t * .
* " * " * " - * " - > * - * -
K5T T" ? wew M. h-
r * ! * . - THE OMAHA DAILY BEKt RATTTHDAY. tAPHTTj in.
THE GREAT ARMADA Of 1898 ;
A- PAGE FROM HISTORY NOT YET WRITTEN ,
' " ' ' "
"
.
MY MAYOMC IBNBR.
I ( Copyright. IMS , by 8. B. McClure Co )
( N.'iB. "The Great Armada of 1898" Is
an Imaginative anticipation of history not
yet made. Dut the reader need not regard
it aa altogether fanciful , because the strange
thing * herein narrated might actually oc-
cur. , . .No Jem an authority than Rear Ad-
f tnfrat bhcrardl , after having the story eub-
Inltted to him , eaje :
"Tho suggestion la a novel and striking
coo end as a dernier reeort for defense would
be worth consideration. Tbo USD ot vast
quantities ot blazing oil In a place where a
attong current OP tide would carry It In a
desired direction , in a contracted channel ,
where \C8i < cls could not get away , would
probably bo disastrous to the most powerful
Beet. "
Rear Admiral Erbcn endorses this state
ment and Rear Admiral Luce has already
been quoted as eaylng that the plan afforded
an excellent means ot protection to cities
located as are New York and Philadelphia. )
The work of the diplomats waa ended ,
Rtoro than four months had elapsed olnco the
destruction of a United States ship of war
-In - a Spanish harbor. For over a month
representatives of the two governments had
been In .Paris . engaged In an attempt to et-
tlo by peaceful means the differences grow
ing out of that fateful event and the more
recent occurrences which had added to the
long-existing bltterncsu between the two na
tions. The American commissioners bad
ntcadlly pressed their clalma for full repara
tion for the Injury upon their nation. Theto
demands had been met by postponement ? ,
excuses and vague promises from the repre
sentatives of Spain.
It was evident that the latter were de
pending on the policy cf delay which had In
Oio past been the. chief reliance of Spanish
diplomacy. At Uat the attempt to reach a
peaceful settlement was ocen to bo hopeless.
On the morning of June 23 ncwt'iiapt-ro
printed the Information that the representa
tives of the United States had quitted Paris
for London. They had presented Spain
the ultimatum that unless the government
ot Washington was Informed within a vcck
that Its terms bad been acceded to peaceful
relations between tbu two nations would
como to an end.
The news waa received with satisfaction
in thoTJulleil Stated. The American people
ple , with more than ordinary patience , had
listened to the repented pleadings of their
leaders to wait. I3U there was in every
jutrlot heart a stern determination that the
deaths ot the blue jackets who had perished
Jn tlio turgid water of Havana bay should
not go unavenged.
Now that every peaceful resource had been
exhausted the president and his advisers
felt that the only dignified and honombte
course was to compel by armed force the
reparation which patient negotiations had
failed to secure. Had thla not been their
determination they would have been driven
to It by the temper of the people , which
would brook no further delay. For four
centuries Spain had tyrannized over some
part of the western continent. At last she
Jiad attempted to bully the chief nation of-
that hemisphere , nnd Its citizens felt tb
tbo time had como to drive the Spaniard , ti
JVer'trom the new world. v'li "
The result of the expected bost\iea wna
awaited with .
confldenco.by thejftjnfe of the
( United State * . Thanks to th/ time
v warn
"
ing of evwts. it had bem/ftle ; to "re-
- ' In a measure , at fearer the struggle ,
jand forces of theji ? untry nad beca
luflaltll Jltaiy * " * * ' . within striking dis
tance of-'tho Sparilirfi possessions in Cuba.
lAt Key West Admiral Slcard had collected
a fleet .composed of the finest fighting ves
sels , , ot the American navy. In Asiatic
waters a smaller fleet was gathered ready to
, pounce down upon the Philippines at the
, y first. annnQunceraent of war , Spain had
w three war ships at jHavana ; the remainder
n'pf : her fleet , which , as a whole , was Inferior
to that of the United States , was on the
vother side of the Atlantic. It seemed Im
\ possible that slro could strike a single ef
/ fective blow In the approaching contest.
One thing only marred the serenity with
which the Americans viewed
the Impending
in conflict. 'It was known that Spata bad
sfceen desperately seeking the aid of other
European powers. Now. It was rumored
ithat f ranee , yielding to the moneyed Influ
ence by which see was dominated , and
rtT "V'lL00 ' * , hvlng made large loans to Spain
* * * "onjthe security ot her Cuban revenues , was
'S't * ivfiaj y Interested la the maintenance of
: V 'Spanish power , had consented to an alliance.
, .Tnl * report was vehemently denied by the
French minister of foreign affairs , but It
found .color in the fact that- the French
- 'fleet warcongregated at Toulon , while most
i * cf Spain's available war vessel * had as
sembled at Barcelona , within a day's sail o :
the Jormcr. place.
War with Spain might give oo occasion
( or serious concern. At best she could not
* muster more than twenty vessels In fighting
trim. iBut It would become another and
much more serious matter for * the United
State * 1f the second naval power In the
( world -was , to be arrayed against her.
