Mangum Sun-Monitor. (Mangum, Okla.), Vol. 18, No. 44, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 6, 1908 Page: 2 of 8
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I I I IB
THE
VANISHING
FLEETS
By
HOY NORTON
ILLUSTRATED BY A. WEIL
fegyrtffcl, UU7, k; Tk* Ai
sjnr
>. AwW Cu.dM IU
CT1TAPTER I.—"Vanishing Fleets," a story
mt "what might have happened" <ip.<nt* in
wachlnKlon with the United Blni-n and
jAfujii on the verK« t>f war. Guy Hlllier,
•rendu ry of the British emtmaay, and
Wu Norma Kobcrls, chief utile of In-
ventor Roberts, are introduced ah lover*.
Tin government la much criticized be-
CHAPTER II.—Japan takes the Philip-
pines without loaa of a man. The entire
eouatry la In a state of turmoil because
•T IIm* government's Indifference. Guy
Hllltar atarta for Kngland with aecrot
age and la compelled to leave Norma
Hobarta, who with military officers, also
teiaves WaahliiKton on inysterloua expedi-
•ti (or an Isolated point on the Florida
Hawaii la captured by the Japs.
CHATTER III.—Country In turmoil, de-
asands explanation of culler from govern-
Kaeit.
CHAPTER IV.—All porta are closed,
HUiwr going to Kngland on last boat.
v'.ex'miii] learns that Jap lleet Ih fast iip-
B>r<»rhlng western coast of America. Hll-
7lor decide* to return to America by any
CHAPTER V.—Slego, Japanese spy, dls-
oown secret preparation* fur war and
follows auto carrying presidential cabi-
net. He unearths source of great mys-
tery nnd flees, murmuring "the gods sava
Kl»*on."
CHAPTER VI — Fleeing to Pacific coast,
la shot down Just as Journey to gat
»>rful newa to Japan seems successful.
CHAPTER VII.—Toklo learna of miss-
tag Japaueae fleet and whole world be-
<wws convinced that United States has
»f»« powerful war agency. England de-
to send a fleet to American waters as
• Canadian protection against what the
British suppose Is a terrible submarine
Axilla. Hllller I* also sent to Canada to
attempt to force his way through Amer-
ica* lines with a message to the presi-
dent In order that protoctlon for the fleet
TTHAPTER VIII.—British fleet departs,
amid misgivings of English. Floet mys-
teriously disappears, a sailor picked up
on a raft being the only evidence of th«
lr.es. Powers begin to fear for their
siafaty.
CHAPTER IX.—Hllller makes failure of
effort to deliver message to tha presi-
dent.
CHAPTER X.—War between Great
Britain and Germany la threatened. Tha
fcalaer disappears. ,
CHAPTER XI -King Edward of Eng-
land Is confronted by Admiral Hevlns, of
Dw United States, and upon promising lo
present the missing British admiral, the
monarch agrees to accompany Hevlns on
luur. which the latter says will uncover
•he agent of war and and all conflicts.
CHAPTER XIII.-Tha story goes b'xcfc
to a time many months before the war
breaks out, and Inventor Roberts visits
the president anil cabinet, telling of and
exhibiting a wonderful metal production
which overcomes friction when electri-
fied. This Is to l>e applied to vessels lo
Increase speed to over 60 miles an hour.
CHAPTER XIV.-A city for the manu-
facture of the mysterious discovery Is
built up on the coast of Florida and
Mttrma Roberts arrivua on -Scent'.
CHAPTER XV—I)r. Robert s first at-
tempt to elactrlfy plates proves a fall-
are. In a second effort Norma la knocked
unconscious, but the mystery of true
Jrvitatlon is solved, making tlio most Im-
portant discovery or centuries.
