USA > Vermont > Orange County > Bradford > Stories of old Bradford > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
122
STORIES OF
"What if the ship got on fire down here in the hold?"
"Well, we'd batten down the hatches, cover the ventilators to shut off the air, and send steam, through them there smoth- ering lines, to fill the hold where the fire was burning to smother the flames.
"Is this the fastest ship of its kind?"
"Nope." He spat out tobacco juice reflectively. "They's faster ships 'n the Oregon. But the Cap'n's racin' her now. We got all her b'ilers goin' full blast. Pretty risky going so fast on such a long voyage. Dunno's them b'ilers will hold out."
"Why's Captain Clark in such a hurry ?".
"Because he's been ordered to join the fleet in the Atlantic Ocean. Admiral Dewey's wiped up the Spanish ships in the Philippines so's they ain't no more danger of the Spaniards attacking the west coast. But I s'pose they might attack the east coast."
"Who can order a captain around?"
"Why an admiral, naturally-or even a commodore. It depends."
"Is there going to be a sea fight?"
"Dunno. Nobody knows-unless it's Cap'n."
"Gee! I'd sure like to be in a real sea battle," Tommy said breathlessly.
"You won't think it's so blamed funny after you've been in one, my lad. Me, I wish I was headin' for home and the Missus !"
"What are we fighting the Spanish for?"
"Dunno. Something about Cuba."
"Do we Americans own Cuba?" Tommy asked the cook later, as he gnawed a bone of salt beef cook had given him.
"Nope. Spain owns Cuba."
"Then why's everyone so excited about the Spanish?"
123
OLD BRADFORD
"Because we're at war with Spain, Lunkhead."
"We are? Golly ! What're we fighting about?"
"I dunno." Cook paused to hitch up his trousers and wipe a greasy hand across his dirty white apron. "By the great horn spoon, lad! You can ask the beatenest questions any youngun I ever did see ! I gotta roll me out some biscuit dough. S'pose you go ask that lieutenant over there. He's educated. Maybe he can tell you."
"Well," began that young lieutenant, motioning Tommy to a seat on a hawser or a big coil of rope, "it's this way. You see, England, France, and Spain all had a race in the beginning to see which would own America. The English claimed North America. They beat the French and drove them back into Can- ada. But the Spanish kept South America, the Atlantic islands Columbus had discovered, and a few odds and ends for them- selves. Well, Cuba is one of those islands. But Spain didn't rule her American people well. She didn't care whether they were happy or not. She just wanted to carry gold back home so Spain would become rich. So, finally the people in South America got sick of it. They rose up against Spain, fought, and got free. Now Cuba is trying to get free too."
"Are we Americans helping her?"
"We-ell-sort of."
"Why? Do we like Cuba better'n Spain?"
"Well, we don't like to see the Cubans treated so cruelly. When the people of Cuba tried to get free, it made Spain angry. Spain punished them by moving all the people out of the cities and herding them into concentration camps in the country. Two hundred thousand of these died from starvation. Spain thinks if enough of them die the rest will give in."
"Gee! I hope the Cubans win! I'm glad we're helping them !"
"Yes, the American people are quite indignant about the suffering Spain is causing. Being free themselves, they would like to see the people of all other countries free. But-" he hesitated, "there are other reasons why we want Cuba to win."
124
STORIES OF
"What?" asked Tommy. The lieutenant was getting that expression on his face that grownups always have when they are thinking, "You are too young to understand."
"Well, Tommy, I think you are old enough to realize that no country is always right and that even American citizens shouldn't say to themselves, 'Might makes right!' or 'My coun- try, right or wrong!' We who are serving our country as sol- diers or sailors have to obey orders regardless of what we think. But the army should simply be following the desire of the American people. When people go to the polls and vote, they express their disapproval of what the Government is doing. In that way they help decide and are responsible for what the government or the country does. Can you follow that, Tom- my?"
"I guess so," answered Tommy. "You mean that we wouldn't be fighting Spain now unless most of the people thought we should be or wanted to be, and that they told the Government what they wanted by the way they voted?"
"That's right."
"But what were the other reasons?"
"They are selfish reasons, Tommy, and not very good rea- sons, but without those reasons we might not be fighting at all. That is probably true in the case of nearly every war. In this particular case, it is because many Americans own large sugar farms or plantations in Cuba. If these sugar plantations are destroyed by Spain, Americans will lose thousands of dol- lars. Besides, our trade with Cuba amounts to several million dollars a year. Many people will lose money if this trouble keeps on. Therefore, Americans are glad to have a good excuse for rushing to help the Cubans and at the same time saving their own pocket books."
