The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 24, 1898, Page 24

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, JULY 24, 1898. THE MAN ON THE CRUTCHES STOPPED AND TURNED PALE. 1. ORP HEALY walked round the wire fence at the the little schoolhouse stood, with the » air of one who is strolling about for want better to do. Yet he turned his head - small, very neaf = i e t and very unprotected. Healy paused fift: yards from it, drew a long breath, blew it out again wit explosive detérmination, and charged the litle front door as if it were an Indian outpost. Yet, when he reached it, his knock was most modest and the martial red of his face feebled to a flickering pink. A little woman, as neat and unprotected looking as her house, opened the door. ‘Oh, Mr. Healy,” said she, “I hardly expected—l am glad to see you. Won't you come in? What has brought vou into the town again to-day?”’ “ WAw, Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Bell,” said Healy, gallantly, “what wud be afther bringin’ me but jist a soight o’ thim swate oyes?”’ “Mister Healy, I'm surprised,” said the little widow, with a quicker twinkle of ‘those dangerous eyes. *You people at the post all say the same thing, and none of you mean what you say, not one. A “Who—who—who's been darin’ to say that thing?” cfied Healy in angry surprise. Mrs. Bell laughed gleefully. “Come in, corporal,” she said, “do you think I'd tell vou who said anytning to me at all, and have you eating the poor things up? Do come in “Begab an’ I can’t jist yet, Mrs. Bell,” Healy an- swered. ““They’ll be aftheér callin’ my name at retrate. Mrs. Bell, swate Mrs. Bell, I'm askin’ yez to look at this wee bit av writin’.” “Oh,"” cried the widow, suddenly animated. *Do tell! Is it an invite to a hop at the post? Are the soldiers going to give another dance same snow gathering thickly about them, that Fin Stralt was comfortably seated in the neat little unprotected house, protecting from all comers the neat little widow. ‘‘Bu must be going,” he said for tne tenth time, “It's getting late and the snow gets deeper every minute.” “Yes, Mr. Strait.” thinking you must be very lonely here since— you kno The widow's eves ceased to twinkle, and winked away a tear or two. “It is lonely, Mr. Strait,” she answered him. “It's not lonely up at the post,” said Fin, and rubbed the crossed brass sabers on his hat with sudden fury. The widow sighed. “But 1 can't live at the post, Mr. Stralt,”” she an- swered, and stood In the middle of the floor, thoughtfully playing with her marriage ring. The farrier looked at her timidly, tenderly *“Sit down. Mrs. Bell,”” he cried, desperately. can't find a chafr, sit down here. And he pulled the widow on his knee. “Oh, Mr. Strait!” said Mrs. Bell, but resisted very gentl 0 ““Will you come and live at the post as my wife?” the farrier whispered, but the wicked widow, consclous of an ?fleflr from the corporal now in her pocket, ptayed with the arrier. “Oh, Mr. Strait,” she said, ‘“you soldlers at the post say the same thing, and none of you mean it—not one.” At that there came a modest rap at the door, and the “If you all | i i i The corporal found his voice first. “Axcuse? me, Mrs. Bell,” he said, with a hoarse volce *fur disturbin’ ‘}‘ex'l" It's business I'm afther havin® wi rrier Strait. Will ye come out?” e }rigrsfm?ilhe last }wnrds angrily at his old friend, and as quickly as the defiance reached his ear Fin loo,k a ‘s“;lp forward. Healy turned to the widow and bowed with stiff, soldlerly formality. i, “I’llybe likely In town to-morrow,” sald he, “on the matther av the business betwixt us.” At once the farrier faced the widow. “Mrs. Bel said he, “‘to-morrow I'll seek an answer to my question.” y!?ut the widow made no answer; she was now pale and trembling. % “Corporal,” she stammered, ‘‘Mr. Strait. They were swiftly gone, however, the farrier closing the door behind him, and the widow sat down, no little frightened at such sudden mutual wrath. “The two silly old things,” she murmured. fight when one's just as nice as the other. “To go and The snow had ceased falling and the air was colder as the two soldie; trode away from the little house, up the trail to the post, in grim silence for many minutes. Healy, his chin sticking out, his thin lips flgidlix tight, marched on blindly, clenching and unclenchin is ~ great bony hands. A pace to the corporal’s rear Fin followed, but he, after the first few hundred yards, so far conquered his passion as to attempt nonchalance. He forced himself to e men kicking le ground i 't thinkin most gut the soidie loudn over kept sharp] 3 Wi oor opened. at,"atumbl . looking