ON TO HONG KONG――CONCLUSION
“I feel like a fellow who has been rolling in a coal hole,” remarked
Larry, when the excitement had somewhat subsided. “And my ears are in a
regular buzz.”
“That buzzing will go away by morning,” said Striker. “Ah, lad, but it
was a great victory, wasn’t it now?” and he slapped Larry heartily on
the back. When the news of the surrender came in, Striker had insisted
upon dancing an impromptu jig, and several had joined in. There was
likely to be a “high time” on the _Olympia_ for some days to come, now
that the terrible strain under which the men had been laboring had been
removed.
For it is no easy thing to face death, even at something of a distance.
Everybody knew that only the wretched aiming of the Spanish gunners
had saved them from shots of a more or less serious nature. Had those
five balls which had struck in the upper works been aimed lower, there
would, without question, have been great havoc.
It was drawing towards Sunday evening, and the _Olympia_ had taken up
a position outside of Manila, leaving several of the other vessels to
guard around Fort Cavite. At this place, the Spaniards were engaged in
carrying off their dead and wounded and were not molested. Commodore
Dewey might have taken a large number of prisoners, had he forced a
fight on land, but he had no accommodations for such a purpose. He had
been sent out to find the Spanish fleet and “engage” it, and he had
engaged it most effectually. He must now await additional orders from
Washington.
It was some little time before Larry himself felt like quieting down,
but a good washing up and changing of garments made him feel more like
himself.
“This isn’t much of a Sunday,” he observed to Barrow, when they were
eating supper. “The chaplain hasn’t had a chance to say a word.”
Nevertheless, the chaplain did hold a brief “church,” although the
sailors prepared no “rig” for it. This was during the smoking hour, and
men attended or not, just as they pleased. Larry felt it his duty to
go, and took Striker with him.
Utterly worn out, the boy slept soundly that night, although once or
twice some ugly dreams chased each other across his mind――cannon shots
aimed directly for his head and that unlocked breech, which he never
would forget.
The following day was a busy one for the separate vessels of the
Asiatic Squadron. While the _Concord_ and _Petrel_ received the
surrender of the fort and arsenal at Cavite, and also took possession
of the navy yard, the _Raleigh_ and _Baltimore_ were sent down to
Corregidor Island to silence all the batteries at the entrance of
Manila Bay. A flag of truce was sent in to the commandant at the
island, and, on learning the truth of what had occurred, he agreed to
surrender if the men should be allowed their liberty. As no prisoners
were desired, this was satisfactory, and the men were placed under
parole not to take up arms against the Americans nor to allow a gun to
be fired at any American ship going in or out of the harbor.
Although the majority of the Spanish vessels had been destroyed, three
steam tugs had been captured, along with the _Manila_, the ship fitted
up for fighting purposes. During the three days following, a number
of other vessels were taken, and, later still, a large Spanish war
vessel, the _Callao_. The taking of the _Callao_ was full of the grim
humor that all sailors enjoy. She had been among the southern islands
for many months, and knew nothing of any war having been declared. She
steamed straight for Cavite, expecting to meet sister ships there,
when, without warning, the _Olympia_ fired upon her. The Spanish
commander thought the American ship was indulging in target practice,
and turned to steam out of range, when several other vessels came to
the _Olympia’s_ aid, and then the Spaniard saw that the whole matter
was no joke, counted the American vessels through his glass, caught
sight of the wrecks in Cavite harbor, and lost no time in surrendering.
The _Callao_ was a gunboat of two hundred tons, carrying four modern
guns and a crew of forty. Sailors were speedily sent to take charge of
the prize; the commander and his crew were sent ashore, and an hour
later the stars and stripes floating above the _Callao_ indicated that
she had been added to the American squadron.
It was, of course, desirable that news of the victory should be sent
to the United States by way of cable and telegraph without delay. But
the only cable from Manila was that to Hong Kong, and that the Spanish
held. As he could not send his own messages, Commodore Dewey promptly
resolved that the Spanish should not send theirs, and he had one of
his ships pick up the cable lying on the bottom of the bay and cut it.
Then he prepared his despatches, and sent them to Hong Kong on the
_McCulloch_.
Larry felt that the despatch boat would soon leave, and anxious,
now that the big battle was over, to learn something concerning the
_Columbia_, he asked for permission to take the trip across the China
Sea.
“You can go, my lad,” said Commodore Dewey, for the boy had gone
directly to him. “I understand you did very well at the gun to which
you were assigned. When you get to Hong Kong you can then make up your
mind as to whether or not you care to return. If not, you may consider
yourself as honorably discharged from the service,” and then he shook
hands and smiled.
Larry had expected that Striker would accompany him on the trip, but
the tall down-easter declined. “This jest suits me to death, Larry,”
he said. “I wouldn’t miss a day of it for a fortune. Don’t you forget
to come back; I’ll be a-watchin’ for you.” And an affectionate parting
followed, for both had grown to think a great deal of each other.