"Was that why our Government declared war?"
"Congress declared war after the Maine was blown up."
"The Maine? What was that?"
"Why, kid, don't tell me you didn't hear about that !
125
OLD BRADFORD
Where have you been keeping yourself? Why everyone all over the United States is crying 'Remember the Main !' "
"But what was the Maine?"
. "The Maine was a big American battleship that was off the coast of Cuba. It was supposed to be there on a visit. The Spanish probably thought it had no business being there. They were afraid it would interfere with their government of the Cubans, so they blew it up with a mine without any warning. Two hundred and sixty men were killed. The United States decided that having such a warlike neighbor as Spanish-owned Cuba was like having your neighbor's house on fire. You wouldn't feel very comfortable or peaceful if you were afraid of the sparks flying from your neighbor's roof toward your own, would you?"
"No."
"We don't want Spain to own land so near to us that she can easily grab some of our land or get us mixed up in her wars. See?" .
"Will we own Cuba if we win the war?"
"We don't want to own Cuba. I think we would probably govern both Cuba and the Philippines until they were able to stand on their own feet. It would be like caring for children until the children are grown and able to take care of them- selves."
Now that he knew what it was all about, the excitement of the race got into Tommy's blood. He didn't mind it too much when the ship neared the Equator, and it became so un- bearably hot that the sailors groaned and sputtered and could hardly keep on working. The men had only winter clothing with them, even though it was summer. Tommy thought the Government at Washington strangely slack not to issue summer clothing. Why, in the second World War his brother -but thinking of the Second World War made him feel strangely queer, so he tried to stop thinking about it.
The men in the hold stripped to their waists and sweated and cursed over their tasks. The boiler rooms were like ovens.
ยท
126
STORIES OF
Men off duty sprawled about in a half stupor, too hot to sleep, and too tired to even grumble.
Tommy like to sit and look over the edge of the boat. There were strange flower-like plants, bright colored water snakes, and gleaming porpoises to watch beneath the shining waves. One day he saw his first albatross.
Even the shrieking squalls and gales that hit them when they neared Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South Ameri- ca, didn't bother Tommy now. He had grown to love the ocean. It grew colder now. The sky at night was a deep purple velvet studded with stars. He saw the Magellan Clouds, thick clusters or paths of stars that resemble the Milky Way and the Cross which is formed by four stars.
He became conscious that Captain Clark was watching him very closely now as he carried messages back and forth among the officers and ran errands for the lieutenants.
As they neared the Horn, cold winds blew in from the Antarctic (near the South Pole). The men had put on all the clothes they had. For a while the wind, though cold, was light, but it increased steadily as they reached the tip of South America until the ship rolled and tumbled in the frothy waters. The white spray hit the top decks in great roaring crashes, sending even seasoned sailors sprawling at times on the treach- erous icy decks. The boilers worked harder. Officers shouted commands. Men, soaked to the skin, their wet clothing freez- ing, ran to and fro obeying. The wind shrieked. The waves pounded and crashed against the hull and bulwarks. Two men struggled at the wheel to keep the ship headed into the wind, so that she wouldn't waste time by being beaten too far to the South. The ship's wheels churned, the rudder fought gallantly. Still, progress was slow.
Then the weather grew calmer. The ship was sailing nor'- west by west.
One morning Tommy was summoned to Captain's cabin in the stern or back part of the ship. He climbed the steps and knocked on the cabin door. There was fear in his heart and a great trembling in his knees. He had learned to fear and re- spect the great man as well as to like him. He had learned that
127
OLD BRADFORD
he could be very kind, but that he could also be very stern. He could feel his heart pounding as Captain Clark asked him to sit down. He hoped he wasn't going to be scolded for some mis- take. There were so many things to remember on board a ship that it was difficult not to make mistakes.
Captain Clark smiled and waved the boy to a seat. Tommy hoped he wouldn't ask too many questions. He didn't think his voice could squeeze by the lump in his throat. He stepped awkwardly across the rich red carpet, the only carpet he had seen aboard the ship, took the chair indicated, and gazed about the room with interest. This was the first home-like room he'd seen for a long time. There were pictures and maps on the wall and souvenirs from strange lands in a cabinet. There were heavy dark brown chairs, a table, an old sea chest, things carved out of wood. Tommy's eyes lighted as he saw a minia- ture ship, a real old timer, with all her sails hoisted. Captain Clark noted the boy's interest with approval.