They were being lifted higher and
klgher, and In this recession of the
•arth, Its lights, which only a few
moments before hud been far apart,
now appeared as spangles on a vast
Held of black. Above them through
a transparency In the roof the stars In
the clarity of the rarefied atmosphere
Klearned brighter, throwing outward
Into the pall long scintillating arrows
of (Ire. The strange creation of an
abnormal old man and his daughtor,
the Magic Carpet of fable realized,
swept upward Into the domo of the
sky, veering outward over the silent
reaches of the ocean, and then, like a
xrcat auk In homing flight, swung ofT
la a wide tangent toward the south
western void, carrying them at a speed
which they could not reckon, llelow
waa nothing more to claim their atten-
tion; so, silent and spellhound, they
turned to discover what they might
within thla Bhell of mystery.
Forward, where the hood was glow-
ing dimly, they saw the luventor stand-
ing calmly attentive to his task and
•canning the faces of indicators be-
fore him, some of which they con-
ceived must tell of altitudes, direction
or forces under subjection. In the
*lare Immediately before liim, bring
Ing out his face in Rembrandtesque
relief, he seemed a patriarch whose
aaperlor knowledge had elevated him
above the common paths of men and
placed lilm on such an exalted plane
of Intelligence that he was beyond a
standard of comparison.
The consciousness that they were
for above the traveled paths of all
time lost Its terrifying sense of
strangeness and uncertainty, and they
Beamed to trust thla structure of metal
whose great enlivened masses, en-
• rafled with machinery, was hurtling
writ* them through the night. The
jnolsa within was not sufficient to pre
-veat easy conversation; but they sat
i«s men stricken dumb, being carried
aaway Into captivity by some dread ma
g»nU» of more singular power than
iwas erwr portrayed In Persian tales.
"Stand clear of the shutters, gentle
anas'! ~ the scientist called, turning hlf
face In their direction, and they
buid forward just as Norma pressed »
Dutton. A sharp claahlng noise smote
their ears, and when next they looked
at the ports they were shut off by
metallic slides. Again the girl touched
a button, and Instantly the interior of
the radioplane was flooded with sil-
very light. It was a disappointment,
for sight gave no elucidation of tha
secret.
A low roof of unpalnted metal
arched above them. In one end were
ordinary electrical dynamos, a motor,
and a polished electrical apparatus
which they could not understand, and
beyond this, outside the hoods, there
was nothing whatever; only the sign*
of hurried work, rough, unpalnted, and
unpaneled. Rude benches, evidently
placed for this occasion only, com-
prised all the trappings and furnish-
ings of this monster that was the van-
guard of modern trans|>ortatlon, and
in whose keeping rested the nation's
strength. They had expected In-
tricacies of construction; but before
them was simplicity. They had pic-
tured strange manifestations of elec-
trical science; but only a compact mass
of braHS rods and gleaming tubes was
visible. The admiral read their un-
worded curiosity.
"I can't explain It quite," he said.
"Dr. Roberts will tell you all about it
pretty soon, when he can get away
from piloting the ship. Ixiok out for
the shutters again. Norma is going to
open them and shut off the lights. We
are at our Journey's end."
A clash, a flash, and again they were
In darkness, and with one accord they
turned to the reopened ports.
Ileneath them now glittered the arc
lights of the plant on the lonely It-
land which they had peopled. The
great blast furnace was spouting to-
ward them showers of glowing sparks
and sheets of writhing flame, and be-
fore It, dwarfed by height into squatty
gnomes, were those who incessantly
fed It. The windows of the machine
shops were limned In squares of white,
and out to one side, throwing Its
searchlight to and fro, there steamed
a gunboat, while afar on the other
boundary of the key Its sister ship
kept equally vigilant patrol. Industry
was spread before them—Industry be-
tokening that night and day were be-
ing devoted to the country's need;
telling through the hum of wheels and
the roaring of the blast that the eagle
from his lone aerie was sharpening
his talons for the impending struggle,
and preparing for a resistless flight
into the red sun of war.
Dumfounded and unable to com-
prehend that In so short a time they
had been transported a distance
which by all known methods would
have taken a couple of days to trav-
erse, Ihey stared at the scene opening
to their view, and while this bewilder-
ment continued the radioplane began
a rapid descent In wide, sweeping cir-
cles, daintily picked out an open spot
Immediately In front of the plant, and
gently came to rest.