The trip on the _McCulloch_ to Hong Kong occupied several days, but
with nothing happening out of the ordinary. As the stanch despatch boat
came in sight of the numerous shipping at the Chinese-English port,
Larry kept his eyes wide open for a possible sight of the _Columbia_.
He had just about given up hope, when he caught a glimpse of a hull
which looked strangely familiar.
“Will you lend me your glass for just a moment?” he asked of a news
correspondent standing by. “I think that’s my ship over to our port.”
The glasses were cheerfully loaned, and one look convinced Larry that
he was right. There was the _Columbia_, somewhat battered around the
bow and with her foremast still missing, and there, yes, there were
Captain Ponsberry and Tom Grandon on her deck!
“_Columbia_, ahoy!” he yelled at the top of his lungs, but he was too
far off to be heard, and had to content himself with locating the craft
as best he could, while the despatch boat steamed up to the regular
landing.
“What’s the news?” was the first question asked by a hundred throats,
for the vessel had been seen from afar.
“Complete victory for the Americans――Spanish fleet utterly wiped out!”
was the answer that started a rapid flow of conversation upon every
hand. Soon the news was known everywhere, and scores of telegrams were
speeding in every direction. When the news reached the United States,
everybody was jubilant, and Congress voted thanks to the men who had
taken part in the glorious contest, while Commodore Dewey was made Rear
Admiral.
Once on shore, Larry lost no time in making his way along the busy
street skirting the harbor, until he came to the quay at which the
_Columbia_ was tied up. A rope ladder was out, and soon he was climbing
on board.
“Bless my soul! Is it really Larry Russell?” ejaculated Captain
Ponsberry, when confronted. “Why, I thought you were at the bottom of
the China Sea!” And he caught the boy by both hands.
“Larry Russell, as sure as fate!” cried Grandon, rushing forward.
“Well, this is the most wonderful thing I ever heard of. How on earth
did you escape drowning and get here?” And he, too, nearly wrung
Larry’s hand off.
“It’s a long story,” was the boy’s answer to both. “I and Luke Striker
floated about until we struck an island, and――”
“Then Luke is safe, too!” broke in Captain Ponsberry. “The Lord be
praised, as the parson would say. It’s wonderful! simply wonderful! So
ye got on an island, and some ship picked ye off, I calkerlate?”
“No, we found an old boat, and set sail in it. But the boat went to
pieces, and we floundered around until the Asiatic Squadron came along
and Commodore Dewey picked us up, and――”
“The fleet that set sail to fight the Spaniards?” interrupted Grandon.
“Yes.”
“Then the fleet’s come back here?”
“No, only the despatch boat. The warships are at Manila. I was with
them up to a few days ago, and we sunk or burned every one of the Dons’
vessels,” added Larry, proudly.
Taken together, the news was so marvellous that Captain Ponsberry
could scarcely believe it, and soon he was asking Larry for all the
particulars, which the boy was only too willing to give.
“I reckon you would like to know what has become of Olan Oleson,”
remarked Grandon, during a brief pause.
“I would. He pushed Luke and myself overboard.”
“The parson thought he did, and we put him in irons for the rest of
the trip. When we got here we were on the point of making a complaint
to the authorities against him, when the captain of another vessel had
him locked up for atrocious assault. He is in prison now, and likely to
stay there for some time to come.”
“He deserves it,” was Larry’s reply. “I intended to make some charge
against him, if I could locate him. I hope his term in prison does him
good. I never want to see him again.”
Hobson and several others now came forward, and were equally glad
to find that the lad was safe. During the talk which followed Larry
learned that the _Columbia_ had had a good deal of trouble during the
hurricanes, but had finally reached Hong Kong with only the loss of
the foremast and a battered bow, due to the falling of the heavy stick.
She had sprung several small leaks, but her pumps had easily kept her
free of water.
“And the parson――where is he?” asked Larry of the captain.
“He is still in Hong Kong,” was the reply, and, receiving the Rev.
Martin Wells’ address, the boy took the privilege of calling upon the
missionary, and was very warmly received.
“Truly you have had some wonderful adventures,” said Mr. Wells, after
listening to the youth’s recital. “But I take it you are rather proud
of them――especially of your work on the _Olympia_ at Manila.”
And Larry, frank to the last, admitted that this was so.
* * * * *
Here properly ends the tale of Larry Russell’s adventures “Under
Dewey at Manila.” We have seen how fortune, by a curious combination
of circumstances, threw him in with the Asiatic Squadron, and how
gallantly he fought during that battle which, with the exception of our
second great naval victory near Santiago Bay, has no equal in history.
That Larry was proud at having participated in the glorious conquest
was but natural. What American boy would not have been proud?
The _McCulloch_ was to return to Manila Bay with despatches almost
immediately, and the boy was strongly tempted to go back in her. But he
wished first to hear from his brothers, and so resolved to stay in Hong
Kong until the despatch boat might make a second trip to that port. Of
his future adventures we shall hear later on.