"Tommy, I think you have passed your test well. Con- gratulations ! You've worked hard, studied hard, and met dang- er bravely. You've been obedient and cheerful. You've passed the Horn without turning yellow. There's a saying that if a man can get by the rough waters around the Horn without showing fear he has the makings of a sailor in him. From now on, Tommy, you are my cabin boy."
"I want you to take a message to Lieutenant Allen now. Can you remember it if I don't write it down?"
"Aye, aye, Sir!" Tommy's eyes were shining with pride and happiness.
"He's a wonderful man-the Captain, isn't he?" Tom- my said to the ship's carpenter one day.
"You bet he is!" agreed the old man. "He ought to be. He's had all kinds of exciting adventures."
"Such as?" begged Tommy.
"Well sir," the old man paused in his work and stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I mind me of hearing a story about
128
STORIES OF
young Clark back in the 1860's when the North was fighting the South in the Civil War. The South had an iron covered battleship called the Tennessee that they was mighty proud of because most all ships was made of wood in them there days. We never see an iron ship afore the Civil War."
"Did they have steamboats then?"
"Yep. Steam begun to be used in b'uts in the early 1800's, but the first steamb'uts only went about five miles an hour. Folks thought that was dangerous fast in them there days."
Tommy laughed.
"Wal, this here b'ut, the Tennessee, was adoin' so much damage and asinkin' so many o' the Union ships, that is the Northern ships, that folks in the North was quite stirred up, and Admiral Farragut aimed to do suthin' about it. The North- ern ships, which were wooden, was down in Floridy tryin' to get into Mobile Bay, an' the blasted Southerners was atryin' to keep 'em out. Both sides was aramming each other fit to kill with their batterin' rams ('ship's horns' I allays calls 'em). Both sides was asinkin' ships right an' left, but the South was asinkin' the most, an' it looked fur awhile like the South was agoin' to beat. But Admiral Farragut he come on deck of his ship an' shouted to his men and got all the Northern ships ram- min' the Tennessee because he see that was doin' the mos' damage. The Northern ships fought like the Ole Harry then till they battered down the Tennessee's smoke stacks and her men was mos' suffocated with smoke. The Southern Admiral lay wounded and dyin' aboard the Tennessee.
"Wal sir, Cap'n Clark was just a young squirt then- hadn't finished at Annapolis. But he was so good they had tooken him out of school and made an ensign of him an' put him to fightin'. He was aboard the Ossipee.
"Just then the Ossipee seen a good chance to ram the Ten- nessee and she come down upon her with her throttle wide open. Clark was standin' on the fo'castle commandin' the fo'- ard guns. He see that the Tennessee was asinkin'. Then he see suthin' else nobody else seen. He see an arm aholdin' a white flag come outa the hold. That meant the Tennesssee give up and surrendered and 'twasn't fair to go on arammin' her. But
129
OLD BRADFORD
the Ossipee was agoin' so blame fast there wa'n't time to turn ! There wa'n't time to do nothin'. Clark, he up and yelled to the Tennessee to turn starboard the helm quick so's they'd get outa the way. The Tennessee didn't move. Then the Tennessee bo'sun yelled that the wheel ropes had been shot away so's they didn't have nothin' to steer by. Wal, sir, Clark he yelled to the Cap'n of the Ossipee that the Tennessee had surrendered an' they stopped the ship just in time to save the Southern men.
"They's another story I've heard tell about a shipwreck Clark was in out near Hope Island. The ship hit a big rock that was under the water. She was goin' so fast and the current was so strong that she was carried plumb up onto the rock nearly a third of her length! Then she begun to break in two out there in the ocean! Yessir, she split through the nine inch gun port jus' for'ard the hurricane deck! The men was thrown all about the ship. Most of 'em started arunnin', figurin' on gettin' into the life b'uts afore they drowned. But the Cap'n was a strong leader. He stopped 'm. Then he said as how he wanted to rescue some provisions first from out of the fo'hold. The men was all too scart to go down there an' the Cap'n hated like Sam Hill to make anybody go. Jus' then Clark came up an' tole the Cap'n that the whole danged bottom of the b'ut was tore off the fo'ard port right about where the fo'hold was. Then Clark he up an' offered to go down there and get them supplies. The Bo'sun started down with him, but he got scart and come back. Clark got the supplies an' they all set out for the main- land in the lifeboats. But the b'ut Clark was in capsized and rolled over almost onto the rocks afore they got ashore."
