The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1873-12-17
Captain Fry.
INCIDENTS OF HIS CAREER IN THE
CONFEDERATE NAVY.

Gazette contributes the following,
brief account Of Capt. Joseph Fry,
the late commander CT the Nirginius
"t'rom IL few months intimate ac.
quaintancc with him during our war
l gathered from his lips few Incl.
dents Of his life. He was born in
Florida, and served many years in
tho United States navy from the
latter ho resigned to join the Con.
fcderacy, i'll which he held the ran;
Of lieutenant. As such he served on
on the Mississippi, first under the
command and on the hHg.yhip OF
Commo,iotc Uollins at New Or!caus
After the fall OF chat city he had
command Of a smnil Ennbont which
tho Federal fleet drove into one OF
the sualtar Western rivers the
White thnk--anA finding it impoS,
sible to save her, he burned his boat;
lauded his battery On biUr, and
opened !; fire shat sunk one Of hi pur.
sucrs aud drove the remainder un.
The fleet however, returned, and
throwing Il body Of some FIVE hun.
/dvGu marines in his rear. while some
four or five steamers opened III fr' nG,
made it hot tor his two Gun5 and = :.
ty or seventy men. Fighting all
around to tn" h.rtcr end, Fly never
did ,ur!cmdrr. and 'nu liy:,t l,uowl-
cu-r IL. a..u oi ttc u;.ittc'S tni,h was
III II c>tUrru - cnu>cl"U>u".S III Il,
r2iG. Al n"s pl,.I, VIII II he iuunb hini.
sci severely wouuuu,s Ia the ,hDutder
ana learned that nls ii,>ir bard had
been nearly all killed or. woundcd
before the hiu!f was takrU, AitcI
lie was exchanged ana was assigned
to duty, his wound breaking out
aireSh compelled him reluctantly to
jiold regular service, and, still sui
iering with his shoulder and Il semi
paralyzel arm, he undertook the
lighter duty of commanding Il Con.
Tolerate steamer, ths E"%.uir, 80 tho.
biockadc running. !" ihjs steamer,
one Of the few sailing regularly
under the Confederate il q, Capt
Fry approved himself Ii l,!ul dar-
ing commander, and was uniformly
successful. On one occasion the
Eugcnic, loaded with gnnpowIcr,
grounded outside Of. Font Fisher
under the guns Of the hlocl<adinn
squadron, and when in view Of the
hcavy Coz II made which Was opened
upon her. he was commanded from
the fort, ON Wi)mir 1ton, aud final .
ly from Il chmonh, tO abandon his
boat and save lis crew from what WAS
considered the Inevitable explosion.
Fry positively refused 20 do Sc stood
by his ship, lightened her, got II good
tide, and carried her safely in~--;,
measure of cool gall9ntry not easily
surpassed, as he WAS utterly defence.
less, carrying no armament. lie
simply stood the chance Q: being
blown up without the excitement Of
battle to sustain his nerve, whiic Oh
the other hand the adjacent coast
mado escape easy. From this SER
vice Fry was withdrawn to surcrin
tend the construction OF torpcdocs,
and for that purpose went 10 Scot
land, where the closing Of The po, is
rendered his cifolts fruitlcss. After
The war | heard of him in New Or
leans, working OH some patents for
saving ships and curing timber, and
very poor. Ofhis connection with
Che Cubans l know nothing, and can
ouly suppose his poverty and natural
love of adventure combined to bring
about his murder. Personally, he
was tall, well-made, handsome man,
with the most mesmeric eyes have
ever seen, having great power Of con-
troll, both over himself and others.
His minG was remarkably good and
well cultivated. He was a deep
reader and thinker, fond Of spccula-
ting on abstrusc subjects, and apt to
DO 1od by his genius TO tho extreme
views. In disposition he was sweet
but firm tempered a true friend and
u strong onomy not given, perhaps
to q large circle, but very social and
convcrsablc with his intimatcs, and
withal, as modest as brave. This
slight sketch Of tho man may serve to
throw some light on his surrender.
AS an old naval officer, having per
sonal experience of the law of block
adc, he both knew the legal liDits OF
his liability if captured, aud trusted
the flag he bore for protection from
all other penalties. llad the Virgin
ius been Cuban privateer, as alleg-
cd, as such she would have carried a
battery, and Capt. Fry would never
havo surrendered without resistance
Had ho borne Cuban commission
three or four shots over his steamer
within reach almost of Jamaica's coas
would never have brought him to
The truth must bo he com manded al
American steamer, and believed tha
the flag undor which ho had SO Ion.
served, and which had conquered hin
could and would insure him at loas
i,r;l.ual