up loorway, * plunging “Wud yez give me sheet of fool ccept a lowly heart, 1y Jover (with the i t Which 1 s at m_ the: I O darling, I tfully (and of the serv la fron nce Is this neck gr drew ssion piclous t of his wt many ies” then and his th =1 toj d ly supposed, the they fare of the ruped G Tin he mig v Owen.” 1If he had y t th the . each turne ced the other, re ning. in' yez, Fin, if it oral, almost ang e one?" the quite 06 008 308 408 O 00 08 00 0F S0 O OE a way ve minutes he looked secretly at ind the children of the post the 1g to school, cor- major's cannot dwell apart, according to the rules and ce) do entreat.” noticin’,” usually” himself up afther bein’ that same, Graves. Is these bracketed a winki v long time In the ¥ round the rear of orhood of r was more : corner of the cor- n nd the two wrrier’s room in the a quiet ca h JH the ad come out of ther ha Y ups did they talk would be pensioned off and look after the wel- d his stick likel a drum major and chir- looked strai fact that the far- cruption from the caught in a deed of s afther walkin yez . and took a step for a beer,” said Fin, more con- vil W he added with most unfriendly vay, his long legs quickened n down the sioping, slip- unrailed, , with almost the hopefut spring utskirts o reached the by itsclf, very nd eyed the long verandas of the t whistled and leathery on the school- s and_girls, ved and corner 0ol, out e sol- ng to tall, straight rourself,’” into the a scholar, it don't sing read the very deciaration?” even redder very ng shrewdly, e gurrls, ‘twas ince has creditable parture, leay- the post ness- of his own cam- together they ght at old vit!” exclaimed al?” +Business, cory swate Mrs. Bell *Oh, Mr. Healy! 1y caught her in hi and disap- he hangin’ ihe the mush- in the troop stables and Heal troop was st ng the call Mrs. Beil began to tear the:.envelope. be afther an answer to-night. arms and gave her a hearty kiss. “Oh, oh, Mr. Healy!""she cried “Lit it be the roight wan, swate Mrs. Bell,” a privileged character, was excused Therefore there poral repeated and ran aw The farrier, be dangerous from tattoo roilcall. der him, an hour after retre fall of snow on pleasure bent. 5 ding stiffly to Healy, throwing out a restrain- Nat “Whin I'm gone, Mrs. Bell. usiness, me dear.”” widow jumped to open it. She and hospitably open. Lit it be the relght widow murmured and blushed. . and blushed again. the cor- as nothing to hin- . from locking his room door eding away through a slight So it happened, while Corp attention along with his of his name at' tattoo, with ths pocket. “Why, Mr. Healy, i through all that snow—for the second time to-day, too. You must like the tow: b 2 1 cried Hea He did not finish the sentence. Fin, and the corpo) darkly purple in qu “How funn whom the folk thick and such old frienc house before. So she chattered, whi said she, #‘to Come right in."” d snowed baynits and sabers, entering, “'I'd have come for the— turned red and white ion. now How funny her It is probable that she knew who it was, for the twinkle of her eyes betrayed a love of mischief, but she evinced great surprise at seeing Corp Healy standing in the snow. threw the door wide think you'd come me darlint,” He saw nis old friend, c *“the widow cried, “here's you two, at the post call the brethren, you're so . and you've never met at my lipg were yet red with honest Fin's kiss, and Healy's appeal crumpled in her THE CORPORAL SHOT OUT THE WORDS ANGRILY TOWARD HIS OLD FRIEND AND POINTED TOWARD THE DOOR, whistle, and lessened stride. 'They threw off his co: “We're no rec us, Fin Strait,”” said he. fair play.” His anger was apt to cool mor “Wat's eatin’ you, Healy crooties, as you what I'm fi in’ about. It's the woman, of cours aid Healy, shortly. swer to-morrow. If I he asked. and 'Choo, T've a right to court her, an’ now the blood's $ But what's the use of our fightin’ about a thing’s settled. She had her choice, she’s choosed. What's the good of el et R e Rt R R R ot -R -2 282 2-F-2-F-F-R-F-FoF-R-R=F RegeFeTF-LoFePePeFegagegegegagugetoRogeg=gegegeogogogegegeg=gogegegegat=FeBegePagotoFegegaFadagegaFagaFeRaFagaReFogeFagaFeguPeoeguPagagototapaipegegege] cooled, T'll grant you've the same, free and fair, an’ e the angry determination of his e near the old bridge, and at the sound of that apparently merry tune Healy stopped in the deep shadow of the cottonwoods and faced his old crony. Healy ooties, to want the whole troop to see ““We can trust each other fur Fin laughed uneasily, and did not take off his coat. (}uh.