"Golly ! Cap'n Clark was awful brave, wasn't he? If he'd lived back in the time of Indians he's have made a good Indian fighter! You know any Indian stories ?"
"Hold your hosses! I'm acomin' to Injuns right here. Ain't got to the Injun part yet. Seems the commander was picked up by another b'ut and went off, leavin' young Clark in charge of a few men on the island. They was to be picked up later by another b'ut. They was gettin' awful hungry await- in' there. They was some Injuns on Hope Island, 'bout four hundred of them, and they had plenty of food, but they weren't
130
STORIES OF
friendly Injuns an' Clark had been warned ag'in them. Wal sir, Clark, he was wonderin' how he was agoin' to get some of that grub the Injuns had, to feed his own hungry men. An' you know what he up an' did ? Wal, he had a big howitzer on shore with him, but no cannon fodder, that is, shot fur it -. "
"What's a howitzer ?"
"My stars! I thought every boy knew what a howitzer was. It's a short, light cannon what you shoot big cannon balls out of."
"Wal sir, as I was sayin' Clark hadn't no cannon balls." "So what good was it?" asked Tommy.
"Wal sir, maybe Clark didn't have no cannon balls, but he had a brain in his head. So, you know what he up an' did? He filled that howitzer plumb full of stun and pebbles that his men picked up on the beach. When he fired it off, it made an awful racket an' them there pebbles went flyin' through the air for miles. It like to scart them Injuns to death. They thought Clark was some kind of white god, I reckon. So they come a- bringin' him all the deer meat an' salmon that he an' his men could eat so's to get on the right side of him."
"Cap'n Clark was also in command of the fleet that went up to Bering Sea near Alaska to keep the seals from gettin' all kilt off by the hunters. But that's another long story, and I reckon I gotta get back to my work now or the Cap'n will be scoldin' me."
At Rio de Janeiro, a port in Brazil about half-way up the South American coast, they paused briefly. There was a mes- sage waiting there for Captain Clark. He was to get in touch with the Secretary of the Navy. All the men aboard the Ore- gon were terribly ercited, but no one, unless it were Lieuten- ant Nicholson or Lieutenant Allen, knew what it was all about.
"Must be awful important," said one of the sailors. "Come all the way from the Guv'mint in Washington !"
"Yes," agreed another, "reckon they musta counted on the Oregon showin' up here at about this time, though ain't
131
OLD BRADFORD
no ship ever made such good time before, I reckon. We sure kicked up the waves !"
'Reckon suthin' mighty important musta happened," sug- gested a third. "Washington seemed in a hurry."
Tommy looked puzzled. "If the message was so im- portant, why did they wait for Captain Clark to get here? Why didn't they send word direct to the Oregon?"
"Send word to the Oregon ! And how would they go about that? You think you can send messages right through the air like magic?"
"He's been reading too many fairy tales."
Tommy stared. How ignorant these fellows were! "But they could have radioed it." Now that he thought of it, he hadn't seen a radio receiving or transmitting set anywhere on board. But surely a warship must have a radio set!
The men were staring now: "Maybe the voyage has addled his brains. I've heard tell more than one tar has gone batty roundin' the Horn."
Tommy was exasperated. "For Pete's sake! With radio, and airplanes, and-"
"Laddie, you're plumb stark crazy. Nobody could beat you for the wild things you can imagine. If you don't look out, the Cap'n will be ordering you tied up in the hold. That's what they do with them as has bats in their belfry." The sailors laughed loudly, slapping their legs.
After the stop at Rio, the ship went faster than ever and on May 26th, after a trip of sixty-six days, arrived at Key West, off the South coast of Florida. Here they stopped for refueling. The men began coaling at once and refilling the boil- er tanks with fresh water.
All the way from Brazil, Clark had been studying the horizon through binoculars that he carried strapped across his shoulder. Tommy guessed that he was looking for un- friendly Spanish ships.
132
STORIES OF
While the sailors were finishing preparations for a long voyage, Captain Clark went over the side of the ship and got into the skiff. He beckoned Tommy to follow him. They headed for another large ship. Captain Clark explained that he was going to report to Admiral Sampson. Tommy was thrilled at the thought that soon he would see a real admiral !
"Tommy, can you keep secrets ?" Captain Clark asked him gravely.
"Yes, Sir!" Tommy replied eagerly.
"I shall be discussing matters of great importance with the Admiral. You are not to repeat a thing you hear."
"No, Sir. I won't, Sir," promised Tommy.
