Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-01-10
MEMPHIS TENN: FRIDAY EVENING. JANUARY 10. 1878

Texan, was 10 be our navigating office
Ia pleasant piece of imagination on thu
part Of the Secretary Of the Navy, as
did that job myself). These boys wer'
Confederate midshipmen, who had been
entered during the war and promoted
without ever having been wetted by sal
water. They were 10 be deck officers
\ to give directions TO others as 10 tn,
management of the ship, of which they
were as ignorant as boobies. AS mat
ter Of course they vomited like pigeons
and soon coiled away behind the smoke,
stacks-all Of which cost me good deal
ef sleep. o.- :..isss:ca wss &c sally forth
from Wilmington and appear off the
mouth OF the Delaware and Sandy Hook;
burn, sink and destroy the vessels of the
enemy, and then fly back to cover.
Wood had demonstrated by his cruise
that things could be made so hot OF New
York as TO pretty much lay up all Amer.
lean vessels. We we're to continue the
game, assisted by consort, the Chicka-
mauga. Both vessels we're ready for sea
and we steamed from town to the forts
on the 26th OF October, and anchored in
plain view Of the bloekading squadron
outside, which consisted OF a dozen or
more vessels at each bar. On the 9th
the Chickamauga practiced az tar
get, which was sufficient notification
to the enemy that one of the ves-
sells, at least, was an armed cruiser
and ready for sea. This increased
the vigilance of the enemy, who stood
boldly up to the very mouth Of the chan
| IL ~ ha has 90 80 H. ,..o
the dashing cruisers that were soon to
let slip the dogs of war in sight of their
very greatest marts Of commerce. Will
kinson, Of the Chickamauga, who had
committed the indiscretion. determined
to make the first venture at breaking
through the line. He had eluded the
blockade many times previously, and
was so cool and so determined--a very
Viking, in fact--that there was little
fear bat that he would go through, and
he did on the 29th. On the 29th, it being
quite smoky and hazy, we had steam up
by five o'clock, and hoped to get out be-
fore the enemy was ready to receive us;
besides, the tide served at that time.
Slowly we steamed by the forts, obscured
by the smoke, and crossed the rip" or
inner bar; down along the shore we went
to the outer bar. | said we had steam
up;" this means we had the last ounce Of
pressure our boilers were allowed to
bear, which was twenty-five (25) pounds
to the square inch; with fires thin and
perfect, and ceal sorted and piled in
front of the ire doors ready for use.
The engineers volunteered to add the
fuel by hand throwing lump here and
another there, just exactly as it was
needed. Noiselessly we progress until
the pilot says we are right opposite the
gap to be jumped; the signal man faces
the shore, and telegraphs* for the range
lights or beacons TO be shown, that we
might be guided across the bar by keep
ing them in line. A superannuated pilot
had charge of these beacons, and was
not at his post promptly, and there we
lay with steam accumulating in our
boilers at a fearful rate. If we we're
compelled to blow Off the noise would
be heard for miles, and our nice little
arrangement understood. Minutes flew,
and still no lights; finally the safety
valve lifted and the steam snorted, and
it is said that the executive officer did
likewise on that occasion. For several
minutes we lay roaring like a thousand
sea lions, but finally the old chap
opened" his lights and we moved out,
slowly and gently at fret with the leads
man crying the eopndinss sharply and
rapidly; 'And half twol and half two !
two fathoms two fathoms and quar-
ter twci and half two and a half two
Ga al,
and With the usual dFawl which passes |
for Song" he gave US "hy the mark |
four" This meant that we were outside |
and must shape o course. The pilot
ordered the lead in and formally turned |
the ship oyer to the Captain, who or
dered her course shaped south by west,
which would carry Us clear of Frying
Pan Shoals. ! passed the word into the |
engine room-we did not use bells or
gongs on account of the noise, but a
gutta percha tube instead-to "let her
gor In an instant the tbrottles we're
pulled wide open. The good ship sprang
forward like noble greyhound loosed
from the leash the engines beat half
seconds, and all astern vas foam and |
light Forward, or on the
sides, you found no evidences of great
speed, as the ship was so sharp and
tapered so far aft that she made little or
no break" l was amidships on the
bridge, peeriRg into the darkness (for it
was noW veFy dark, in search Of an
enemy and had not given any thought
as to the speed Of the vessel. Sudden
ly | was interrupted by a sharp pull at
my sleeve, and, looking around, saw our
Charleston pilot, an old cock who had
been bsToaning bis fate for sever al
days, in that he was compelled to go to
sea in a slow propeller He drew me to
the side, and with wonder and astonish-
msnt expressed in every motion,
pointed 10 the pnthoard delivery, an
ori6ee in the side near the water-line
which was being discharged the
water used in oondensing the steam.
This stream of water was near foot in
diameter, pouring outlike jet from the
nozzle Of FIRE engine hose. Cutting
into the still water il stirrs up the ami
nalculR, which in turn threw of a bril-
liant light making the surface look like
molten metal, disturbed and agitated by
a violent wind, and what added TO the
ielusion was the Kissing Of the
waters as they came IN con-
act, and which gave a correct idea OF the
velocity With which We were moving
through the water, and It was this which
had attracted the attention Of the expe-
-ienced old salt who had me BY the but
on, rather than the beautiful effect /
rave attempted 10 describe. After a
ong breath Of relief the old man re-
marked that be had heard Of such things
lsfore, but never believed a word OF Il.
Shs's ave knots faster, sir, than any
hip ever built in America." But We
lad not much time to discuss the speed
II ships, for just then We passed a
.,koo,o- ~ a.,rho- g.. vrktrh wra