On June 23 the Spanish fleet sailed out
of the Mediterranean , and It was annnounced
that It had departed for Cuba. On the
< nextjday ? U was followed 'by thirty battle-
\ * Bjlps and cruisers of the French navy. In
Paris the'destination of thla fleet was an-
'uoanced ( gibe/the cruising grounds off the
me tetn.cest'bf Africa , where , U was said ,
certain evolutions were Jo be held. It was
fft | _ denled tbat1" | ( s departure was In any way
conriccted with the sailing of the Spanish
, war ships. v ut the two event * were Im
mediately Joined In the opinion of the -world
at large , and 1t was generally believed that
the French fleet was also destined for
Cuban waters. As yet war had not been
declared , but the vesels under Admiral Si-
card's command lay at Key West , with
team up , eight and day , ready to move at
a moment's notice.
On June 30 the time allotted to Spain by
the American government expired and the
'Atlantic squadron was directed to move for
ward and. capture Havana. r
OnJuly 1 a lively little steamer came
-puffins up New York bay , under full bead.
Sue appeared to have an Important mission ,
( or she halted but a moment at quarantine
and then sped on toward her destination.
Many glasses were turned on the little boat ,
and those who were familiar with the regular
vlsltorn to the harbor recognized in her the
Wadcap , the property of a New York news
paper , and ono ot the fastest llttlo cruiser *
> over built. A few ot those who saw her re
membered that she had gone out eleven daya
, before to watch the cioat naval maneuver *
on-the other side of the Atlantic , and
mondered why iho bad returned BO suddenly.
{ \Vlthln an hour their curiosity was satisfied.
When the Madcap tied up at her pier , and
ber rlnglo passenger , hailing a cab , went
dashing up Broadway to a big newspaper
office. Now York was as quiet as usual. It
/was about S in the- afternoon , and men were
hurrying about to finish up their day'a work.
IA tow business men had already started for
Jiome.
An hour afterward the scene was very
* * different. In front of the newspaper office
dnto which the Madcap's pusenger had dls-
, , * appeared was a huge throng that grew and
grew until It spread over the broad , open
Vepaco before the great building , blocked all
the. itreete and covered the roofs ot the
adjoining structure ! . Everybody craned hla
f neck In order to catch a view ot the huge
, pester that wa * being epread over the front
-ot the newspaper offlce. Downstair * the
( fcttge preieei were thundering around and
rrof9d at'terrlflc speed , but they could not
- uftuiaut'-fupeiej feat enough to feed the
neb thatsurged about the front , ef the
4 fcalUlag. and iwallowed up the damp sheet *
* oa > BurHcane doee the leavej > t autumn.
< 'Heaawalle every telegraph Instrument In the
* aitjr1 waa badly clicking with mesaage * to
* eVBrte ot ( be country ant the excitement
' * aea in New York oa that * memorable after-
'Monlwu reproduced on a leuer acalo la
which tbt aw t IHtle
bf < H | * t tm4.irhl < * 5 create *
atictartlUv ttet
great - % r ha4 - * * " , h * rd , U wa
. Uec-4k taVVnaouucemenf tlat
* "O VIMA rr f aH J akli feeta were
veu thB.'proo edlag aef M the AtUntlc ,
oCrta. ' t'wWi thk |
New Y rk C4tr.-M4 * totwUBl U *
- e aiwr da r twe
the country In a tumult on that quiet July
day. It caused the people to leave their
shope , their fields and their homes , to gather
In excited and gesticulating groups ; It
caused President MtKlnley and his cabinet
at Washington to hurry Into secret confer
ence and Governor Olack at Albany to Irauo
a special proclamation to the state mllltla
directing its members to report to their
commanding officers and to bo ready for
marchlrg orders at any moment.
At Hist It was thought that the ncwa
could not bo true , It was such a high-handed
etep and there had been no whisper of It
beforehand. 'But no sooner had one man
raised this objection than a dozen othcro
were ready to explain it away.
Thus It was argued back and forth until
almost every ono was convinced before the
sun went down tha't ono of the strongest
fleets ever gathered waa planning to elezo
the greatest city In the country that In
comparable city which lay apparently as
defenseless as a rich field ot grain before
tbo hurricane.
The people were convinced. They knew
that thcuo nations hnd resented what they
considered the Interference of the United
States In their affalru and had been burning
with the dcslro fop vengeance. It was all
true. They had planned to make their re-
Tfcer affected io make light ef th * whole
matter , eaylng that perbapo- -wee not. M
serious M had at first been Imagined.
It waa naturally conjectured that thli
change of tone was connected with the visit
ot the two men from New York , although
In exactly what way It was Impossible to
gun * . It was nlggttted by ono that per
haps ( hey had come < offer a loan to the
government , though the nectttlty for that
could not bo seen ; by another that possibly
the engineer bad some new icheme ot de
fense calculated to bring confusion on the
boBtllo Invaders , but none knew the exact
truth ot the matter except the ten men
who had gathered round the table In the
president's council chamber , and their Ilpa
were scaled.
'
II.
Ju t before du k on the evening of the
3d , two daya after the arrival ot the 'Madcap
with the first tidings of the approaching In
vasion , a message from Sandy Hook an
nounced that the vanguard of the alien fleet
had been sighted by a patrol boat fifty miles
at eea. It had been Impossible to determine
the exact strength or numbers of the in-
Invadlag fleet , but enough had been ascer
tained to verify In every detail the report
given out on the afternoon of the 1st. That
a powerful fleet of the strongest battleships
of Europe would within twenty-four hours ,
unlouj stopped by the guns t Sandy Hook ,
bo throwing their shells Into the heart of the
metropolis , became at once a fact Instead of
a supposition. That the defense of the ,
Hook would prove Inadequate was almcot a
certainty In the minds ot the thousands who
thconged about the bulletin boards on tfic
receipt ot the news that the enemy were
Indeed at our very doors. That the tor-
CAUGHT IN A SEA OF FLAME.
vcngo servo also as the occasion ol tnc most
bitter humiliation of the great western re
public. The plan was such an unexpected
yet such a simple and natural one.