"You are to carry these secrets with you to your grave," the Captain continued. Tommy shivered. "In the Army or Navy a trusted person who betrays a secret is liable to court martial and death. Remember that."
Tommy's face whitened. "Yes, Sir, I'll remember," he breathed.
Tommy was thrilled to be with these great officers who looked so splendid in their fine dark blue uniforms with the gold braid and brass buttons. He had heard from the Oregon sailors that Admiral Sampson had in his youth been considered the handsomest officer in the Navy. The dangers and respon- sibilities that he had encountered in the Civil War had aged him and strained his great mental powers almost to the break- ing point. Still, he looked very fine with his many gold stripes. Tommy knew that Captain Clark had great respect for this man with whom he had fought under Farragut in the Civil War. Tommy was happy to see that among all these great offi- cers Captain Clark looked as fine and brave as any of them. He was pleased, too, to see that even Admiral Sampson treated Captain Clark with respect. He even spoke of the days that they had spent together as boys at Annapolis Naval Academy.
"Yes, Sir," answered Clark, "I remember you there as a tall, handsome Senior, whom the students all admired above any member of the faculty."
133
OLD BRADFORD
The Admiral looked pleased and flattered. "And I remem- ber you," he laughed, "as a fat, good-natured, serious-minded young Freshman. One third of your class failed to pass and was dropped, but they couldn't flunk you out! I remember watching you drill one day. I said to one of the other senior cadets, 'Mark my word, there's a boy who will become an officer.' "
"Do you think, Sir, that there is immediate danger of the Spanish sending battle-ships to Cuba?"
"No-o," replied the Admiral. "Of course, now that Dewey has destroyed all the Spanish ships in the Pacific it is possible that later on Spain may send more ships this way. But that is not why I sent for you. It is because the American people are afraid that, now that Spain has lost the Philippines, she may strike at our eastern seaboard. No danger, of course, but, now that there is no longer a possiblity of Spain attacking our western coast, the Government has asked us to patrol the eastern coast to quiet the fears of the people. Colonel Theo- dore Roosevelt has already taken over much of Cuba with his Rough Riders."
"Rough Riders?"
"Yes, Colonel Roosevelt organized a regiment of cowboys to help General Shafter. General Shafter has been driven back from San Juan Hill by the Spanish."
"Well, you may patrol between here and Cuba. If nothing happens within a few days, I shall send you up the coast toward Hampton Roads."
For just an instant a sudden longing swept over Captain Clark's face. Tommy knew that he was thinking of his wife and children whom he had left in Ashville, North Carolina, and had probably been hoping to see at the end of this voyage. But he said nothing.
Just then there was a sudden commotion outside the door, and a message was brought in saying that Captain Eaton of the Resolve, just in from Cuba, was reporting.
Captain Eaton reported that he had sighted a Spanish battle-ship off Cuba near the city of Santiago.
134
STORIES OF
"And you think this battle-ship has just been sent across from Spain?" Admiral Sampson asked incredulously.
"Yes, Sir. I believe that this is the first of a fleet that they are sending from their navy yard in the Verde Islands."
"Hum. You are positive that it was a battle-ship and that its intentions seemed hostile ?"
"Yes, Sir. I started with all speed for the mainland, and I am quite sure that it followed me for some distance !"
"It must belong to Camara's fleet," Clark said quickly. "They probably arrived at Cuba to form a junction with Cer- vera's fleet. But they arrived too late. We are ready for them !"
The Admiral smiled at his youthful enthusiasm. "Well, Clark, perhaps I had better send you out after that fleet," he suggested lightly.
"Well, Admiral," replied Clark, "in a war the important thing is to be strong enough to conquer the enemy quickly. So if I am going, how about sending Commodore Schley along with me? Two ships are stronger than one."
"A good idea." The Admiral turned to Schley. "You take the Brooklyn along, too."
Tommy saw Commodore Schley's face light up. That was what he had wanted. He also saw that Admiral Sampson did not take any of this very seriously. He didn't think there was any danger.
Captain Clark was looking embarrassed, as if he wished he had not gone quite so far as to dare to ask an admiral if a commodore might accompany him. He was apparently afraid that Commodore Schley might be angry. He turned now and said half-jokingly, "Well, Commodore, we've fought together before. Maybe we can sink another ship?"*
"Maybe we can," the Commodore returned good-natured- ly. "Let's get going !"
* From "The Vermonter," Vol. XI, No. 10. Ideas for some of the other dialogue were obtained from the same source; most of the conversation, however, is entirely original."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.