Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-06-19


and trembed, and the warm, free atmos-
phere danced around the doomed vessel as
if rejoicing she was no more.
The crowd from the Tenne. see shore
watched the burning vessel with great in
terest, and we could SEE the people ges-
ticulating and pointing their hands to the
scene of conhagration but no one could
conjecture whether they sorrowed or joyed
over the navy disaster that had befallen
the insurgentfe .-......... ..
Lower and lower burned the Thomp-
son, Her warehouses were gone, and
her single chimney had tumbled over
board with huge crash, carrying with it
part Of the deck, The flames were ra-
pidly dwinding; the little fire-tongues
were putting out their burning lives by
watery suicides, and people were turning
away, believing the conhagra,ion had
ended, when, suddenly and unexpectedly,
tremendous explosion rent the air, and
shook the waters of the Mississippi as if
the mythic maelstrom were beneath its
surface.
The rebel vessel had blown up when
the flames had reached her magazine, and
hundreds of shells exploded after they
were thrown into the air, producing a
strange and startling effect, and giving
the impression that the enraged heavens
themselves were opening terrestrial bat
teries upon the perfdious heads of the
fated Memphans. .
Bang, bang, bang, was heard, and for
more than thirty seconds the pufs of blue
smoke from the bursting bombs were seen
in the still Summer air. The fragments
of the shells fell in myriads into the river,
throwing up the water as if small gey-
sers had become suddenly natural to the
Father of Waters.
OF the Thompson nothing was left but
few blackened and scattered timbers,
and these went floating off quietly in the
great turbid stream, like the limbs of a
fierce monster that had been rent to
pieces, as we read in the ancient fables,
by the lightnings of avenging Jove.
RETURN OF THE UNION GUNBoATs TO
|
The Flotilla, consisting of the five I'M
injured gunboats that had entered into the
engagement, which had occupied one
hour and three minutes, returned with
flying colors-the good and gallant old
fag-to Memphis, and with ports triced.
up and guns run out anchored off the
city, looking calm and dignifed, but de-
termined and dangerous, and well calcu
lated, especially after the late performance
to inspire respect even in the indignant
breasts of the indignant Memphians
Twelve months ago to-day Tennessee
was carried out of the Union by tyran.
meal and desperate minority (who con.
tinued to bully and hector, or drive of
and silence the loyal majority Of the State
under the wretched show of ali Election.
Twelve months ago.
What commentary What retri-
button How Time at last, in history OIL
in poetry, sets all things even!
1t was refreshing spectacle, those
Yankee bulldogs watching the snarlins
and mischievous village that had in {
few hours grown as amiable and taciturr
as good-natured lumpkin on his frs
visit to the metropolis.
; Few, | fancy, of the violent secession
lists of Memphis would have believed, ont
year ago, that feet of United State:
gunboats would pass their city in pursui
of their fleet, and, after destroying ii
return and cast anchor without opposition
, and under the Union flag in presence 0
an anxious but accomplishing populace
Had they believed it, their subjngation
as they are pleased to term it, would no
; have been necessary.