All through the night of the 1st men lioM
their breathe as In the presence of a gnat
calamity. Morning brought little change.
Telegiamo from the capital reported that
the president and his cabinet had been in
session all night long dlacugstng the situa
tion , but that they had made no announce
ment ot any proposed action for the defense
of the city. Throughout the 2d all eyes
were turned toward Washington and the
movements of the" " government officials were
watched wlUf the" irftenaest Interest. The
ncwupapers printed 'extras every half hour ,
filled for Iho most part with Washington
dispatches , and every word wua eagerly de
voured. The first Important news was the
publication of an official proclamation by
the president ot the United States , accompa
nied by an official statement to the people ,
which was implemented by reports from the
secretaries ot war and navy. The presi
dent's statement said that while the gov
ernment ; was called' upon to face a very
grave crlala , every effort would be made
to meet the Impending danger by
drawing upon every available resource. Tbe
secretary of war : reported that the com
mander ot tbo department of the east had
been ordered to collect all. or aa many as
possible , of the troops under his command
at New York , and that the governors of New
York and New Jersey had been requested to
call out the mllltla otVthose states and to
concentrate them at Now York City. The
report ot the secretary of the navy waa least
satisfying. It showed that only two armed
vessels were available for Immediate use
In defense of the threatened city. Ono waa
the Terror at Norfolk , the other the ram
Katabdln In New York harbor. All tbo other
vessela of the Atlantic squadron were with
Admiral Slcard at Ha\ana. There were two i
dynamlto cruisers which happened to be at
New- York at the time , and one gunboat
undergoing repairs at the Brooklyn navy
yard. These were the only vessel * that the
United States could inuater at a moment's
notlco to oppose one ot the flncat fleets of
battleahlps ever gathered In a single array.
As the day wore on the Intensity of the
excitement grew greater , Initead ot decreai-
( V. It WM .ee n' that the authorities at
Wathlngton were greatly alarmed ; that they .
were. In fact , at their wlta * end.
Later In the day , however , there was a
change In thla quarter. The cabinet met
again , and waa In eesilon for several hours.
During a part of that time a prominent'
Kew York capitalist and an equally prorala-
at engineer were closeted with the council.
They chad i cone from the , metropolis that
aerate * . * . O B ae they emerged from .
the eeafereace , they hurried t aok again , re-
fuslag taMy A word to thereporter * who.
thronged abevt them. Aa hour later the
eahlset meet la- adjourned , and It wai at
cce > Me * that .there wai a distinct change
U the atmosphere. The oHclale refused to
ay anything a to what had taken place
In the meeting but they acemed te be much .
ore oafldeot thaa they k4 beea
pedoca that had been hurledly pUccJ
bejond the narrows might prove an
obstacle to the progress of the fleet threw
little cnSouragemcut on the situation. N'lne
out of every ten persons In the city bellevei
In their hearts that before the sun went
down on the evening of the following day ,
the proudest city on .tho western continent
would be In ruins or suppliant at the feet
of the forelgu admirals. That , * he ships
would not begin their attack until the'fol
lowing morning was probable ; their com
manders would scarce venture too near the
land at nightfall. It was the morrt/w that
the country dreaded , for it the fleet suc
ceeded In passing the batteries .at Sandy
iHook iXew York would lie at the" mercy of
tbo Invaders.
On board the foreign fleet there was a
feeling of confidence on tbatwarm autumn
evening. That there would bo a battle in
the morning was expected , for the guns
behind the distant sand embankments would
speak with a voice that would be heard
around the world. But what would a little
fighting amount > to In the face of the great
victory that waste follow ? A few sailors
might be kllleJ. poslsbly a ship sunk In the
melee , but behind would press oo the flags
ot two great powers of the old world a
force invincible , Impregnable. "
"RENT APAUT AS THOUGH ITS PLATES WERE PASTEBOARD. "
All that nlgbt throngs ot sober-faced men
and women passed soberly from the city
toward the scene ot the Inevitable conflict ,
and when morning dawnedJhe shores -which
flanked the expected passage ot the fleet
were black -with spectators. They might
have been mistaken for sightseers ca a holi
day outing except for one thing : the profound
silence which held them all like a spell , as
they turned their eyes toward the distant
line , where sea met sky. and strained their
ears to catch the flrst sound ot the guns
which would announce that the batteries
at Sandy Hook had sighted the enemy.
It came , rolling back over the greeo-tUd
htlli , a deep-toned knell to the waiting
thousands. Before It died away there came
another , more distant , more muBed report ,
though In answer to the flrit , and then
It was as though some mighty volcano
belched forth on a sudden all the stored-up
fury ot agee In one thunderous intonation
that seemed to let the very grou-ad beneath
the feet ot the anxlouawatchers rocking In
It * foundations. Few of them had ever
heard euoh be&w cannonading and /with
white faces they looked at each other as
though to aekIf some craat catastrophe
bad engulfed one. or the other ot the com
batant * at the very outset ot the tm gle.