CHAPTER XVII.
To Meet the Enemy.
A great ribbon of light from the
watchful Columbia perforated the
night, aud as they emerged from the
flying monster they discovered in this
(laming pathway of white a line of
shells similar to that which had con-
veyed them to the Island. From the
one nearest cAme the steady resound-
ing bent of hammers and the voices of
men who were equipping it within, pre-
paratory to transforming the dead, In-
active mass of metal Into a thing of
ebullient lite and Incredible activity.
"Completing them at the rate of two
a day now, gentlemen," informed
Ilrockton, as he led the party toward
the machine shop, which was the near-
est building. And this they were to
learn was the story of the camp; Ac-
complishment, accomplishment—every-
thing sacrificed to accomplishment!
There was no recess from indugtry
when they entered the shed-like build-
ing, and go where they would they
M
In Silence He Chalked Upon lit Metal
Side in Big White Lettere—
NORMA,
saw nothing but men working Ilka
mad. who merely looked up from their
occupations, saluted, and then resumed
their tasks as though the president of
the United States and his most emi-
nent advisers were not of sufficient Im-
portance to excuse delay. Here was a
little army of men, expert In their sev-
eral lines, comprehending the neces-
slty for haste, and imbued with only
one Idea: That their efforts were for
their country. 8oldlers were they who
In other times would have shut their
Jaws and grimly stormed through shot
and shell; but were now doing no leia
valiant acts when with every turn of
a wheel or every blow of a hammer
they threw mind, muscle and heart
Into the uprearing of the nation's da-
fenaa.
The president In a reverie found
himself contemplating them. Here, be
thought, was the personification ol
that anomaly the American working-
man: Oft times turbulent, frequently
dissatisfied, sometimes waging war-
fare with employer and capital and
cursing political parties; but when
country and home were endangered,
courageous as a lion guarding whelps,
recklesg of life, and unheeding wounds,
plunging to the front in a frenzy, and
asking no reward save the satisfaction
of seizing the invader by the throat
and throttling him to the death. "God
save the enemy who underestimates
the temper and patriotism of the
American workmen!" he muttered as
he returned to the long motionless
line of radioplanes.
The ray of light, broad, steady and
clear, was still there, and as the vlsi
tors entered Its borders ♦he quick,
sharp blast of a whistle in the rear, as
ir by preconcerted signal, caused every
wheel to come to an abrupt stop.
From the buildings and quarters men
came running to the scene and sur-
rounded the guests, who were grouped
together In the fan of white and Im-
mediately In front of the monster
which had given them passage. That
they were not to depart without some
further attention was obvious. "Old
Rill" Roberta made the meaning of
the call plain when he addressed his
friend In the old term of Intimacy.
"Paul, we have left to you the honftr
of christening the first radioplane ever
built. She Isn't named yet. The boys
here wanted to call her the Roberts;
but I forbade them. I guess you know
who ! wanted to call her after," he
said, laying his hand on the presi-
dent's arm and looking up Into his
face; "but then I wasn't sure you
would like that, so we have compro-
mised by leaving It to you."
The president had In his hand a
piece of carpenter's chalk which he
had Idly picked up from one of the
floors he had traversed. He stood
turning It over between his long rough
fingers which bore evidences of hard
physical labor In early youth, and
looked affectionately down Into the in-
ventor's eyes. He turned from him
and looked at those around him. In
the edges of the light and stretching
back into the darkness behind he could
discern the faces of the workmen, the
reflection giving them a singularly
pallid look and making them seem like
visages dismembered, their bodies be-
ing absorbed Into the blackness of the
background. They expected a speech;
but he felt a paucity of words when he
thought of their endeavors and
achievements. He started to address
them, but choked with the fullness of
his heart. Without such work as they
had given, what would be the condi-
tion of the nation to-night?
"Men," he said, using the strongest
of appellations, "no words of mine can
add to the honors you merit, nor de-
tract from what you have done. Duty
well performed requires no praise;
but as president of the United States
I thank you. I am the one who is
honored In being privileged to call you
countrymen."
