University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

Page 27 text:

THE REDWOOD Suddenly a single cheer rang out. Some sharper eye than all the rest Had seen a white shape in the West. Then from ten thousand throats An answering shout As, one by one, the giant boats, White sides agleam, Took form and shape before our eyes, And gradually grew in size, Until at length in solemn state They ranged beneath us through the Gate. Then did the forts on either shore, Thunder salutes across the strait, With smoke and blaze, And deafening roar That madly smote the air. But with unseeing gaze And vacant stare, As in a dream, I watched the smoke ' s e ' er-thickening haze. My mind was fixed on other days; My thoughts were otherwhere. I saw in fancy, side by side, Two wooden ships upon the tide. Their decks were wet with gore. Their angry guns, with their fiery breath, Unceasingly belched forth fresh death, With ever deepening roar. It seemed to me their voice in hate Cried ever for more blood to sate The awful greed of war.

Page 26 text:

THE REDWOOD A WELCOME TO THE FLEET Blue was the sea, Deep blue the Golden Gate, Aud far above me Stretched the azure sky, Without a cloud. A perfect day, a day ordaiued by Fate, I murmured half aloud, u On which the sturdy West Should come to greet Our mighty fleet. I gazed about upon the shifting crowd — Thousands, they stretched away on every side, A sight to fill the eye And stir the breast With noble pride, On every eager face, all westward turned, From whence our great, white ships must first appear; In every eager eye, happy and clear, The fires of loyalty and freedom burned. This was a people strong, a people young, Whose blood was coursing with the strength of youth; A people from the loins of heroes sprung, Ready, like them, to battle for the truth; A people that know liberty from birth, Strong-limbed and great of thew ; A loyal people and a people true Of heart; a people great upon the earth. Happy the land of their abiding place ! What foe could ever conquer such a race ?

Page 28 text:

THE REDWOOD While thus I watched, I saw the side Of one torn open, gaping wide, Through which the waves did pour. At every shot it seemed to me That she must sink beneath the sea. But, no! Upon her deck I see, His face with battle all alight. Her gallant captain. To my ear His voice comes ringing, strong and clear, Surrender? Why I ' ve not begun to fight ! The scene is shifted, still my gaze Is backward bent to other years. Again I see the battle ' s haze; Again there echoes in my ears The growl of guns, loud-mouthed and deep, That cries that human life is cheap. Upon a battered hulk that flies The stars and stripes I see A captain lying in his blood, That gushes in a crimson flood Unceasingly. His face is ashen and his eyes Are glassed in death, and yet he cries, Framing the words with shaking lip That since have echoed to the skies: Men, don ' t give up the ship!