But the deep-toned reportsicontUued.-with
now.aad then a sharper.and mere piercing
* ound , and presently a cloud ef imokecould
be 'eee .v I t&-theee thward , drlftlag up
from tie spot where 4h twe kemlepheree
were'battling tor the supremacy , , _ And with
strained Jeeei turned toward" , the'a' the
IleafueWMece stood and watched the
cloud grow darker and troader , and grayed
ta the god of the coatlct to grant the vic
tory to the men eo nobly strlvUg' tot the
Bailee's honor from belnd the yellew aand-
hllls whose crest they could , barely ace.
There is ) a volot loe.iiMt that el
wall n < * no mariner t Impatience came
tronMhe ellent thwiMndi M they stood and
listened to Ita awful He * * * while the sun
cllmbedjiip mtern' < hevcns , and , passIng -
Ing the meridian , began -to link again , -But
then the steady root1 which bad shaken the
great city andslta environs since daybreak
began to low In volume , the heavy
boom ot canno * > behtnd the randhllls be
came lew frequent. What could It mean ?
Wcro the asrallanta so soon defeated , had
they already turned back ? Or had the huge
guns behind the embankment been hurled
from their place * and so rendered power
less to * peak for the defense ot the land ?
And at the sickening fear which clutched
e ch heart at the thought ot thta possibility
the ellenco which held the throng became
absolutely painful Indti tendency.
But although tfcb breathless throng which
covered the ehorer , standing dark und silent
under the shadow ot an expected calamity ,
knew not the nrtunlag of this sudden lull
In the terrific cannonading those who had
gathered on the- ) sandy shores beyond the
Narrows , where the-more open sea spread
out to their vlew , . comprehended that a
crltla waB Indeedmt hand. As the clouds of
smoke belched ftom the great guns behind
the yellow embaakmanta thinned and drifted
away before the evening breeze the vanguard
of the enemy'a fleet' arot's out ot the mist
far out at sea. Theiaistance was as yet too
great to dtslngulsb the number of the alien
force , but thosonwho turned their glasses
toward the southeast made out a long black
double line of giant crulwrs lying like a
great double-headed acrpent atwlxt the rca
and sky. And ad they looked , appalled at
the majeaty of thq sight , there came a bright
led flash , bursting an jagged forks of light
ning along the side of the sepent's finale
und from tholow sandhills surmounted by
the milleti guffs of the defente aroi-e a yellow
clouda < The great thlrtcen-lnch shells hurled
from the guns of France and Spain rained
as a mighty storm ot ball across the Inter
vening i\a\ea upon the narron point of land ,
the bccsted defense of the proudest city
In the western world.
But there came no answering flush from
the American guns , no tlgn of life from
the low sand embankments except the flutter
ing of the crimson-barred flag floating de
fiantly above the fortress , turned for the
time Into a .ve.yffair below. Strong men
hcaught'thelr breatHjM-m&nr * < hand-tlashttl
I away the tears whlett dimmed the e ea that
' watched BO eagerjy for an answering de
fiance from the iforti at Sandy Hook. This
thca was to be < he end ? The guns Ifon
had been feared by all the world were si
lenced when tho-time for them io apeak most
eloquently had coma ? Five "hours of day
light yet remalncditanif In that time the
ullen admirals could brjng their ahlps be
yond .the danger ! of the guns along the
ehore.
On- the vessel * of the foreign flcei the
allow were cheering.till the echo of their
shouts almost reached the cars of the waitIng -
Ing multitude four pintles away. What If
the passage to the city -was lined with sub
merged torpedoes- and all the obstacles of
modern naval wirlare ? The great guns
of the enemy had been silenced , and al
though the foremost slips perished , there
were a score behlod , to press on over their
shattered hulls. The great double-headed
serpent bean to move slowly forward , feelIng -
Ing Its way carefully , yet pressing on as
though urged by an Irresistible force , and
as each ship drew near the silenced forts
each sent a storm of shot about the spangled
flag ; all the hate of a decade of bridled
wrath waa In the useless firing on an ap
parently defenseless foe.
Tbe message that flashed over the wires
tp New York , -Washington and to to the
telegraph offices of even ; city Jn the laud
paled the cheeks of the millions who waited
breathlessly for nerws from the scene of
strife. The alien fleet had passed ( he guns
at Sandy Hook ; men had dreaded such news ,
but when It came there were few who com
prehended It. At Washington a wild mob
surged about the building of the chief ex
ecutive ; what i\ould he do , what excuse
had he and his cabinet to offer that .they
had allowed 20 enemy to force so easily
the very gates of the nation ? But within
the room where the cabinet had gathered
there was a calm that contrasted strangely
nlt'h the tumult of the millions throughout
tbo land ; did not'the president and those
who served him comprehend that the honor
of .tbo nation \\ua at stake ?
It was a few minutes to 6 o'clock , Just
at the hour when the foreign fleet was drawIng -
Ing near to the Jaws of the Narrows , that
the president took out his watch.
"In half an hour , " said he , calmly , turnIng -
Ing to the secretary of war , "we will know
the end. It was at 0 that " He closed
the case of the watch with a snap , and
picked up an evening paper which lay on
the table , .
III.
