Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-07-12

daring anu uISh'y o""0e'ou>'
being determined upon, somers, with
whom i, had originated, received the Or
Jers-to which he was thus enttled-to
conduct it; and the necessary preparations
were promptly made by him. Fifteen
thousands pounds of powder were ilrst
placed loosely in the hold of the ketch'
and upon this, two hundred and fifty th'r-
tecn.inch fuseed shells, with tram
attached from cabin and fore psak.--
Oulv one officer, the talented and lamented
Lieutenant Henry Wadsworth, brother TO
,be present Commodore Wadsworth, was
to accompany him, and only fourteen vol
untccr seamcn we're to compose his crew.
All things were now in readiness, en-
ccpt the selection of the mcn,-tor 1t
came to this at last, every man on board
the Nautilus having volunteered for the
service. This done, it was determined
without delay, to attemptthe enterprlst-to
succeed or to perish. Two nights success
sively did the Intrepid move; but owing TO
battling winds, nothiug could be accom-
plished. These failures and an unusual
movement in the harbor after dark on the
third night, led Somers TO believe that the
suspicious of the enemy had been excited,
and that they were on the look out. II
was the general impression, that their
powder was nearly exhausted; and so
large quantity as was on board The kclch,
if captured, would greatly tend to protract
the contest. Before setting off he ad-
dressed the crew on the subject, telling
them THAT no man need accompany him,
who had not come to the resolution to
blow himself up, rather than be captured;
and that such was fully his own determI-
nation!" Three cheers was the only
reply. The gallant crew rose, as single
man, with a resolution of yielding up their
lives sooner than to surrender to their enc
mies;-while each stepped forth and beg
ged as a Earor, that he might be permitted
to apply the match! 1t was a glorious
moment, and made an impression On the
hearts of all witnessngi it, never to be for
gotten. Allthen took leave of every ofli-
Ger, and of every man, in the most altec-
tionate manner, with shake of the hand,
as if they already knew their fate was
doomed: and one and another, as they
passed over the side to take their post on
board the ketch, might be heard, in their
own peculiar manner, to cry out, 81 say,
Sam Jones, l leave you my blue jacket
and trowsers, slowed away in my bag;"
and "Bill Curtis, you may have the tarpau-
lin hat and Guernsey lrock, and them pct
ticoat trowscrs, that | got in Malta-and
mind, boys, when you get home, give a
good account of US" In like manner
did each one thus make his oral will, to
which the writer was witness, and which
'slast will and testament" he caused TO be
executed to the very letter. 1t was about
nine o'clock, on the 4,h of September,
1904, that the third and last attempt was
made. The Nautilus had been ordered
to follow the Intrepid closely in, TO pick
up and Lring out her boats crew, in case
they should succeed in the exploit. Hence
though it WAS very dark, we never lost
sight of her, and had been directed by the
first lieutenant-lhe late gallant Washing
ton Reed--who commanded IN the alb
sence of Somers, to keep constant watch
Of her for this purpose, with night-glass.
At the end oFan hour, about 10 o'clock,
P. NJ, while was engaged in this duty,
the awful explosion took place. For a
moment, the flash illumined The whole
heavens around, while the terrific con-
cussion shook every thing far ard near.
Then all was hushed again, and every OBJ
iect yelled in darkness of double gloom.
On board the Nautilus, the silence OF
death seemed to pervade the entire crew;
bet quickly the din of kettle drums, beat
ING to arms, with the noise of confusion
and alurn, was heard from the inhabitants
on shore.
To aid in the escape of the boat, an Or
der was now given by Reed to "sho'o a
Gghr-upon the appearance Of which,
hundreds of shot, from an equal number
of guns, OF heavy calIbre, from the bat
teries came over and around US. But we
needed them not one thought and one
feeling had possession Of our souls, the
preservation Of Somers and his crew AS
moment after moment passed by, without
bringing with ii the preconcerted signal of
the boat, the anxiety on board became in
tense and the men with ighted lanterns,
hung themselves over the vessel, till their
baads almost Touched the Water-a posi-
ton, in which an object on its surface, can
be seen farthest in dark night-wth the
hope of discovering something which
would give assurance of its safety.
Still, no boat came, and no sngal was
r;,.o,. md tho unwelcome conclusion was