Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-04-22

S.
"Blaze away, Yank, sung out the Wilmington
pilot; "once get round yon headland, and will
run her slick into Santee, and guess you may fol-
low her thar, if you like"
Swiftly we approached the headland and its pro-
missed safety was nearly gained, when from behind
the low bluff appeared gunboat with the stars
and stripes flying The moment she sighted us,
fire was opened from her midship gnu, and I could
plainly hear the hoarse roar of Dahlgren shell as
it passed over US to burst hundred yards to wind
ward
"Hard over with that helm,-hard over sir"
shouted Captain Ford ''See that the falls Of those
quarter boats are clear, Mr.. Adams and you men
bundle up what traps you can-its goodbye, Fan.
ny Flewker, shall run her ashore under the point
| if possible.
I hastily placed few articles Of clothing in my
ditty bag which deposited in the port quarter
boat, and then ran back to my duty. Icould not
though, resat the temptation to ascertain our posi-
ton before l went below and threw glance
round. There was the paddle steamer, there the
gunboat, and there the angry surf beating on the
sands-each hungering for poor Fanny F1ewker.
Suddenly the whole horizon seemed filled with
fame, and then all was darkness, and [ became
insensible.
When recovered consciousness I found myself
stretched on locker in the engine-room. My
head seemed glued to the boards, but l at last
managed to sit up An ugly cash over my temple
panied me horribly, and was sore from sundry
bruises Struck by fragment of shell, had no
doubt been knocked down the engine hatch. and
stunned by the fall But where was Todd and the
fremen? The engines stopped too! and what
state the engine room was in-starting gear un-
shipped, the handle of the steam valve wrenched
off and missing, the stop-valve hove down, and
the flooring torn up. My first impulse was to get
on deck, but the hatch ladder was unhung and ly-
ing at my feet; tried to raise it, but the exertion
set my wound bleeding, and dreamy unconscious
ness came over me life seemed ebbing; then the
events of my life passed swiftly through my men,
ory, till at last was q child again, seated by my
mother side.
Sick and faint, awoke to the reality of my sit
uation; frantically called for Adams and halted
the watch on deck, but the fierce roar of the fire
and the low hiss of the pent-up steam trying to
find vent, was my only answer. Mechanically l
turned to the engines; the gauge-ghsses were ali
but devoid of WATER and the gauge taps gave out
little else than steam, the bow-pipes, too, were
broken inboard, so that any attempt to ease the
boilers in tina. way would but have filled the en-
CINE room with scalding vapor. I could see it all
now. I had been left on board for dead when she
was run ashore, and before the crew deserted the
ship the fires had been made up to the utmost and
the safety valves fastened, in the hope that she
would blow up before the Yankees took possession.
Again and again I tried to raise the heavy iron
ladder, for would have jumped overheard at any
risk, could have reached the deck; but each ef-
fort failed, and the deadly fantness was againcreep.
ing over me. Then fancied I heard the sound Of
oars and the bump of boat coming alongside
surely that was the quick tramp of feet and voices
on deck! My throat was parched and dry, but
managed to hail, ''On deck, there and oh, the
Joy of hearing an answer! 'For mercys sake, y
gasped I, as faces appeared at the hatchway,
Lower line and ship the ladder!' Down came
rope; my trembling fingers eagerly knotted it to
the topmost round, and soon it was in place. |
darted up, but my way was stopped by grizzled
old quarter master, revolver in hand who drawled
out whilst he collared me, "Not so fast, Brtisher.
What's going on below here?'' ''You are in fear
full danger" exclaimed ''let me go to the safety
valves; she will be blown up in few minutes. y
'sI see for myself" said the old fellow, retaining
his grasp Of my collar; "guess if she blows we'll
20 together. None Of your tarnation artful tricks
, for me- Britisher"
ssWhat' that going on below?'' said a voice on
deck, and looking up I saw the speaker was ma
val officer. hastily explained the peril, and he
) as quickly comprehended my meaning. 'Can you
save herr" he said II can, sir, with help, re,
piled. "Give your orders, then he returned ;
my men shall obey them; but act in good faith, OF
you will repent it. Quartermaster," ," he continued,
eff you detect any treachery -" AYE, aye,
sir," replied the old man, cooly, pointing to his
revolver.
There was no time for protest or for assurance
of truth. set one gang of men to draw the fires
whilst with others endeavored to free the safety
valves. 1t was perilous work, for the over-tasked
boilers might give way any moment. Chains had
been twisted round the valve levers, and spikes
forced into slots, so at to prevent the slightest up
ward movement of the valves; but at last every
obstacle yielded to stalwart arms and sledge ham
ners and roar of steam from the escape-pipe
told US that the Fanny Flewker had escaped at
least that peril.
hastened below, for was fearful some of the
men might, in their ignorance, admit water into
the heated boilers, proceeding which would in
stantly cause the explosion we had just averted ;
and there from the increasing motion, found that
the tide had risen, and the ship was beginning to
float aft.
':Get her off, engineer" said the United States
officer, and will guarantee you five hundred dol
lars in gold; and as soon as you like, for your
friends on the shore are beginning to shoot"
Now when man has to choose between five
hundred dollars and prison. it does not take much
!, time to make up his mind. decided for the dol
lars.
had plenty of assistance, and soon got all right
in the engine room. She had been run ashore on
a sand bank, at low water, about hundred yards
from the Shore As the tide rose, she aoated aft
and assisted by purchases on deck, I backed hel