The end had como. The vanguard of the
enemy were well In toward the mouth of
the narrows , paying no heed to
the flro of the forts that flanked
the moving line on either side. Those , who
watched from the ehoro had seen one of
tie foremost ships suddenly dart back , had
seen a great mass of seething water and 1
spray rlso from the surface of the sea nnd
the Iron sldca cf the cruiser rent apart aa
though Its plates had been of pasteboard , but
the rrat ot the line kept Its course. There
bad como moro convulsions from the deep ,
a second , a third ship had been- rent by the
great torpedoes , 300 Bailers had beea killed ,
but the line yet pressed on ; as the admiral
of the Frenchman had eald to the head ot
the government at home : "What matters
It If half the chips bo blown up , If we gain
the prize for which we seek ? " And so , sul
lenly. their ildei aflame , the line of war
ships , now stretched out in single file , moved
onward. Between ltnd the prize hovered
the little fleet of American vessel * hastily
gathered to oppose 4fce invading boat. The
multitude gathered' ppon the surrounding
helghU watched tba tdvance of the brilliant
trl-color of Fraqjie md the proud standards
of CMtlle and Aragpenwith much the same >
feelings that th , .l * * elltea ot old must nave
experienced wb alh r Tr the giant Goliath
tearing down upn tielr youthful champion.
But this modern E vld bad no resource *
that 'were- BeT T m tched by those of hla
antagonist , and nan ? of the crowd turned to
leave rather than reaMln to view a ipectacle
which they had otriWbeart to look upon
thu ot their > w j aw fall and bumllla.
A few of the JMT fcserrtaff , however. In
cluding maet 'Si tbeM famMUr wKh the
Jwrter. bed twnfcl.-lfcelr gue from the approaching
preaching * fleet ioview a ne ; wonder.
Throughput the > 7 'the HUT , breeze had
chimed. , the ? watffefT the bay lnt . foam-
flecked , eh pPyw * * Mmt now a'ltoe of
emlm epMred , > egMnlBg e little wtthii\Jbe
Varrewe perhef * Barter f a all * ahead
of the e > etwhere h * American et WM
u4a rea4iic Mnei ftlMet tr
shore to chore ) , It wae M though eome giant
band had smoothed out the furrow * of the
angry d ep nd some omnipotent voice had
Mid : "Peace , be gtltl. " Dut what did It all
meant * WM k an omen of good tor the de-
fcnJert or a preparation ( or the triumphal
entry of the fc 7 No man could answer that
question , but In their Interest In watching
Uio strange phenomenon many of the on
looker * forgot that the destiny of a nation
was likely to bo decided within the next
few momenta.
The lliio of calm crept on , turning the
mirfaco of the wavca Into a glossy green , and
borne outward toward the approaching fleet
by the tide , which bad begun to flow seaward
again. Rrom the flagships of the Invading
squadrons the foreign admirals eaw and won
dered at It , but no thought of staying their
course crossed their mind. And still the Ilpa
of thoae frowning gunw that looked from the
bulwarks of the American vessels were
sealed. A murmur that deepened Into a roar
went up from Iho watchers on the helgh/a.
It was the same sound thlt had been hiTard
from the crowd before on that day a growl
of disapproval at the Inaction of their de
fenders. As though In answer to It thcru
cuiiio tlic fltst hcijtllo demonstration from
the American fleet. A puff of white rmoko
roao from the Destroyer , one of the dvnamUo
cruisers , 'which ' was lying Inshore across the
bay * clcBC to the huge blac'.t oil Unka on
Constable Hookj From out this white cloud
sped a black projectile , ilslt.g awlftly , but
not too swiftly for the cyo to follow , In a
graceful curve high above the waters of the
bay. From tin alincat perpendicular height It
fell upon the forefront of tlat line of ad
vancing calm , midway between the two grim
forte which stand the .Mlenl guardlanu of
the harbor , and In the very face of the ad-
\ancliif , ' squadron. An It touched the glassy
Burfaco of the water there canio a blinding
f.ash , and a column of dcahiig spray aro.e
100 feet Into the air.
And hero , the last and greatest wonder of
this eventful day was unfolded to the on-
Icokets. As ' the column of foam hesitated for
a moment , poised In midair , It turned oud-
denly to a gigantic pillar of flame. An lnr
ftant It trembled fiere and then descended
In myriad Jets of fire which were caught up
0:1 : every side and rose at > though fanned from
bomo Inferno , a wall of flame fifty feet high ,
extending from sho'D to here and sweeping
down lllw an avenging denron on the hostile
fleet which but a moment before had been
ercuro In Ita cipectcd triumph. At the same
Ini'tant ' , when the terrific. ! spectators were
drawing back frcm the awful heat which
picsscd upun them from the water's edge , the
operator t/tatlonert / at the instrument in the
loom at WtiDhlniitCM in which the cabinet
had assembled clucked off the massage
which llcohcd fro.n the little ofllco hidden
amongtitho oil tanks at tidewater : "Harbor
aflame ) ; success Ui urcJ. "
In anilustant it v.ao clear alike to friend
and faff Ifco trap had been sprung , alul the
ted of fire lad become the arbiter of the
unequal .contest. Then men unde otood s\r < at
meant- the silence of the guno nt Sandy hook ,
the lioMlnsr lack of the alien fleet until the
outgolng-llde Ehould aid In hurrying down
upon tjio Invading force the seething mass
of burning oil , carried from the wclh of
1 cnnaylvunla through the great pipes of the
company which controlled the supply of the
world to a point under the watera of the
harbor. 'At the touch of the engineer who
controllc 1 tell- mighty flood of petroleum the
dangerous liquid had Asjcited Its ascendancy
over water , and poured Jn a torrent to thu
surface , to bo United by the shell fired from
the- gun of the little cruiser that lay in
midincss for tno signal flashed from the
Jersey shores Then men Knew of the mean
ing of the , \ialt to Washington of the
capitalist and the engineer , and of the
strange unconcern that marked the demeanor
"f the x > mclals of ( he government.
