Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-06-21
GTTRINNlNG A RUNAW4Y---A LEAF FROM
4 BLGCk6DER'S Leg.
III cLEw GARNET, Z. s. y.

For reasons, known I should saw. only
to the admiral down there Mt Port Roval,
to the commander Of the steam -hIackader
Transit--at that time the greatest craft in
the South Atlantic squadrou-and lastly
+ to myself, ! was temporarily Transferred
IrO0 the saucv. iauntv little sailing whip
per~ln FOR the feet, IS the steamer afore-
said, which was detached from feet duty.
and ordered oiT In great hurry on some
special mission, the nature of which |
knew rs little of as | did of the inhabit-
ans Of Nova ZemHea.
Ii was not until fter we had crossed
the Gulf Stream. and was driving on over
the Bahama Banks that 1t occurred to me
our destination could be no other than
/ Nassau; and IL wa, screral hours later
before 'aUcht the glimmer Of an idea a
TO the admirals reasons for sending me
across the Gulf and over to Nassau in the
Transit Then it dawned upon me in this
manner.
I was leaning over the lee rail, looking
down throu n four fath0ms Of brine as
transparent as air, upon the vast sponge
fields over which we were rapidly passing
and quietly asked myself if sponge fish
ing lust about that latitude. w0uldn't he a
profitable calling; when n no rerv deli
/ cate hand was laid upon my shoulder and
I looking un there was nv commander pro
! tenn, Captain Arthur T. Alvin, Standing
beside me.
Looking FOR mormaids. and dreaming
Of the Girl left behind me- Mr. Garnet2'
he asked
No sir; I was calculating the money
making chances of sponge-h.hing, ard
wondering between times. why the admiral
has sent me of here without my ha,ing
the ghost of an idea as to what IS or will
be required of me
.'Ah. yes certainly, Mr. Garnet All
very natural \ long pause. Then an
abrupt cuestian:
Bv-the~bv. Lieutenant Garne-, do vOu
happen to know ANYTHING of n rebel
steamer called the Oriole Of her COM
mander. one Harry f Sjmonsou?
:. Yes sir. n good deal Of both
" 50 the admiral has been informed. and
for that reason has sent YOU on board the
Transit BE pleased sir 10 acquaint me
somewhat with Your quaintanceship
with the Oriole first"
Well, sir, she was built in New York,
To plv between Charleston and Havana
and designed for the fastest sea-roiuG
steamer a1oat In the summer of 1860.
her owners in Charleston, finding the yes
sci wanting something in the required
rate Of speed. had her engines replaced
with new ones which increased her sTil-
ir- rate fully mile above the sought for
speed, and with the exception of the
Transit, | don't believe there $ a se2-co~
ing steamer afoat, that ear overhaul the
OTole.
And do YOU really believe this ship
able % Io il, Mr. Garnet2'
81 In heavy weather and rough water,
YES 81. Bat in light winds and with
smooth sea. think the Oriole vii beat
her. | know her a bv heart, sir, as,
when it was customary FOR junior officers
of the L ;. Navy to command merchant
/ steamers, had charge of the oyiole q
good many voyages.
So we have been informed, sir. And
now about her present commander he
claims to be an En-i;shlnan.
He-Harrv >imonscn an English
man p Not mite Of it. any more than
/ President Lincoln IS He is a Maryland
er: horn and bred in Baltimore, and was
more than year chief mate with me IN
the Oriole
From Your intimate acquaintance with
them YOU Will most likely be able TO re-
/ counize either ship or commander.
Yes sir The former as far as | can
sight her bv day or night and the latter
under any disguise he may assume,
VERY well And now as / sm after