The Republican journal., 1869-04-08

PRIL 8. 1869.
tortuous channel ran round two sides of thi
triangle, opening at the angles of the sea.
ward base. Our point Of entry was nc
doubt guarded by the paddle or her con
sort now we hoped that the outlet NIGH
De unknown, and that our low, white hui
would blend with the waves in the grey
morning light, and so escape detection
hach moment brought the thunder of the
surf nearer, but safely we crossed the bar,
ana again telt the long roll of the open sea.
Give her all you can, below there" was
the order now passed down. The stokers
worked with will, and soon the Fanny
went at her best speed. 1 began to think
we should get clear off Vain hope for
suddenly the morning fog lifted, and there,
not three miles from us on the weather
quarter lay the paddle. There was vet a
chance Of eluding them but no. they kept
bright lookout, and we could hear the
beat to quarters. However, we were we'll
uuder weigh, and she had to heave her an
chor and get up steam; but she was soon
after US, playing up the same tune with her
big guns.
''Blaze away, Yank," sung out the Will
mlngton pilot; "once get round yon head
land, and l will run her slick into Santee,
and guess you may follow her thar, if
yew like"
owlftly we approached the headland, and
It's promised safety was nearly gained, when
from behind the low bluff appeared gun
boat with the stars and stripes flying. The
moment she sighted us, fire was opened
from her midship gun, and I could plainly
hear the hoarse roar of a Dahlgren shell
as 1t passed over us to burst a hundred Yards
to windward.
"Hard over with that helm,--hard over
slr' shouted Captain Ford. ''See that the
tails OF those quarter boats are clear, Mr..
Adams; and you men bundle up what traps
you can-its good-b bye, Fannie FIewker. /
snail run her ashore under the point if pos
sible."
l hastily placed few articles of clothing
IN my ditty-bag, which deposited in the
port quarter boat, and then ran back to my
duty could not, though, resist the tempt
atatlon to ascertain our position before |
went below, and 1 threw glance round.
es, there was the paddle steamer, there
.he gunboat, and there the angry surf beat
ing on the sands-each hungering for poor
fanny tlewker. Suddenly the whole hor-
lzou seemed filled with flame, and then all
was darkness, and I became insensble.
When recovered consciousness, found
myself stretched on a locker in the engine
room. My head seemed glued to the boards,
but at last [ managed to sit up. An ugly
cash over my temple panied me horribly,
and was sore from sundry bruises Struck
by a fragment of shell, had no doubt been
knocked down the engine hatch, and stun
ned by the fall. But where was Todd and
the iremen? The engines stopped too! and
what state the engine room was in-start-
ing gear unshppea, 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 lying at
my feet; L tried to raise it, but the exer-
ton set my wounds bleeding, and dreamy
unconsclousness came over me ; life seemed
ebblng; then the events of my life passed
swiftly through my memory till at last |
was 9 child again, seated by my mothers
side.
Sick and faint, 1 awoke to the reality of
my situation; trantically called for Adams,
and hailed the watch on deck, but the fierce
roar of the fires, and the low hiss of the
pent-up steam trying to find vent, was my
only answer. Mechanically turned to the
engines; the gauge-glasses were all but de-
void of water, and the gauge taps gave out
little else than steam the blow-off pipes,
too, were broken inboard, so that any at
tempt to ease the boilers in that way would
have hlled the eng gine-room with scalding
vapor. | could see it all now. had been
left on board for dead when she was ruu
ashore, and before the crew deserted the
ship the fires had been made up to the ut
most, and the safety valves fastened, in the
hope that she would blow up before Yankee
took possession.
Again and again | tried to raise the
heavy iron ladder, for would have jumped
overheard at any risk, could have reach
ed the deck but each effort failed, and the
deadly faintness was again creeping over
me. Then fancied l heard the sound of
oars, and the bump of a boat coming along
side ;-surely that was the quick tramp of
feet and voices on deck My throat was
parchcd and dry, but | managed to hail,
"On deck there" and oh the joy of hear
ing an answer ''For mercy's sake" gasp
ed L, as faces appeared at the hatchway,
Clover a line and ship the ladder" down
came rope my trembling fingers eagerly
knotted it to the topmost round, and soon
it was in place. l darted up, but my way
was stopped by grizzled old quartermas-
ter, revolver in hand, who drawled out,
whilst he colared me, "Not so fast, Brit
isher. What's going on below here?" "You
are in fearful danger" 1 exclaimed; "let
me get to the safety valves; she will be
blown up in few minutes" "Pll see for
myself" said the old fellow, retaining his
grasp Of my collar; ''guess if she blows,
we'll 60 together. None of your tarnation
artful tricks for me, Britisher."
"What's that going on below?" said
voice on deck, and looking up l saw the
speaker was naval officer. l hastily cx-
planned the peril, and he as quickly compre-
henbed my meaning. "Can you save her?"