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

oAA0 A1CIAOAy VI 1utu1y G11iuSS, UtlO UuC
bold, prominent, ,perilous episodes Of
life remain fixed in the memory until
friendly hands have closed the eyelids.'
in death. ssssss .S55:i *..#E %#
:. The capacity of5ourIv vessel was esti-
mated at $50 bales, and having this on
board, we quietly weighed anchor and
left Wilmington.ss Before sunset we
were anchored oHsthe town ofSSSmith-
Vile, and the twilight afforded an ex-.
cellent opportunity Of accommodating
the enemy's fleet. Circling around
like q rainbow, they dropped their an.
chOrs with all air of self-satisfaction
that babe defiance to any daring Con-
federate who might have the assur-
ance to place his nose within reaching
distance. twas very necessary for
us to bide the movements of the moon,
and her sluggishness in, retiring for
the night caused Us considerable i'm
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 seaward
through the channel, 4 glimpse of Fort
Campbell affords us 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 dashing 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, 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 resulted in a great measure, from
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. Gap
tain,' whispered the pilot to our COM
mander, according to my chop logic,
them chaps amt goin' to get squint
of us this blessed night.''
when q 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. Mafit
to the engineer, and instantly the in
creased revolutions responded to 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 explo1
sion follows; she is struck
''What is the matter!'' 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 suficed 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 fleet as their bat
teries belched forth a h;,il-storm of an
CRY missiles, threatening instant ami
hilation. But as dangers multiplied,
our Mazeppa speed seemed to increase,
and gradually we withdrew from the
pcrilous circle. at last, we distance
the party Out~of the smoke,and 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.
During the night we were subjected
to occasional bursts of speed, to avoid