He faltered, and In the strong light
upon him they could see the muscles
of his face twitching with repression.
He turned from them as If to hide his
emotion, and took a few steps which
brought him to the side of the radio-
plane. His long arm reached out, and
slowly and In silence he chalked upon
Its metal side in big white letters,
N-O-R-M-A.
The men of the plant stood quietly
until the significance of his act
dawned upon them, and then burst
Into a frenzy of cheers, forgot the dig-
nity of bis position, and crowded
round him, talking as man to man.
Norma tried to make her protests
heard; but they were unavailing. The
men were elated, and her father was
satisfied.
With little delay the party boarded
the craft, the president being the last
to say good-by. The big metal door
was closed, and the Norma rose Into
the air on Its return Journey, while
the men stood with hats off and
watched It disappear before returning
to their work.
The radioplane was making Its last
flight before the war, because it was
deemed that all risk of discovery
should be obviated, even though other
methods of transportation were com-
paratively snalllike.
And so the months went on with ac-
tivity at the key, placidity in the ad-
ministration, and preparations for an
onslaught on Japan. As the work of
construction advanced, Norma found
respite to make occasional brief visits
to Washington, where her time was
monopolized by Hllller, who did not
dream of his forthcoming trip to Lon-
don; but "Old Bill" Roberts came no
more to the capital.
Now began that series of orders
which subjected the men at the head
of the government to their greatest
trial. Work was stopped on all forti-
fications, beginning with those in the
Philippines. It was accepted by the
public as a foolish curtailment of ex-
pense. Before this had ceased to
rankle In the public mind construction
ceased In nearly all the navy yards;
but the clamor then arose to such a
pitch that outwardly It was resumed,
being done for appearance's sake only
and to prevent a revolution.
So dangerous was the pitch of In-
dignation that tome or the president's
advisers quailed before the show of
wrath, and feared that an army of
Americana might march on Washing-
ton. They besought the president to
alter hlB plana and make broadcast an-
nouncement of the state of defense;
but he, hla Americanism exceeded only
by his humanltarianlsm. stood stead-
fast His answer was characteristic:
If our secret becomes known,
here will be no war, and war la a ne-
cessity for our purpose. In our hands
liaj been given by a miracle the moat
deadly engine ever concclved, and we
should be delinquent In our duty If w«
failed to use It as a means for con-
trolling and thereby ending wars for
all time. Let us bear with fortitude
whatever reproaches may be heaped
upon us, for we are the Instruments of
God, and the trial will last only a lit-
tle longer. Let no man speak!"
His eyes flamed with Inspiration,
and, like a prophet of old, he led his
followers in his own footsteps. In
those trying times he was very near to
the God in whom he believed, and
only the walls of his room knew how
often he appealed for light and guid-
ance. trembling In spiritual agony,
and, like the martyrs of all ages, cru-
cified by his fellows.
Events began to move with light-
ning like rapidity as May approached.
Secret orders had been given to all
the principal ships In Pacific waters to
withdraw Into neutral harbors, It be-
ing the wish of the men who were
playing the stern game that all pos-
sible loss of life through accidental
meetings might be obviated. Pacific
commerce withdrew from the western
seaa, believing Itself unprotected and
the administration mad. From all
sources of Information came the cer-
tain reports that Japan waa about to
attack. Her communications became
dally morn Insolent; but were Invari-
ably treated with suave contempt.
And then came a day which brought
the most portentous news.
The first was a message from the
key that Dr. Roberts had broken
down. It- wag from Brockton, who
made a pitiful appeal to the secretary
of the navy to find Norma and either
give permission for her to be brought
back by a radioplane, or to have her
sent at once by special train to Mi-
ami, Inasmuch as she. being the sole
sharer of her father's secret, was now
the only one who could be depended
upon for the metambrphosls of the
plates. The message added that the
Inventor was not In a aerlous condi-
tion, but that overwork, overstudy
and overstrain had so taken toll that
the surgeons declared he was coming
down with brain fever and that his
very life depended on his taking ab-
solute rest.
