The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-12

patience.
At last her royal majesty tips us a,
knowing wink and disappears. We
improve the hint, the capstan revolves
merrily, and briefly we are under way.
Silently we pass Fort Caswell, and as
the steamers head turns seward
through tie channe1, glimpse VI Fort
Campbell affords usea farewell glimpse
of Dixie. Silent still, and we peer
through the gloom at the Napoleonic
figure on the quarterback who guides
and directs every motion Of the vessel
beneath our feet. The swelling greet
ings of the Atlantic pillows announce
the fact that the bar is passed.. Over
the cresting waves the good ship swift
ly dashes as if impatient to promptly
face the trials of the night. Through
the settled darkness, all eyes on board
are peering, eagerly gazing to catch a
glimpse Of the dreaded sentinels, who
sternly guard the tabooed channel.
Nothing white is exposed to view;
every light is extinguished save those
that are hooded in the pinnacle and
engine room. No sound disturbs the
stiffness, save the distant, moaning of
the northeast wind and: the unwel-
come, but unavoidable dasliing of the
paddles. Suddenly an otficor reports
several steamers, in, sight. Eagerly
pointing he reports two at anchor, and
several slowly cruising. Instantly out
of the gloom and spoon-drift emerge
the sOmbre, phantom forms of the
blockading fleet. Every mind is i'm
pressed F.; the moment Of trial is at
hand; firmness and decision are now
the supreme essentials for. the emery.
ency. Dashing between" the two at
anchor, we pass so near as to excite
establishment at. our non-discovery.
This resultedinsasgreata measure, rfroms
the color of the hull, which, under Ger.
tain stages of the atmosphere, amalga-
mated so perfectly with the haze as to
render the steamer nearly invisible.
How eagerly the grim hulls of, the foe
are watched! How taut, like harp
strings, every nerve is strung anxious.
ly vibrating with each pulsation of the
throbbing heart!
Slowly we merge to windward from
between the two at anchor. Soap
tain,'' whispered the pilot to our COM
mander, according to my chop logic,
them chaps amt goin' to get a squirt
of us this blessed night ,...
Scarcely were the words uttered
when a broad-spread flash of light
blazed from the flagship drummond--
for, in passing to windward, the noise
of our paddle-wheels had betrayed the
proximity of blockade-runner.
''Full speed - shouted Capt. Maffit
to the engineer, and instantly the in
creased revolutions responded to u. the
order. Then came the roar of heavy
guns-the howl of shot and scream Of
hurtling shell-around, above and
through the severed rigging, the iron
demons howled as if pandemonium
had discharged it's internal spirits in
the air. Suddenly, under the influence
of a terrible shock, the steamer quiv-
ers with aspen vibrations; an explos
sion follows; she is struck -.
''What is the 1aatter!" asked Capt.
Maffit.
"a shell, sir, has knocked overheard
several bales of cotton. and wounded
two of the crew." responded the boat.
swain. A minute or two sufficed to
clear away the debris and remove the
wounded seamen below.
BY the sheen of drummond lights,
the sea is so clearly Illuminated as to
exhibit with painful .vividness the per-
lis of our position, and show the group
ing around us of the feet as their bat.
teries belched forth. a hail-sterm' of an:
CRY missiles, threatening instant ami
hilation. But as dangers multiplied,
our Mazeppa speed seemed to increase,
and gradually we. withdrew from the
perilous circle. AT last, we distance
the party - Ontaof thessmokesand thun.
der of artillery, we. -joyfully emerged,
experiencing a delightful sense OF re-
lief in being able to go it alone. Spon-
taneously the crew gave three hearty
cheers as a relief to their pent up
anxiety. - *S'
During the night we were subjected
to occasional bursts of speed, to avoid
suspicious strangers, whose character
could not be determined. In fact no.
thing in the shape of q steamer was to
be trusted, as we entertained the belief
that COnfederates were Ishmaelities
upon the broad ocean-the recipient
OF no mans courtesy. Day dawned
upon one of oceans most, beautiful
mornings the soft blue sky circled
the bluer horizon, and over the broad
expanse profound calm settled upon
the sleeping waters. 1t seemed diff
ticult to realize that such serenity was
ever tortured into the most wild and
frantic commotion by the rude storms
and hurricanes that often held high
revelry where now not ruffied wave
or even gentle ripple dim
pied the mirrored surface. Solitary
and alone we pursued our voyage, fat