In an liwtant the trlumphful adv"ano of
the alien ( lest had teen turned to consterna
tion. Swept onward by the swiftly outgoing
tide , the mighty tliect of flame , hotter and
more fierce than a thousand gigantic fur
naces , bare down upon the Ircaclad ves.'e'a
of Franco and Spain. To press onward In
the faca of such a demon meant death ; no
ships or men or courage could withstand
the god of fire. In mother ten minutes
the heat of the burning oil would reach the
.magazines , and the ships would be blowu
to atoms by tUelr own ammunition. Not
sullenly now , but es one who flees panic-
stricken before a supernatural power , the
great crullers turned" to fly7"but life very
narrowness of the course brought destruc
tion. Huddled together , each striving to
gain the sheltsr ofthe open sea bejonj ,
the mlsh'.y fleet . -
, the.-prlda of two nations ,
became a sp tacloof demoralization
, a-
hai-vest ripe for the sickle. And now from
the guos of Forts Wadanorth and Hamil
ton , and from the low- embankments at
Saady Hook , there flashed the avenging flrc
of the hnherto apparently subdued defend
ers. No answering shots came from the
fleet ; It required every energy to escape the
fiery demon that like a racs horse galloped
mady ! In , their rear. Torpedoes hitherto
avoided lent aid to the work ot destruction.
Here a ncblg ship arose In the air , pierced
by the steel that had lain so tranquilly
beneath ( too surface of the deep ; here agalu
the goJ of fire seized upon Its victim , turnIng -
Ing the grim Iron to a ruddy glow , until
In a majestic burst of brilliancy ship , guns
and men tank tucieath the surface of the
harbor , or wera Scattered like chaff to the
four winds ot heaven , In which still waved
the crlrcson-parrcd banner , the emblem of
the greatest republic on earth.
Two upura later tbcrc- crept from the
shores of America what remained of the
proud flcefitlmt hadcon1 e to deal a blo.v
to the prldd of "the United States , end
throughout rtho land there arose a paalm
of thanksgiving that cchosd from the rocky
walls ot&ffa Sierra Nevada mountains to
the greatffcfad hlls ! of Vermont. And In
bis char&Jjer at ; . Washington , surrounded by
hoi cabtywt , * the < president of the United
States/of America turned to a gentleman
In clerical attire * who , bowing his head over
the ; table "whereon Jay the menage announc
ing the nation's triumph , said In the solemn
voice of his order , "Let us pray. "
Thlrty-flvo icars make a generation. That
Is how long Adolph Fisher of Zanesvlllo , 0. .
suffered from pllea. He'was cured by uslug
three boxes ct DeWitt's Witch Hazel Sahe.
"TUU YA.Mvr.li : KI\G.
General Dniilel il" . Mclclr * ' Influence
iiii Spiinlnh rolltlci.
General Daniel E. Sickles , who Is now 75
years old and permanently retired from
active life , has recently been reported as
saying virtually that lei his opinion there will
bo war between the United States and Sraln
unless It bo prevented by the business Influ
ences of the civilized world , which are now
stronger than the/ were In 1873 , when they
prevented war between the two countries
over theVlrglnlus'affair. ,
General Sickles should bo well qualified to
talk with intelligence concerning Spain , since
as minister to Msdrld from thla country from
1869 to 1874 ho made himself exceedingly pop
ular with all classes.
His service there began soon after Spain
had thrown over Queen Isabella to accept
General Prim and the republic. Later I'rlm
was dropped that an Italian prlnco might be
made sovereign , but his reign was ohort-
llved , and after Its close Cattelar waa placed
at the head of the republican government.
Costelar and Sickles were chose friends , and
the American general's advice to the Spanish
statesman was ot great value ,
fit waa followed so Implicitly. In fact , that
Sickles was long termed "The Yankee King"
In Spain , and there Is no doubt In the minds
of come who are familiar with the facts and
situation that the republic would have pre
vailed had bo not been rcjcalled at the time
of the Vlrglnlus affair , through the Influence
of tbo late Hamilton Fish , then secretary of
elate.
Deiplte General Sickles' popularity In
Spain and his tympathy with that country
In many things , he wes much averse io
yielding a single point with regard to the
Vlrglnlua , and this waa the cause o ! his re
call , since the business Interests ot this
country , as well u the rent ot the world ,
believed the Incident not of sufficient Im
portance to cause war.
General Sickle * had never met Isabella
when be w recalled , but be met her soon
afterward io Paris , where be spent lome
months before returning to thii country ,
Th.e me tinc was la ber apartment ! , where
he called by special appointment , and the
coaveriatlon WM opined by the general , < wha
tated that , although he had aevtr teen hla
hoateB before , he could pot ( all ot recog
nising ber anywbere , atace be kad- & come
familiar with ber feature * from her-i-rtralt ,
which still adorned the .walla of-It\ royal
palace In Madrid. TbU later ? < * , the
thronelei * monarch at once. 'ft
"What ! " aba excltlmtd. "do Uo e odloua
rebels tlll tolerate the preaec ot my per'
tmlt lir the' palae t'A. < v'- <
rtill 4 U general ;
Abbott toring's Germ-Killer Inhalant
Cures Diseases if the Chest , Umjs and fieri Nt Other Remedy Cai
Pass theEpJtottls ; and Cure Deep-Seated Disease. v.
No Other InhalerCan Send the Medlclwe to the Rf ( ht Place A Never
Failing Cure for All Forms of Throat , Chest and LHMJ Disease x
Read the Proof.