To hazard another trip of a radio-
plane was out.of Hie question, because
the administration was aware that
spies were still in the capital. The
president himself sent messengers to
find the girl on whom so much de-
pended, only to learn at a late hour
that she had not yet reached Washing-
ton, but was expected to arrive that
night. He preferred to communicate
hla tidings to her in person, and there-
fore left word that she should call at
the White House the following morn-
ing. In the meantime advance prepa-
rations were made for her conveyance
to the Island, together with the grim
old fighting admiral, Bevlns, who was
now to assume command of the aerial
forces of America, and those officers
who from time to-time had been called
home from various ships.
And then, when night fell and the
president's cup seemed full, came the
swift and unexpected announcement
that the Japanese had fallen upon the
Philippines. War was on, and the long
expected gauntlet lay In the lists,
while the nation heave9 and rocked
In turmoil, quivered with insult, and
cried aloud for vengeance.
When Norma appeared at the White
House she was told of her father's
condition by the president himself,
who was plainly harassed to the limit
by anxiety.
"You can go at once," he said; "but
what then? Are there any who -can
work the radioplanes?"
"Yes, by nightly flights we have
trained crews for all and more than
we have built."
"But there should be some expert
guiding mind who knows the secret of
the craft."
"Father had intended to accompany
them and himself direct the leading
radioplane in case of attack."
The president threw up his hand In
a gesture of hopelessness. The time
for attack was fast approaching, and
could not be postponed on account of
the Inventor's Illness. Norma, who
had been standing beside a window,
confronted the worried head of the
nation.
"You forget," she said, "that I have
youth, strength, will and knowledge.
Neither my father's nor my country's
cause shall suffer."
He walked across the room, tower-
ing above her in ungainly strength,
took both her hands In his and looked
deeply into her eyes. "You mean—"
"That If my father Is too 111 to go, I
myself will fight the Japanese. I my-
self will give what expert advice Is
needed, and will demonstrate to the
others what must be done In battle."
Inflamed by the thought of what was
dependent upon her, pride In her fa-
ther, and Americanism, she was ready
to accept the responsibility, even
though it might cost her life.
They stood In silence, holding each
other's hands. He stooped over her,
his sad eyes filled with an admiration
which waa akin to veneration, and
kissed her.
"Joan of Arc! Joan of Arc!" he
whispered, and said no more.
She had been told that a train
awaited. Together they walked to the
door of the president's study through
the halls, and to the outer portal. Un-
heeding those who were near, he
caught her hand and held It to hla
breast, looking once more Into her
•yes.
"God bleas and keep you, my child!"
he said, and abruptly turned back to
his seclusion, hla head dropped for-
ward between hla massive shoulders
and his arms swinging loosely at his
aides.
The day wag not yet done, and be-
fore tha next bad dawned came the
announcement that the Hawaiian la-
lands had also been surrendered to
tha foe. The coterla of men within
tha secret held their meeting and con-
gratulated each other that orders had
been obeyed, no defense made, and
loss of life obviated. But the public
muit be pacified. The swift convening
of congress, its authorization of the
administration to act, and the appeas
ing notice to the public that a well
defined policy was being pursued, fol
lowed one after the other, but still
were not understood.
Night and day now the president
and his associates toiled and planned
Report after report came to them, un
til they knew that the hour to act had
come. The spell of seeming lethargy
was at an end, and with unprece-
dented swiftness the cordon waa
thrown round the nation, its ports
closed, and its communication shut
off save through channels of the secret
service, which waa Intensely active.
Time was computed to the minute,
and when the floet of conquest sailed
from Japan the very latitude and
longitude of the point where it was
to be met were communicated to the
headquarters in Florida, where had
been renewed energy.