‘kly than the other’s. “We ain’t re- , an’ before 1 fight I want to know “Whip me, an’ go fur whip you, sure 'tis t'other kickin T “Yis, she’s choosed,” sald Healy, flercely. “An’ whin I've whipped yez fur yer interfarin’ to-night, to-morrow she'll say ‘yis’ to me.’ . ““Ye're late for inspection, Healy, my boy.” he sald. “"Pwas to-night she sut on my knee and kissed me. Isn't that as good as saying ‘yes'?” “You lie! You lie!” “Go easy! Ye'd better take that back!"” “Ye're a dirty liar! She wuz in me arrms this very Wull yez fight, ye li In a second Fin's coat w The affair was a ve vulgar one—two common soldlers of an age to know better, of a friendship which should have been above such folly, battering each other brutally with fists for the hand of a woman whose late husband had been a Government teamster. It is to be thrown on the snow. conceived, however, that the sneering moon never looked down upon a combat fought by young lovers with honest wounded hearts more fiercely aflame. In utter silence they fought until the snow was beaten and scattered here of by thelr dancing feet. There was no_need econds, no need of an arbiter of the code. Feint, a moment’s play for breath, a close, a The old boys were strictly e that flying moon and in its tracks, each would have scorned to take an unfair advantage, to be guilty of a foul. Round after round, with all memory of their former comradeship fo en, with no thought save the es of a jealous rivalry, they struggled together. little difference in weights, but Healy wirfer, and neith d was as good as | early i So it happened that, after half an hour's f fighting, when both were bloody, and both more full of wrath than ever, they fell together and rolled in the trampled snow, too blown to Spring up. g‘orqu had the upper hold, and he cried in Fin Strait's ,“Tek it back—about the kiss! ye'll lave the widdy be!” sturdy, fierce defiance, and Healy’s hand 5 him. when there came faintly thrillin over the snow the clear note of a bugle. Healy’s han dropped harmlessly and he raised his head and pricked his ears like a dog at the call of his master. More loudly Tang the bugle, and suddenly the rivals were apart, sit- ting in the snow, listening intently. Tis boots an’ saddles!"” cried Fin. the stables!” With that each seized his coat, and, all regardless of their bruised faces and blood-stained shirts, they ran sw!ffl{ to the post. There was rushing of men to the cor- rals, the sharp commands of officers, the click of revolvers as they were hastily loaded, saddling of horses, cu men belated, hasty issuing of ammunition, and at la cool: clear voice of the captain of the troop: “Prepare to mount! Mount! Form rank: The corporal and the farrier were in their accustomed places, breathing hard, flushed and bloody, but ready ready as any lance corporal there, the pride of a first s geant's heart. Then a whisper passed from man to man down the line of horsemen. “There’s an outbreak on the Snake River Reserve. They've killed the agent. and the reds have massacred a ranchman and his family.” But this midnight expedition, although it thrilled the hearts of younger men, troubled the minds of the two veterans little. They rode on as a matter of duty, just as they would, if ordered, have gone through the maunal of arn The unfinished fight had left them with heated brains too full of jealousy and disappeintment and hate to do more than brood over the fancied treachery of each. Gone now were all memories strirrup to stirrup charges, of friendly frolics, of pains and pleasures together. True comrades once they were bitter foes now. They reached the place before daylight, seeing nothing before them, but all at once they heard the vapping of dogs and the shrill voices of squaws, and the chant and yells of blood-frenzied savages. In the fancied security of the storm the reds in their tepees were celebrating their hideous triumph to the monotonous beat of the drum and the shrill song of the warriors and the dance of the warpath. The grim captain halted his column and gave his orders, and in a minute every man was tense, revolver at the ready, bridle hand firm. “Forward, march! Trot, march! Gallop, march!” And loud and clear there followed the stirring vell, “Charge,” and the clean-cut note of the trumpet, that one long heart-thumping note that sends a man to death as willingly as to the dance. Down they went on the camp, into the blackness of the night, into the whirl of the bliz- zard, and at once it was impossible to see one’s right-hand man or keep aligned. It was each man for himself, with the thought of a murdered woman and child to steel his heart and nerve his hand and direct his aim. The Indians were not all unready. Their arms were at hand, and very quickly