The Capture of the Island of Guam [pp. 225-233]

O2verland Monthlly
and as far as, any direct information went
there might be a thousand fighting Dons
to back up their flag in a territory which
was thoroughly known to them, while it
was a land of mystery to every one aboard
the Charleston and the three transports
which the cruiser was convoying to Manila.
In these circumstances is it any wonder
that Captain Glass rounded the north
headland of Guam with his ship cleared
for action and her guns shotted? Over to
the westward were strung out the other
ships of the fleet, Captain Smith of the
pal defenses had been set up. Nearing
this harbor of San Luis d'Apra there
occurred the incident of the Japanese
brig which was at anchor inside the reefs
close up to the northern shore of the bay.
Her spars first showed over the point of
Oreas Island, and directly her white hull
lo,omed through the mist. It is not to be
denied that for a time every one on board
the crniser thought she was a Spaniard,nay, even hoped she was. But long before
any guns were trained on her, and immediately after " Old Glory" was broken out
Governor's Palace, Agafia, Island of Guam
Peking hovering as close as safe steaming
would permit to the course of the warship. Day had broken as we rounded the
northern point. Mess was served at 5:30,
and by 6 o'clock all hands were back at
their stations eagerly waiting and watching for what might develop in the way of
a fight.
The harbor of Agafia showed nothing as
we swept by its broad entrance, and, following the coast, the Charleston and her
convoy steamed on to the larger and better
harbor which had been described and
charted as the point where Spain's prinei
at the Charleston's mastheads, the brig
showed Japanese merchant colors, and
all interest in her vanished. It has been
stated that the Charleston did not go to,
quarters till this brig was sighted, and
that then her every gun was trained to
exterminate the little white ship. The
truth is that Captain Glass was too good
a commander to even approach a hostile
shore without having his ship' thoroughly
prepared for any possible emergency. His
crew had been sent to battle stations hours
before; and to give'the blue-jackets who
nmade up that ship's company deserved
226