'r ( LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Chap. Copyright^o, Shell. -(Vl4^ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. FLORENCE ADA MORRIS. DESTRUCTION . . OF THE ^ Battleship Maine. ^ Uw ©liGinal poem FLORENCE ADA MORRIS. Price, - - $i.oo. EPPING, N. H. -( o ^ ^^ C:^ . 0\ (31 ^5^^"" ^ ^^ 24083 Copyright, 1898. BY FLORENCE ADA MORRIS. TWO COPI^S.«€c.-l.VED. "ixM. ^^ Maine, that grand and noble s!^ ship, That always was so well equipped And also looked so grand and large, Was built at Brooklyn's navy yard. In dollars, two million, five thousand were given For building this ship, that so basely was riven. And after completion, with pride she was hailed As o'er the blue waters so nobly she sailed. CAPTAIN CHARLES D. SIGSBEE. The captain of this handsome ship That sailed so nobly and so swift. Was Sigsbee, a hero brave and true, Who was much beloved by all his crew. And many men both brave and true, The work on this ship were wont to do, Among them, Carlton Jenks was often seen. Who, strange to relate, had this singular dream. One night while he in slumber slept,' In a bed o'er the waves where the moon- beams crept, He dreamed about the warship Maine, A dream whose reality truly came. He dreamed that soon our handsome Maine, That has won all hearts because of her fame, Would surely e'er long be destroyed By a deed, where hostile foes would be employed. And later when the men for prayer did meet, This dream to them, he did repeat, And when he told them all, he said, "Let's all be on our guard, our duty we'll not dread." We all have heard of the treacherous way The poor Cubans are treated from day to day, How they die of starvation, and have scant raiment and fuel, All of which is caused by those Spaniards so cruel. What hardships and sorrows these suf- ferers endure, Being shut in from sunshine, and all that is pure. How many poor women and children have died, Who from hunger and sorrow no longer will cry ? 'Twas thought by many good men of our states. That to help the poor sufferers, we should not hesitate. They tried to persuade the Spaniards so base, To let the poor Cubans some happiness taste. And as the Spaniards continued this strife, 'Twas thought that e'er long, the Stars and the Stripes Might protect the poor Cubans in a friendly manner If she waved each day in their harbor, Havana. So soon they decided a ship there to send, To protect our brave and loyal men, And also to hold friendly relations with Spain, And the ship that they sent was our battleship Maine. So into the Harbor of Havana, Our warship sailed in a noble manner On the 24th of January, '98, And while there, alas, she met her fate. How erand and massive she did look. As many, glimpses at her took. How stately she did sail along When greeted by the Spanish throng. And as she slowly sailed along, Of the sailors on that ship so strong, Captain Sigsbee then indeed could boast, For each was stationed at his post. When in the harbor a few weeks she had spent Doing her duty, for which she was sent, A dastardly, horrible deed did transpire. That filled all our hearts with anger and fire. 'Twas on a peaceful, quiet and starlight night, When the moon shone forth her radi- ance bright, The voice of the sentry was heard to tell The captain and crew that "All was well." And as the sailors in the crew, Of the coming danger never knew. They went ere long for their night's repose, But. alas ! not many of them arose. About nine forty-five o'clock that night, At his desk sat the captain, a letter to write. What did then happen that turned his face pale ? Was it a storm that was brewing, or a terrible gale ? Ah no ! while he in silence sat, A terrific rumble, a roar, and a crash. Fell on his ears like a terrible blast, And shook the whole ship, both the riorg'ing: and mast. ORDERLY "BILL" ANTHONY. How frightful the darkness that followed the crash. The silence that followed seemed forever to last. How fearful the sound of the resound- ing crash As it echoed for miles like a shudder- ing blast. And after this sudden and terrible crash, He opened his door as quick as a flash, And met on the threshold his brave orderly. Who I must tell you was "Bill Anthony." 13 Then calmly and bravely to the captain he said, Who in sorrow was wondering how many were dead, "Sir, I have to inform you our ship's been blown up, And now I'm afraid she is sinking." What words, so startling, so dreadful, so true, What sorrow they brought, not every man knew. How tragic the scene that then met their eyes. As they gazed at the ruins with many a siorh. H Then up on the deck did the captain soon go, And oh ! what a scene of destruction and woe, For scattered in the waters blue, Were the bodies of his sailors true. Faint cries from the drowning then greeted his ear. But the captain was steady and calm through his fear ; He ordered the life boats to be quickly- let down To save some poor sailor e'er he should drown. 15 Two hundred and fifty-five men there did lay, Under the water in that bay. Out of three hundred and fifty-six sailors so brave, Ninety was the number that nig-ht that was saved. What sorrow and trouble this disaster has brought, And how many hearts have sadly been wrought ; Especially those of kind sisters and mothers Who have lost brave sons or kind, noble brothers. i6 For to know whence this tragic disaster came Many men very soon examined the Maine, And the thought came up in most every- one's mind, That our ship was destroyed by a sub- marine mine. Then our brave men consulted each other, And it chd not take loner for them to discover, That because of that jealous feeling in Spain, The Spaniards blew up our battleship Maine. 17 No one now can blame our States, Because this injustice they would not take, Ah no! they're standing bravely for the right ; As now with the Spaniards so nobly they fight. What honor to our soldiers now is due, Who fought so manfully and true ? How brave and daring they did stand. Waiting to fight the hostile band. COMMODORE GEORGE DEWEY. Of the many men who've won their fame A true and noble man I'll name. Manila's hero, brave Commodore Dewey, Who has won his fame most nobly and truly. Much honor now to him is shown, Who fought so brave, but not alone. For near him stood that crew so loyal. Who to fight for the right, thought noth- ing more royal. 19 On history's page we soon shall read About this base and wicked deed, And also of this dreadful war That has filled all hearts with grief and awe. Then hail to our soldiers and sailors so brave, Who are striving each day their country to save. And hail, thrice hail, to our emblem so true, Our own dear fiag, the Red, White and Blue. JAN 2"/J899 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS iiilliilliillllll 015 973 501 1 •!