they realized that the white men had braved even Tek it back an’ swear “An’ me not at the blizzard to seek revenge and were upon thm. In a tumult of yells and hasty orders the chiefs sprang (o repel the attack. In a moment all was a corner 6f hell. In the midst of it, right in the center of the camp, two men came crash together, and in that instant recog- nized each other. In neither's mind was even that charge the uppermost thing. With a sudden mutual curse their rage was let loose. Healy extended his arm and fired, not two vards from his old comrade Old Fin, the farrier, gave a terrible scream, and Healy saw him drop. But éven in falling the veteran sought revenge, and his pistol was discharged. The corporal felt a sting m his side; the noise all suddenly ceased, and he also dropped inanimate from his horse. i In a little separate room in the post hospital the old aigner came out of his fever, out of the delirium, after the fight on the Snake River. The doctor was with him, and a stiffly upright and martidl attendant. He got well pretty quickly, for, as the doctor =aid, he had the constitution of a horse. One warm y he was peremptorily ordered out, much against his wiil, to take the air on the broad veranda which ran around the hos- pital. He got himself comfortable in a low chair in a quiet corner and began for the hundredth time to go over all the murdered man had done for him in those long, active years of fun and fighting. His head drooped on his breast and he dumbly thought of suicide. Round the corner of the house came the unmistakable thump, thump of a man on crutche Healy’s eves sought the corner vacantly. In an ir t they opened wide with fear and he cose to his feet, spreading out his hands to fend off something horrible. The man on the crutches stopped. He w pale with long sickne: when he turned the corner, but now his face colored and his eyes lit up with sudden unspeakable relief and joy. “Howly mother, defind me!” cried Healy. *“Aw, fur me sins, {t’s thrue I killed him, but I'm near crazy fur the sorro’ uv it. I'll confess it all, Fin, an’ be hanged like aman. Ye can have the widdy, — her, if she's any good to yez now, but go back to your grave an’ lave me pe, fur the sake of ould toimes! “Healy! Healy ped the man on crutches, hoppin, toward him. “I've been feared to ask. I thought I llefi you. Healy, you — old chump! Healy! Oh, Lord, I'm thankful for thi Fin,” slowly ceasing to tremble, “Is it aid Healy " blood yez are? Me God, but I can’t believe h a rale fiis $ter But a touch of familiar hands reassured the veteran, and in another minute the two sat side by side, and— there were no recruits to see—their hands were clasped in each other's and their eyes were wet. They did not refer, save briefly, to their nearly fatal quarrel, under- standing that each, in a moment’s madness. had fired on the other, and each, when convalescent, had been afraid to ask for news of his friend. For a long time they were silent, until old Fin looked s! y at the corporal. “She’" arried!” he said abruptly. he's 'huh!” said Healy. o the schoolmaster Graves,” said Fin. he divil,” sald Healy, and ddenly laughed loudly. Healy,” sald the farrier, solemnly, “weemin Is frauds.” “Ye're roight, so ye are, Fin,” sald the corporal, and hitched up his chair more closely to Strait's, with a sigh of content. Copyrighted, 18%—S. §. McClure & Co. + & HOW WE HANDLED OUR SHIPS BEFORE SANTIAGO. £ . By Lieutenant W. S. Hughes, U. S. N., Executive Officer U. S. S. Scorpion. 8. S. Scorpion, Off Santiago de Cuba, June 1898. HE main features of the news herein contained may be old to you by the time this arrives, but the newspaper reports are inac- curate and this has at least the merit of being an eye-witness ac- count. Our fleet has bombarded the defenses of this place three times since the blockade was established. These bom- bardments took place on the 6th, 16th and 22d of June. The first (on the 6th) occurred before our arrivel on the Scorpion; but this vessel took part in both of the others. The blockading fleet is arranged as shown in the accompanying diagram, copied from Admiral Sampson’s order. The outer circle, with Fort Morro as a center, has a radius of about six miles by day and four miles at night. ght the battle-ships Iowa, Ore- ssachusetts take turns in keeping searchlight turned on_the entranc while the Brooklyn, New York and New Orleans constantly sweep the shore on each side of the en- trance, so that the enemy’'s vessels could not possibly get out without be- ing seen. On the evening of June i5 each ship received the following order: ORDER OF BATTLE. U. S. Flagship New York, Santiago de Cuba, Tuba, June 15, 1898. 