Writing from her residence on Georgia
avenue , Mrs. Mnry Kcllar Uyrncs , nays ;
OMAHA , Nob. . Mnrch 10. U9S.
Lorlng & Co. , Chicago , Now York and Bos
ton :
Gentlemen I hail .grip last winter nnd
It left my lungs and firont In n precarious
condition : Indeed , Rome phyalclnns doubted
If I could cscnpo consumption , und my
friends were \cry much cancerneil .nbout
me. Medical treatment did mo little Rood
until I got hold of Abbott Lorlng'B Germ-
KIKcr Inlmlnnt nnd Anti-Germ vnporlzlnjr
Inhaler. Thl * treitmcnt gave mo wonderful
relief tit once nnd In three weeks has ef
fected n practical cure. The soreness nnd
distress arc gone from my chest , I hnvo no
moro caugh or catarrh nnd my general
health Is very good Indeed. I FWU nil
praise to Abbott Loring's wonderful discov
ery. Truly lila Germ-Killer remedy cures.
Respectfully.
MARY KULLAR BYRNES.
Complete lloinc Treatment.
This treatment , consisting of Lorlng's
Germ-Killer lor Inhalation and Abbott Lor-
IUK'M Anti-Germ Vaporizing Inhaler , tl.OO.
For Gome chronic and spisinodlo diseases
which require special treatment special
medicines have been prepared by our phjsl-
clins and chemists. No , 1 Special Mcdlcina
For Tonnllltls , LnrilnRltls. Cntarrhnl
, Hiiy Fever hnd D phthcrla. Pile > .
cpnts. No. 2 Special Medicine For Con
sumption nnd UronchltK Price , 50 cents.
No. 3 Special Medicine Per Asthma ,
Whooping1 CoiiKh nnd Croup. Price , 50
rents. Antl eptic Giuze For use In the In-
huler , 4-yurdi 40 cpnts ; ' ,6-ynul , 75 cents ; 1
jnrcl , J1.50. Anti-Germ Dalm An antiseptic
prppiratlon for external application , vvhloh
laUes the soreness out of the lungs , hastens
the cure or catarrh , assists In the cure of
all throat troubles and cures Cracked Lips.
Chapped Hands and Kczeinu. Price 25
cents. "
IorltiK'N firrm-lCIIIcr Tnliloin.
TTO vvondtrful Germ-Killer element dis
covered by Abbott Lorlng Is contained In
each of the Abbott "Lorlng Germ-Killer
Tablets. It constitutes the basis ot the
control of the symptoms und conditions In
cident to Kiici ailment. It has been abun
dantly proven that any one of the Germ-
Killer remedies quickly gains control over
the system , nnd experience shown that each
remedy effects a "complete cure of the dis
ease for the treatment of which It Is spe
cially prepared. Tne governing principle of
fie Germ-Killer1 remedies Is In perfect har
mony with the principles of that .greatest
of nil scientists. Nature , In curing disease *
Send for book giving history of Abbott lior-
Ings strnnga discovery. Us Interesting nnd
mysterious origin end Its wonderful cura
tive power. It Is a product of the RoontKcrx
or X rny , and you should know nil nbout
It. The book Is sent free.
When catarrh Is dcep-sentcd In the itom-
nch or bowels where ozone does not pene
trate. Lorlng's Germ-Killer Dyspepsia Tab
lets should be used. They quickly control
the digestive functions and Immediate bciie-
llts follow. No other dyspepsia medicine
can cure dyspepsia.
Lorlng's Oerm Klllsr Dyspepsia Tablets
CO cents a box.
Lorlng's Germ-Killer Rheumatism Tab
lets , no cents a box.
Lorliifi's Gcrm-Klllcr Heart Tab'ets , | 2.00
a box ,
I/rlng's Germ-Killer Laxative Tablets , CO
cents a box.
Don't skip this It Is for your good. Every
enterprising druggist carries nil our other
remedies In stock. It you sea It you will
not want any other.
Our book furnished with the Inhaler will
give you full Information. It Is the Gcrm-
Klller Medicine that cures.
Abbott Lorlng's 25-cent book on "Diseases
of the Throat , Lungs , Chest nnd Head nnrt
How to Cure Them , " sent free , with full
Information nbout treatment , all postpaid.
Write us fully nbout your case and wo will
advise you Fltun OF CHARGD. Tills treat ,
ment Is cheap. You can get It by mall post
paid. You can take It nt hbrne. Order now
nnd prevent dcaJy.
Mention department number below on your
envelope when you write Use only the
nearest address.
LORING&CO.1138
VON. fi8OVnlinRl ! > Avo. , Chloniro , 111 *
No. 42 W. 22d St. . New York City.
No. 3 Hamilton Place , Boston , Maes.
in . ui.wTftv I.IBW * ias ivimili < ! rtlio
tlon of n famoui 1'rcncli physician , will quickly euro > on , o f all lief.
yous ordiseasesolthegcacraUve [ orpan , nucli ni test Manhood.
Insomnia , ' In , .
1'alns ( ho BackSeminal Kinlsslnn * , Nervous , -
1 Imp cs , UnUtncsi to Marry , Kilinusilnif Ornlns , Vnrlcocclo -
Constlnatlon. It itoin n 1 losses by day or night. 1'rei pnti unlck-
utss ot lilbclinrgp , n hlcU U not chrrkml loads to bpermntorrlran and
AFTER 2' ' ' .tlio horrors ntlmpotency. CUI inKNI3clcoiiacsUieUvcr , Uio >
. . ; V klilncyaoncl tin- urinary orBansoI all impurities.