Hence it was that, as darkness once
more mantled that isolated spot, a
strange scene was witnessed. It was
the departure of that Invincible
squadron of the air for the scene of
battle. Night after night they had
maneuvered, till those who manned
them were masters of their craft and
of the new form of signals which were
to be used In case of emergency. Every
detail was complete, every possible
precaution was taken to avert acci-
dent. •
And what a difference there was
between this fleet and those to which
the men aboard were accustomed! On
those battleships of the seas were
magnificent forces of men trained to
fight, which were numbered by thou-
sands; but here each crew consisted
of a bare half-dozen. In tha hulls of
those vessels of the sea strove a
small army, watching over and
driving huge engines, and supplying
them with steam; here were only one
man and an assistant standing be-
fore levers, switches and buttons,
which did their work Instantaneously
and with no noise. In those destroy-
ers of the waters throbbed mighty
engines considered the modern tri-
umph of speed; here was a craft that
by a finger's pressure could almost
run abreast the sun. Those ships
bftstled with mighty guns; here were
no frowning rouszles or unwieldy tur-
rets. Science was bringing an end to
brute force, and the last battle against
barbarism was at hand.
For the first time since Its birth
the great plant was silent and Idle
and the men who had created It and
by Its means built this new fleet of the
air were at rest, ^hey had done all
they could, and "now gathered silently
round the radioplanes, which stood In
orderly array with portlike doors
yawning wide to receive their crews.
"Fighting" Bevlns stood by his flag-
craft, the Norma, and looked at the
force under his command. Captains
who had handled hundreds of men
and driven their great floating crafts
of steel, and engineers who had
learned new callings waited attentive-
ly for his last Instructions.
The battle-scarred veternn ad-
dressed them In a voice that needed
no high pitch to be audible to all
his hearers. "Gentlemen," he said, "I
have nothing more to say to you. You
are going out to fight what will prob-
ably be the last great battle In his-
tory. You are active participants In
the final chapter of international war.
The time is approaching when our pro-
fession will be uaeless, and I for one
shall gladly turn to ways of peace."
Norma, who had left the bedside of
the sleeping Inventor, Joined the of-
ficers, and Bevlns stopped and sa-
luted her.
"With us," he continued, "Is a girl
who has laid all her talents on the
altar of country, and la now prepared
to Jeopardize her life for victory. Ws
can do no less. It msy be that some
of us will not return—the hazards
of war can never be foreseen. You
have been put In a strange position,
and are even robbed of the sailor's
right to send a last message to your
homes; but that, too, has been for the
country's good. To my personal knowl-
edge you have all passed your lives In
trying to do what was right, and have
given the best that was in you to the
flag. You will do no less now."
In the glare of the arc lights he
took one last look at his comrades in
arms, and then, as if once more at sea,
loudly ordered: "Board ship, all!"
He uncovered and stood aside in an
attitude of the greatest respect while
Norma passed and entered the flag-
ship bearing her name. With steady
precision the other officers saluted,
took possession of their radioplanes,
and as the doors clanged shut behind
them a mighty cheer burst from those
outside. Before It had subsided the
dynamos in the strange collection
were humming and droning with un-
leashed energy, and the unshuttered
ports stared out Into the gloom like
eyes of Are suddenly opened from
sleep.
From the Norma there shot up Into
the aky swiftly alternating streaks of
red, white and blue, the night signal
asking If all was ready. From the
other monsters came flashing answers
of acquiescence. There was an In-
stant's pause. The flagship gave a
slight upward shock and lifted slowly
Into the air. Immediately behind In
stately upward sweep followed anoth-
er radioplane, and In quick succession,
like gigantic birds of the night, they
took flight In a great swinging circle
until they reached a common altitude.
The cheer below had died away, and
all was still.
Then, as If answering the call of a
baton swung by a god, the palpitant
air was riven by a mighty chorus from
beneath. Mounting upward there pen
etrated to tbem, quivering with terrific
fervor. the cry of Invincibility voiced
in the majestic words of that death.
leas song of battle:
Mine eyes have seen tha glory at the
coming of the l.ord.
Ha is trampling out the vintage where
his grapes of wrath are stored:
He hath loosed tha fateful lightning of
his terrible swift sword;
Hla truth la marching on.
