Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1864-06-24
The Relief Of Admiral Porter. Fleet.

The resue Of Admiral Porter's CUNT oa,.
from their PerilOus position above The Fal
IN Red river had almost the effect % a We.
tory on the public mind. which had cone 20
regard disaster as the constant attendant Of
the Red river expedition. While 20 the
brave Admiral Porter. Who must have chat.
ed sadly un,ler the seeming necessity Of de-
strog gIng the feet on which all bis hopes
and energies had been eentered. or permit
ting u - fall into the hands Of the enemy.
the dchSeranoe brought inexpressible de-
hight and satisfaetion. lie has according
y sent to the Navy Departnent glowing
report Of The remarkable means used 70 ex-
tr'eate his feet. and It, brilliant success.
We quote As follows.
Cen Banks PLACED at the disposal OF
Col Bailey all the force be required. con -
sisiing of some three thousand men and two
or thrce hundred wagons. AL the neigh
boring steam mills we're torn down for ma
teTiAl-two or three regiments Of Maine
u'en were set Al work telling trees and oa
the second day after my arrival IN AIexan-
dria from Grand Eoore. tie work had fairly
begun Trees we're falling With great ra-
p.dity teams we're moving IN al directions.
bringing IN brick ard stone quarries we're
or'~1rd. aat boats were built 90 bring down
''''v from above. and every u,au seemed
90 b. working with a yigor have seldom
seen equAlled. While perhaps not one IN sf-
~ believed In the success Of ths underfa-
king These faIls are abou, 4 mile In
length. Sled With rugged rocks. over which
Al the present stage Of water. IL seemed 20
Be impossible 20 make channel.
The work was Commenced bv runnin-
out from the left bank Of the river tree
dam. made ofthe bodies of very large trees.
brusi. brick and stone. cros.-tied With hea-
W timber. and strengthened IN every ~av
vhich ingenuity couid devise. Thi. was
run out about three bundred feet into the
rIv~r; four large coal bargcs were then n
led With brick and sunk al the end q I,
PROM the rigbI bank Of the river cribs 6Iled
WITH stone were bailt out % meet the bar
ges. al q shich was ssccessfally accom-
Plisled. notwithstandinc therc was a cur
rent running Of nine mikes an hour which
threatened - sweep everything before it.
After eight days bard labor q vas found
Ia; one day more would raise the water
saib-iently % enable AL tie vessels 70 pass
tbe upper falls
Unfortunately on tie morning Of tbe 9th
inst. the pressure Of water became 90 great
that q swept away two Of ibe stone barges
~hich s~ung IN below the dan on one eide.
Seeing this unfortunate accident. iamped
on a horse and rode Up 10 where the upper
vessels we're Anchored. ADD or.lered the
Lexington 70 pass the upper falls u possi-
bic. and Immediately attempt % 70 through
ihe dam. I tboqgh, might De able %
save tac four vessels beloE. not knowins
whether ibe persons employed on the work
would ever have tbe heart % reneu The en-
terprisc.
The Lexington succeeded IN getting over
ihe upper falls jusi IN time. the -atcr rap-
idiy fahing a. she -as passing over. She
then steered directly for the opening IN ,he
dim through which tbe water was ra.hinr
% furiousiy that h seemed a. n nothing
bufi destruction awaited her. Thou.snds
q beaiing hesrf' booked on. snxious f1-
o. r-sl't TIE silrn-r uas so g-rsf e..
Lexington approached ths dan fhsfarin
might almost have been besrd % fau. So
:. =. .ff.H I. 0.a .aN
on. pitched dosn the roaring torrent. made
tso or three spasmodic rolls beng f5r a
moment on tbo rocks below. vss thsn
sEePt into deep water BY ihs current. and
rounded % safely INTO a. bank
THIRTY Thousand voices rose IN one deaf
ening cheer. AM Bnissrssl Joy seemed D.
Pervade tho face of every man preseut.
Ihe Neosbo beloved next-all her hasehe.
bittened down. and every precaution taken
against accident sbe CD not fare A. eel
a. ibe Lexiugton. her piiot having become
frightened a. b. approached te abyss. and
stopped her engine vhcn particulariy or
dered fsi bead q steam o. b. oarrel.
lbe rcsu't uas that for a moment Lsr Llu
diupPeared from siehf under ~aier. ~
err one thought - ras Dot. She rose.
ho~evrr. swept along over d. r0cks with
thc current. and fortanately escaped viih
only a holc in hcr bottom. vhich was stop
ped in thc course ofan hour. The Hind.
mar ard O.age bob -aue throu-h icauti-
hiy. without touching a thing. and
thooght i ] sas only fortunate enough 20
ssi ~ large vssssl' - -eii over ,bs f.u,.