Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-01-11
/ u [For the Public Ledger.l
CRUISE OF THE OLUSTEE.
BY GEORGE W. GIFT.

The starboard sscrew was slowed, the
helm put hard over and the good craft
answered like a racer But the enemy
saw the movement to flank him and fol
lowed our motions as soon as possible.
| The same ceremony of showing lights
and answering was gone through with,
but it had to come to an end, and at the
end came the broadsides and kissing
fuzes and hurtling shells, all OF which
was very fearful to look at, and created
great deal of noise, but inasmuch as
we were not struck, that part Of the per-
formance had as well have been omitted.
We we're now flying in the direction of
the beach, hoping to turn the enemy
and get away, but the leadsman soon ad-
monisaed us that the water was rapidly
shoaling, and, as our speed was no less
now than it had been something had
to be done at once. A gap showed itself
between two ships Of the enemy, who
had also discovered the shallow water
and were hauling off, That was our
chance. This time the port screw was
slowed, and in an instant we headed
right between them, took their fire,
dashed through and were again on our
course for sea. We sighted but one
other vessel, which crossed our track
astern, but did not see us. When we
crossed the bar and got into four faith.
oms of water, the time was observed
by an officer charged with that duty.
Some minutes after losing sight of the
last mentioned vessel we considered our
selves so entirely clear of the enemy
that the guns were ordered to be secured
and the regular watch set for sea. The
time was again observed, when we found
that but thirty minutes had elapsed
since we left the bar | have been
in good many squslly places before
and since then, but | do not
remember any half hour that seemed
quite as long as that one. Not that the
danger had been very great, but the
changes were so rapid and sudden that
one was quite ready to believe that he
had lived hours instead of minutes. In
two hours from the time our first course
was shaped we reckoned ourselves south
aud clear of the extreme end OF Frying
Pan shoals, and drew up the patent log,
when we found that we had made thirty
four knots Ia knot is the sixtieth part
of degree of latitude, or a geographical
nile), or seventeen knots an hour. After
the first thirty minutes our speed was
slackened In order to accumulate and
hold steam for "spurt," in case pur-
suer should suddenly appear conse-
quently / think / spoke within reason
when said we were going twenty knots
when Ya were being chased; and hon
estly belieye that we could have beaten
any AmericaR-bpilt ship on the blockade
th6+ night at least ten knots in an hour
I state these facts Tor q particular pur-
nose to.wit. TO compare the skill OF the
mechanics and engineers of young and
enterprising America with that of those
of effete and worn-out England. In our
country we have liberty and common
schools. Every man is a genius and
aoyereion. and are vastly superior to
those old country people who have no
liberty and no common schools, and VINO
are not geniuses, but poor, ignorant, be-
nighted Slaves. This is the popular idea,
and. like most popular things, IS ial-
lacy. We do pretty well for new eoun-
try, but We are new.
Being clear of all distractions and
fairly at sea, we hauled ont due east to
get into the Gulf Stream, to drift with It
TO the northward; and besides we wished
to be well of shore out OF the track OF
the armed cruisers. The sea was smooth,
and by noon of the next day, which was
Sunday, we being as far of as was nee
essary, shaped our course for the capes
of the Delaware. We had young man
on board who had remarkable powers OF
vision, and all day long we kept him at
the mast head, sweeping the horizon Tor
sails. Like an hungry hsh-hawk, we were
eager for prey. But not victim did
We espy, which made our FIRST day out as
tame as IL we had been voyaging on
missisn of peaceful commerce. During
the night the same thing occurred, and
we sped on until ten and half o'clock
Monday. when sail hor' came from
the lookout aloft, and everybody turned
o,,t 10 see and hear. We had bean GO
ing AT moderate speed, but nov the en-
rines we're hurried up, and we directly
made out a speck ahead, which soon
rising rapidly out OF she
water, and by noon We we're Alongside
a large Bremen barque. with Gutten5erg
painted on her stern. he was alive
with male emigrants bound 10 Baltimore,
recruits. doubtless to Grants army. We
we're hying Az tTican colors, and gave
our name a. the United States steamer
Bermuda, from Charleston for New
York" This vas q Eater-haul, but still
there was some excitement ia Il. Not
long after leaving this one " sail ho -
came again, and as in the former in
stance night was ahead. By four o'clock
We made on, the nsme Of the vessel We