The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-03-02

Passing but few feet distant, it had
scarcely reached the bottom when the very
earth and sea seemed shattered TO atoms
''The shell had exploded almost beside
me! by some means the hooks provided
In the breast of my armor had become
fastened to a rIng of my ladder, else this
tale had never been told. Stunned and
racked as l was, the instinct of self pre-
seryatlon urged me to attempt the ascent
OF my only road to safety, the ladder,
when, 10 my horror, the current began
swaying me back and forth in such "a man
ner that found it impossible to do aught
but hold on and trust to the chapter Of
accidents for relief.
''In an instant after became aware of
the current, dull, regular beat. united TO
a seeming tremor of the ship convinced
me that The ship, was under way and
probably steaming out to the fleet A
glimpse 1T the bottom assured me of this,
as could plainly see it gliding past until
the shoal deepened, and nothing could be
seen underneath me but water. Imagine
my situation, you youngsters, who think
you have seen danger-towed to sea under
a monitor.
The motion rapidly grew more violent
and had it not been for the hooks have
spoken OF, death would have been inevi>
table, for my strength would not have en-
abled me TO retain my hold on the ladder,
and | should have drowned, my body
weighed down by armor beyond recovery.
"All of this time, in reality minutes,
but seemingly hours, my faithful men
within the tUrret chamber had not ceased
TO give me plentiful supply of air, So my
only danger lay in being swept away
After what seemed miles Of grOand passed
over, and hours of time, the beat of the
engine grew gradually slower, then stopped,
and no sooner did | feel the pressure cf
the current relax, than prepared 10 make
the best of way 10 the surface.
81 remember no more. A deadly faint
seized me, and for hours | lay without
life, vibrating between this world and the
one beyond. Returning senses revealed
my four men around me, on the ward-room
table, doing their utmost in my bshalf.
and only gave way to the surgeon when a
a heavy groan aud slowly opening eyes
told that my life was safe.
Il speedily recovered, and for the first
lime learned the details of my great peril
and marvellous escape.
''Immediately on the strain being taken
off of the propeller by the chains being
cut, the engine gave the quick partial rev.
olution which l have mentioned, and the
engineer, as in duty bound, of course re-
ported that the disability TO the machinery
being removed he was ready to GO ahead
at any moment.
cit was but few minutes after tbi:
that the tide began to flow, causing the
current | ave'spoken of, and the devoted
vessel bade fair to be again drifted among
the dreaded obstructions and still nearer
TO Sumter, whose guns never ceased theil
roar all this time.
Captain -, to preveHt this threat
ened catastrophe, and feeling certain tha
was clear of danger from the propeller
| determined to GO ahead a short distance
to clear all danger from the Instructions
and then to await my return TO the surfae,
| before proceeding farther.
Carefully watching the air pipe lead
slowly, and as the ship gathered headway
and the pipe remained without vislbl'
strain, it was concluded that my ascen
! had begun, as in truth was The fact 81
instead of coming TO after steaming a shor
distance. the slip was headed for the fleet
and only came to ancEor when withir
hail Of the flagship. The rest have toIt
you.
"As one result of that days work,
was sent home on the sick list, and from
that day to this, young man. turning tc
me as he spoke, Il have never once beer
inside a divers dress and never intend t.
be again"
AS The old man approached the conclu
sion, he grew quite excited. as indeed hac
bis listeners, and as the tones of his voict
died away, the wind outside satherin:
fresh fury, seemed to shake The eIdahous,
to It's very foundation.