Semi-weekly news., 1865-05-06
[From the Galveston News.
Capt. John N. Alaflitt, &. $. n.

y
ton has been made through, the pub
lie prints Of the arrival in our city OF
our worthy and distinguished naval
commander, Capt. Matfitt. The qu's.
ton l am not prepared to fully an
sw.r: but suppose it could not be
for want of appreciation Of his !nyal-
liable services to our cause. SO tar
as our correspondents are conc rncd,
| can say that the int nti,nation became
prrvalcn,-upon what au: hor ~ :
cannot say-that II suppression OF
he fact Of his presence in our midst
was desirable, for obvious reasons.
This much. how-vcr.>l can assure
your readers, that Capt. Slaffi,t is the
last to aspire TO bee ',ne "A suhj'c OF
newspaper parade. but finds glory
enough in s-rvi"s his country III tn"
most quiet and effective way. l
new. "lrss agree with you that. IN
iustic. 10 his tri-nds-W..o number
all I'll. intelligent and valor-lovi' x
Of our citizens and soidi"rs. they
should hear occasionally OF and
about him from SON. friendly source.
| kAlV no" SIllCc We N'sdi' N'''
raccd has escaped til. wal -,.' will,
! with your permission. offer n few re-
ma ks relative to him, his family and
his adventures Our enemy, though
they often speak in the highest terms
OF his daring exploits, d" no, entirely
abstain from their Yankee ways'
Of mixing in tie novel ant riaicul "s.
81, k,,,t
! Capt. Natfitt was found srcre,ed in
thu engine 70 IN Of the steamer
shooting star" at Havana. TO- the
purpose Ct destroying or crippli"s
! her tina: he was iron"t, slir+"'d his
irons. swan off and escaped. y
pretty position. inir.d. il which {"
tind a iisnitird naval othcer-and ="
unrrxsonabi. as only TO serve FOR
am,,s-m mt.
4 personal description q: Captain
Ma1ii,, NAY no, b. u. ~ pinc". or
without interest Am ny his admirers.
II. is about furivnv- wear. old.
/ weighs about one hundred and fifty
pounds, tiv. feet min. inch"e high
dark complexion, raven hair, and
prss"ss..s ~ fine" large an? spark ling
! black eyes rs are seldom aeon re-
mark bly, easy in HIS manners and
conversation ; by no means 'g:"nt
:>ik"r," hut always to tn" point
AID generally upon topics OF his call
ing and the prospects Of th- C"nt''n-
crac-. H.. has AN abiding faith III
our final success; and asserts that
the galIantrv OF our soldier, and IL"
heroism OF our Snu:h,r" women hav"
challenged and received tho ndmira'
,ion .: every nation OF people with
which hr has met.
Entering the service at the h-sin-
! ing Of the war, lie has passrd
through III" four Years with unparal-
l.led success. but not unattended
with gr'mt hardships and sacr'fic-s.
Especially was til. first year "r two
Of the war attended with many per-
sdhal trial. and seeming advr-si'i"s.
Among the first was III" pillnging
and burs.nS "t hi. rrsi,.rntr in
Washington City. valued III the
! n.ighbortood Of Il hundred thousand
dollars; next was the ca.>iur" of his
daughter by tn" enemy; aud mex:
II. w.s Violently attacked, aboard
hip. off Havana, with yellow fever
from the effects Of which he thinks
his health and Usefulness have teen
permanently imp .!rrd. Nis l:t- was
ut the tim. prom u7,c-d hop,.lrss.
after r prn;ractrI illness under the
most adverse ci,cun-talc-S, but re
ln-ino-r!uS lis rr,'dy country and
how much his services w-r. required;
thu v:llainv Of the drs,rovers of his
beautiful home, aud the inpr's"n.
sn-n, OF his daughtrr. h- seemed 10
! take new courage and strength. and,
,- friend informed NE, when toad
-, his hopeless condition by his ply
! siciaus, Ii. hoot.d the idea. amt r.
marked thu, h. ''dsdn'' hare time to
| 2.c-t00 much ,cOrk to Gv-t0o much
! cork to do -
| 81 soon a. he Was suft.ci. n.l:'
! recovered II. put to sea. for Mobile.
! and your readers will remember
his daring feat i'll passing the block.
aiding flee, Oft that city, aooard tho
! Florida. 4. that time NOR. than half
hIs crew We're Frustrated with yellow
f:ver. in consequence" ct which tie
,Sas compelled to gain the harhor, but
succeeding in which his vessel was
badly ridd!ed by the tu.i"ua missile.
of the enemy. and manly OF h:s men
were killed and wounded.
! This and many other associations
Of happier nature endeared
the Florida 10 him, and although he
has since commanded seven others,
the Savannah, Cecil, Nassau, Lii
iian, Fjric, Albelnarie and Owl
| caniurIn1r forty.sevcn of the enc.