- .
rr.M : nlrcnsthonsnna restores ftnall weak organs.
Ilia reason minprfr-inro not cured by Doctors 1 1 licnmso ninety per cent arc tronbled with
IrooCallfl * . COrinnNK In the only Isnott n rempcly to curawliboututiopi ration. SOOOtrntlmonl-
nK A wrlttnnBiiKrnnti'OBlvpaanilmnncjrroturnKl If six Imxps rtocs notcllect n Dcrinancutcurn. ,
$1.00 a box , six lor f" . by mall. Homl for men circular unU testimonials , l tnuuumi ym
Address DAVoli. . fIXIDICIA B CO. , P. O. Cox 3370 , Bra Francisco , Cot IbrSate bo
MViitS-niII , < ) \ D1IUG CO. . S. E. Coi 10th uud Fnriiaiii , Oiunlin.
"A GOOD TA E WILL BEAR TELLING
SAPOLIOI USE
APOLIO
Pictures of the Navy and Cuba
The Bee has arranged to supply its readers with a set of
Portfolios which answer many important questions they
have been asking themselves and their friends for sometime
past. The Bee prints the news concerning Cuba , the Ha
waiian Islands and the American Navy , but where is
the reiader that , \vould"not like to see these things as they
really are. The sot will comprise
Ten Portfolios of Photographic Reproductions
presenting 160 views , accompanied by concise explanatory text.
They furnish much valuable information about
HAWAII , CUBA ,
Countries where America has largo interests to bo protected , and
THE AMERICAN NAVY
which will figure prominently in the protecting. Naturally everyAmerican
wants to Know what sort of ships Undo Sam uses in arguing1 nautical ques
tions , und The Beo's offer affords the means of knowing the strength of bis
lojric in heated disputes.
THE FIRST Five PARTS ARC NOW READY.
HOW TO GET THEM
, The Omaha Bco will please send to the
Fill out the annexed coupon *
reader
legibly , stating how many you undersigned PORTFOLIOS as
nlsh. and bringer ( send ) It to
The Bco with 10 cents In coin Issued , for which * Is inclose *
for each PORTFOLIO wanted. j
It will be moro convenient to
semi Jl.OO at the outsit , as you Narao '
can thereby avoid writing a
letter and enclosing a dime for Sti-cot
each , of the successive ISBUCB.
They wilt * ) o sent out ns fast
as they como from the presses. City State
Get One for Dime Indicate In plain figures how ninny Portfolios
a ; are wanted and how muuli money Is loclosod. Boml
no stamps.
10 for a Dollar ,
Parts I to VI Now Ready.
On sale at the Business Office of The Omaha Bee ,
"and the palace Also contains many other
souvenirs of your majesty. "
It was with difficulty she could be made to
believe this , and when she accepted the fact
she fell Into a soliloquy , the burden of which
ran : "In my palace ! In my palace ! It Is unexplainable -
explainable 1 Why are these things allowed
to remain there when I bavo been drhen
out ? "
General Sickles then assured her that her
downfall was not so much due to personal
unpopularity on ber part as to the odious
politico that bad flourished under her reign.
The Spanish people continued to love her , bo
aid , In tplte of all , and ho bad heard many
expressions of tender feeling toward ber. It
waa remembered that she bad always been
averse to signing' death warrants , and that
many a wretch condemned to the girrote
had been pardoned through ber Influence. He
concluded by thq statement that , while In
hla opinion. he might never resume the
throne , the Spaniards might some time be
ready for monarchical rule again.
Later he received news through private
rourcea that the republic waa tottering to a
fall , and , meeting her son , AlfoMO , then
only a lad of 16 , the general communicated
the nowa to him.
Alfonso wae engaged In roller skating on
ono of the boulevard * with a lot ot other
young twe when the general spoke to him ,
and , though be wes greatly Interested , as
was eoen shown , be aKected to receive the
taformaUoB with the jreateet .Jedlterence.
The tefieral'e MMiige 4e thv Htatt wae de
cidedly staple. *
"It wlU Mt ) M k g , " MM SHeWe , "before
the people ot 'Madrid will bo sending ton
you. " \
Alfonso stopped to adjust a skate strap
before making reply. Then ho straightened
up.
up."Is It so ? " he Mid , nonchalantly. "Pcr 4
haps I ehall bo ready to go. "
Then , alter omo commonplace remark , he
glided away to join his companions. In spite
of his assumed nonchalance , Alfonso left off
katlng a * soon aa possible- , hastened home.
to hie mother and advised her to tend tor
tbo American at once.
She did * o and the general responded to beiv
summons. She was exceedingly curloue a * to
the ource ot hla Information , but thli ha
could not make known to ber. Ho succeeded/
however , In aattifylng her that It wae probi
atly correct , and be advised her In the
strongest tonne to abdicate In favor of her ?
eon , that he might be able to take the thron
In regular course In caio the people felt dis
posed to accept him , - , i
Before be left her she Informed blm that
be MW much of wisdom In his advice , an * .
the event proved that be had fully convince *
her that It waa the only thing to do , for she-
f ° ° ? . * , ' .ter reil n a elalroe to the throne ,
and Alfonio XII ascended ,
A little boy asked for a bottle of "get u 1
In the morning fait you can , " tbV
druEglit recognised a household name fer
"DeWltfe Little Karly Hl er . " aid gav
him a bottle of'thoee famous UttleVpUl * fo
IS 11 * ' " "M' "r' * tWB
