruption as she."
"But we are not at war she wishes
only to search u.s."
Every well, let her send an officer
aboard to search u.s."
There was no reply to this. The
captain had gone on deck and was Civ
ing orders. The cruiser-she turned
out to be a gunboat-was bearing down
on the Peacemaker, thinking that she
was a Britisher sailing under the Amer
lean flag. When she got within range,
a side of the Peacemaker opened up
and displayed a line of guns.
Captain Girard had got what he was
itching for, a fight. The Girards were
rich and he had been enabled to put
aboard an efficient armament. His
shots sought the gunboat and the gun
boats shots sought him. Between the
noise of the explosions, the words "Let
me out" were heard accompanied by
a vigorous kicking on wood. Presently
a crash was heard and up came the
captains father, his eyes aflame.
He saw several things almost SIM
ultaneously. The first was q dead
sailor who had been killed by a shot
from the German; the second was the
wreck of n of the deck houses; the
third was men standing beside their
guns waiting for something.
What are they waiting for?" asked
the old man of his son.
Ammunition, father; it's coming
right along"
At that moment a shot from the Ger
man whizzed by Mr.. Girard and knock
ed a funnel into smithereens.
'Elihu, are thee going to stand here
idle while they sink the ship?" asked
the captains father.
There was no reply, for men came
with the ammunition 1t was put in the
guns. They were manned by sailors
who knew nothing about their use. One
Of the squads failed to load in time to
satisfy the old Quaker. He gave the
man who was putting in the shot a.
shove that sent him spinning; put the
shot in the gun himself, and removing
in a similar way the man whose part it
was to fire the piece, pulled the Ian
yard himself.
The fight was a brief one, for the