1. An examination indicates that the Spaniards have been adding to the defenses to the east and wést of the entrance. Apparently there are mounted on the left of the western battery two ship’s guns and on the right hand of the same battery two or three old guns. On the eastern battery, to the right of the light- house, arg mounted thres old guns, and possibly several smaller rapid- fire guns. 2. The squadron will be prepared to-morrow morning at early daylight to shell both of these batteries. 8. There will be no special forma- tion for this purpose, but vessels will, at early dawn, carefully adjust their positions and blockading dis- tances of three miles, and go quietly to general quarters, the men having been called early enough to have had their early coffee. The New York and the New Orleans will exchange blockading positions. 4. When signal 18 is made vessels will move toward the harbor en- trance at a speed of five knots. Ar- rived at a distance of 3000 yards each ship will stop and turn to pre- sent her broadside, the New York, New Orleans, Oregon and Iowa, turn- ing with port helm, and the Brook- lyn, Texas and the Massachusetts with starboard helm. This stopping and turning will be done without signal, but all vessels should en- deavor to arrive on the. firing line at the same moment. After turning distance should be closed to 400 yards, using the engines again if needed. The vessels will retain tlLe positions thus taken as nearly as possible, moving in closer if neces- sary in order to see their targets and render their fire effective. 5. On signal from the commander- in-chief all vessels will open fire, or fire will be opened in case the enemy begins. . 6. Bearings will be taken care- fuliy and distances obtained with a.l” practicable accuracy. 7. The Vixen will take position inshore on the western side and the Scorpion on the eastern side and look out for the musketry fire from shore. They will be slightly outside the flank ship and where they can en- filade any infantry fire directed upon the ships. 8. The fire will be deliberate, and, after the batteries are silenced, will be carefully directed to their destruc- tion. Ammunition will not be thrown away. Careful instructions will be given to gun captains not to fire un- less they can see their mark, which, in this case, will be the enemy’s guns. 9. The Vesuvius and the Porter will remain on the east side, out of range of the batteries. 10. At signal 19 the vessels will resume their day blockading sta- tions. Very respectfully, W. T. SAMPSON, Rear Admiral United States Navy, Commander-in-Chief United States Naval Force, North Atlantic Sta- tion. At\daylight of the 16th the ships moved in toward the batteries as di- rected, and immediately opened fire. The batteries on shore replied prompt- ly and rapidly for perhaps half an hour, then gradually ceased firlng. The scene during the battle was grand be- yond description. We, on the Scor- pion, fired 258 rounds. No one was hurt on our side. The Spaniards seem to be very poor gunners. How much harm we did to them could pot be ascertained, but our firing was excel- lent and I feel sure we did considera- ble damage. We have established a base, as you may be aware, at Guantanamo, on the Cuban coast, about thirty-five miles eastward of Santiago. This place was captured by 600 marines, assisted by several of our ships. It is a beautiful little bay, well protected from the sea. Some such place was absolutely. neces- sary for coaling and watering our ships, as this cannot well be done at sea, except under very favorable con- ditions. On the 19th the long looked for army arrived, about 17,000 men, in thirty-six transports, convoyed by the battle-ship Indiana and some twenty-five gun- 2 (Continued on Page 32.) ENTRANCE T( HARBOR -, GUNBO, (3 piete L ie o RS AN |",'v:xeefi’n s T Bkt BoT . ..'n " ¢ GUNBOAT 5 el n . "SCORPION" ! 10877e " Thie f%rmeur N\ { THE SHiPS Mov R ¢ R AT téP}onmosmf HERN Gt it Voo Jaeed HERIUL ohom % NIGHT CIRCLE JTHEDAY CIRCLE” TO THEN { : NIGHT CIRCLE". .. THE . BATTLESH)p ; PICKET BOATS AND VIDETTES] "4 ' TExas® ARESENT OUT TO THEIR POSITIONS AFTER DARK AND RETURN JUST.AFTER DAY BREAK. DIAGRAM SHOWING HOW THE BLOCKADING SQUADRON MADE T BATTLE SH1p, b trrse BATTLESHIP MASSACHUS ceannaa, L OY DAY CIRCLE o vees YV BATTLESHIP : "OREGON" S S — e SR — 3 .»»Npfigmq.fkf:{/ o = ATTERY S o b GUN BDAT - ‘ "MAY FLOWER AY . o~ . £ CCRUISER 5 o NNEW ORLEANS ToRPEDO BOAT “PORTER " HEIR' MOVEMENTS BY DAY AND NIGHT IN THE ATTACK ON THE FORTS BEFORE SANTIAGO. From a sketch made by Lieutenant Hughes, exciutive officer U, S. §. Scorpion.