Out to the west, over sleeping cities
and homes, across mountain and plain*
chasing the long set sun, they went
to meet the fleet of an enemy which
was steadily (ailing to Its doom. The
sword of a nation's vengeance waa
cleaving the night skies In its deliver-
ance of an overwhelming blow.
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Battle.
It was In the long gray dawn of tha
summer morning, and the wide reach-
ing ocean, slate colored In the early
light, seemed asleep In its quietude
save where It wag disturbed by mov-
ing prows. Steaming across its bosom
In fancied security, knowing that not
Dn Pacific waters were there enemies
capable of staying Its progress, and
Insolently careless In superb strength,
went the Japanese fleet. The huge
flagship, the Ito, forced her way In
advance, the apex of a great and for-
He Gazed in tha Direction Indicated
by tha 8ailor.
mldable trlange. whose sides were
formed by other battle ships of scarce-
ly less tonnage, graceful cruisers, and
swift-moving destroyers, while bring-
ing up the far rear were the colliers
In whose hulls were carried fuel for
the great armada.
Here was the Kashlma, which could
drive her 17,000 tons of steel through
the water at 19 knots speed; the Ka-
torl, but little smaller and almoat aa
fast; the Asahl, the Mlkasa, the Asama,
the Tokiwa, and others which were
dear to the heart and pride of Nippon
— a gallant navy, carefully planned,
well constructed, and of Invincible
size and strength. No squadron that
breasted the waves might cause It to
hesitate.
In the stillness of the morning there
came a sudden, sharp exclamation
from the man on the lookout, an ex-
cited call to the bridge, and the quick
step of an ottlcer In answer to the sum-
mons. Almost Instantly he was fol-
lowed by another, -who brought with
him a pair of powerful binoculars,
through which he gazed In the direc-
tion indicated by the sailor. There In
the immeasurable void of the upper
air, so high above that It floated In
the broader light, soared a covey of
gigantic' objects unplctured In the lore
of flight. Onward It came until al-
most above, when It stopped and ma-
jestically hovered over them, and
seemed to be watching and waiting
for some ray of broader light. Tha
pallid blue of those far-floating bodies
rendered them almost Indistinguish-
able, 8a ve when now and then they
swung broadside to In deploying, re-
sumed their speed, and swept round In
circles.
Puzzled and amazed, the officer
handed the glasses to his companion
and watched his face attentively, as II
hoping to read from Its expression
some solution of this mysterious visi-
tation from the immense unclouded
space above. The glasses were low.
ered, and the two men with the super
stltlon of agea behind them turned to
each other with pallid faces, fearing
the supernatural or the unknown
Again they looked, and saw that the
flying specks traveled with Incredible
rapidity, and were apparently observ-
ing them, after which, as. they
watched, they saw them come to an
abrupt stop. It was enough. What-
ever they were, their presence would
be made known.
The officers sprang to the alarms,
and In an instant thunderous volleys
bellowed out across the waters, awak-
ening the other vessels. Shrill pi-
pings, the staccato blare of bugles, and
the sound of running feet told the
story of excitement and that well-
drilled crews were answering the call.
The hour was early for the perfect usa
of flag signals; so from one warship
to another flashed the searchlight
warnings, and wireless operators In
their cabins ticked frantic messagea
to outlying members of the fleet to
close in for action. Admirals and cap-
tains, who had fought successfully in
other wars and counted their servlca
as valuable adjuncts in any engage-
ment, stood upon the bridges or tha
flanks of the great turrets and stared
spellbound at this apparition which
had come upon them in the night.
There it waa, a silent fleet of tha air,
sinister and menacing, lowering over
them as If waiting opportunty or bid-
ing Its tlma to strike.
A sudden evolution brought one of
those terrible adversaries to the outer
edge of tha aerial formation, and
J.
D'
D'
S.
Continued on 3rd page.
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Crittenden, H. L. Mangum Sun-Monitor. (Mangum, Okla.), Vol. 18, No. 44, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 6, 1908, newspaper, August 6, 1908; Mangum, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc285902/m1/2/: accessed April 24, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.