In the mean time, however, I would ask my young readers who have
followed me through the foregoing pages, to transfer their attention
for a while to Ben Russell, Larry’s oldest brother. As Ben had written
in his letter, he had preferred the soldiery, and on the President’s
first call for 125,000 volunteers, he had given up his position in New
York, and joined the army. The haps and mishaps of the youth will be
related in another volume, to be entitled “A Young Volunteer in Cuba;
or, Fighting for the Single Star.” In this book we shall not only
become intimately acquainted with Ben, but we shall also catch glimpses
of Larry and of the other brother, Walter, who had gone into the navy
stationed in Atlantic waters. We shall likewise learn something more
of Job Dowling, and of what was done by the boys toward getting that
which was justly due them from their miserly step-uncle.
And now, for the time being, good-by to Larry Russell, the American
sailor boy who served so gallantly “Under Dewey at Manila.”
THE OLD GLORY SERIES.
By EDWARD STRATEMEYER,
_Author of “The Bound to Succeed Series,”
“The Ship and Shore Series,” etc._
Three Volumes. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.25.
UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA Or the War Fortunes of a Castaway.
A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA Or Fighting for the Single Star.
FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS Or Under Schley on the Brooklyn.
PRESS NOTICES.
“‘Under Dewey at Manila’ is a thoroughly timely book, in perfect
sympathy with the patriotism of the day. Its title is conducive to
its perusing, and its reading to anticipation. For the volume is but
the first of the Old Glory Series, and the imprint is that of the
famed firm of Lee and Shepard, whose name has been for so many years
linked with the publications of Oliver Optic. As a matter of fact,
the story is right in line with the productions of that gifted and
most fascinating of authors, and certainly there is every cause for
congratulation that the stirring events of our recent war are not to
lose their value for instruction through that valuable school which the
late William T. Adams made so individually distinctive.
“Edward Stratemeyer, who is the author of the present work, has proved
an extraordinarily apt scholar, and had the book appeared anonymously
there could hardly have failed of a unanimous opinion that a miracle
had enabled the writer of the famous Army and Navy and other series to
resume his pen for the volume in hand. Mr. Stratemeyer has acquired in
a wonderfully successful degree the knack of writing an interesting
educational story which will appeal to the young people, and the plan
of his trio of books as outlined cannot fail to prove both interesting
and valuable.”――_Boston Ideas._
“Stratemeyer’s style suits the boys.”――JOHN TERHUNE, _Supt. of Public
Instruction, Bergen Co., New Jersey_.
“‘The Young Volunteer in Cuba,’ the second of the Old Glory Series,
is better than the first; perhaps it traverses more familiar ground.
Ben Russell, the brother of Larry, who was ‘with Dewey,’ enlists with
the volunteers and goes to Cuba, where he shares in the abundance
of adventure and has a chance to show his courage and honesty and
manliness, which win their reward. A good book for boys, giving a good
deal of information in a most attractive form.”――_Universalist Leader._
_For sale by all booksellers, or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price by_
LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers,
BOSTON.
THE SHIP AND SHORE SERIES
By EDWARD STRATEMEYER.
Three Volumes. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.00.
THE LAST CRUISE OF THE SPITFIRE Or Luke Foster’s Strange Voyage.
REUBEN STONE’S DISCOVERY Or The Young Miller of Torrent Bend.
TRUE TO HIMSELF Or Roger Strong’s Struggle for Place. (_In press._)
PRESS OPINIONS OF EDWARD STRATEMEYER’S BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
“Mr. Edward Stratemeyer is in danger of becoming very popular among the
young people of the country.”――_Burlington_ (Iowa) _Hawk-eye_.
“‘The Last Cruise of the Spitfire’ is of deep interest to the bounding
heart of an enthusiastic boy. The book leaves a good impression on
a boy’s mind, as it teaches the triumph of noble deeds and true
heroism.”――_Kansas City_ (Mo.) _Times_.
“Let us mention in passing two admirable books for boys, ‘Reuben Stone’s
Discovery’ and ‘Oliver Bright’s Search,’ by Edward Stratemeyer, with
whom we are all acquainted. This last bit of his work is especially
good, and the boy who gets one of these volumes will become very popular
among his fellows until the book is worn threadbare.”――_N. Y. Herald._
“A good sea-tale for boys is ‘The Last Cruise of the Spitfire,’ by
Edward Stratemeyer. There is plenty of adventure in it, a shipwreck, a
cruise on a raft, and other stirring perils of the deep.”――_Detroit_
(Mich.) _Journal_.
“In a simple, plain, straightforward manner, Mr. Edward Stratemeyer
endeavors to show his boy readers what persistency, honesty, and
willingness to work have accomplished for his young hero, and his
moral is evident. Mr. Stratemeyer is very earnest and sincere in his
portraiture of young character beginning to shape itself to weather
against the future. A book of this sort is calculated to interest boys,
to feed their ambition with hope, and to indicate how they must fortify
themselves against the wiles of vice.”――_Boston Herald._
_For sale by all booksellers, or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price by_
LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers,
BOSTON.
Transcriber’s Notes:
――Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).
――Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected.
――Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.
――Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.