The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-01-21
IPhiladelphia Times.l

nlzaDle Wnen Ins AiASs w So
ered him. A serviceable winter suit ana
overcoat were substituted for the time-worn
attire in which he had last appeared. The
outfit was complete, even to hat OF APP
proved width of brim, from under which his
black eyes flashed goOd-fellowshlp ana wei
come. eyes, got a brush from the wing OF
fortune" said he, noticing the inquiring
glance. "a lot of old Confeds held meet
ing here little while ago, and these toys are
evidences of the feeling they have for an old
courade. The luck stopped there, though,
for the old wound has been troubling me-
and guess we'd better go in here If we're
going to talk" The "her" referred to was ii
cozey beer saloon, with which ne seemed 10 DC
familiar, for the glasses were at hand almost
as soon as the seats were taken. Wiplng MS
Inns he resumed his narrative: From Octo-
Der. 1854, on to the close of the war was
irving time on all who were engaged In run
ming goods across the Potomac. The \ an
tees had came to the conclusion that the
only way To put an end to the business was to
destroy every boat owned by private indi-
xyiduais ON both sides of the river and It's tri-
hntar;es Navy cutters and blue jackets
snent nearly three weeks in exploring the
reeds and woods along shore, probing
everywhere for hidden craft, which
thew broke up remorselessly as soon as found.
They. however, did not attempt to prevent
fshing-smacks from anchoring IN the broad
river. because the most of the fishermen were
Northern men and were believed to be truly
loyal. So they were, until It came TO the
question of dollars.
CANNY LoYALIsTs.
aWhen they found that they could get
four or FIVE prices for SKIN they usually
carried one or two more than they needed
for fishing purposes and were glad enough to
mart with them for cash. got up to Mat
thias point on my tenth trip North on Nov
ember 8. 1864. l lay around there two weeks
before / succeed in getting SKID to cross
in. We took as many bags OF wheat aboard
as the craft would carry, just by way OF
accommodation to an old friend who had
been very liberal TO US during our detention
The weather had grown very cold ana
northeast storm was very much to our adj
vantage in masking us from the patrols. 1t
was a seven-mile pull straight across at the
best we could do, but the route we took
guess must have doubled 1t at least. 1ou may
think it strange, but the mournfulest sounds
that I aver heard were the calls of the geese,
hrant looms and ducks which had Sought
shelter from the storm in many OF the coyes
through which we rowed. Our course took
VA right in the teeth of the storm, and we
were wet through almost before we got well
started. 1t added to our troubles IN another
way. for every few minutes either my part
ner or had to stop rowing to bail the boat
before she filed up far enough to wet our
cargo. We had got used to the calcium
lights which every now and then flashed
from the sentinel gunbOat lighting up the
water for miles around. They served to
show us what to avoid, so that our great
danger of CAPTURE lay in possible encounter
Of rstrolinq cutters. which carried no lights
We had counted that the destruction OF the
boats would probably slacken their vigilance.
AN UNPLEASANT MEETING.
1--WE had been rowing three or four hours
at the least and thought our journey must be
nearly over when we ran within a cables
length of a patrol boat We bent TO our oars
a. close as we could and sheered point or
two so as TO get the help Of the wind IN drift
ing US away. We were almost sure that dan
Ger had passed when the calcium light ofthe
Yankee swept over US, and the lookout of
the cutter caught glimpse that gave Us
away. We could hear the order given to
pursue. and knowing that nothing but the |
hardest work would pull US through we bent |
to our oars. The Yankee still flashed her |
light in our direction, and although very dis |
tsnt II was enough to show the cutter where |
to follow Every few seconds we'd see the |
fash of small arms, and sometimes we'd hear |
the hiss of the bullet as it whistled by. We
rowed our best. and both of US being old |
oarsmen we made good time, but the cutter |
gained on us fast. When we were within |
about 200 yards of the shore the skltf ran on |
a hank hard and fast With the choice lying |
between a prison and a winter swim we were |
not long in making up our minds. Bowie |
and I went overheard and struck out for the |
shore II was a hard swim and before we |
had got half over we could hear the voices of |
the blue Jackets when they overhauled the |
skiff and summoned US to surrender. They |
could hardly believe that we had tried to |
swim ashore and lost enough time IN making |
nm their minds to follow to render pur-
suit useless. If they had come |
straight after US they would have |
caught us, anyhow, for we were |
nearly. frozen and so numb that we could |
scarcely stagger along. We managed to get |
into the deep WOODS anu DJ pcisisISht tiouAP-
ing around all night we kept the blood in |
circulation. but it was the coolest experience |
of my life.
MARYLAND HOSPITALITY,
when daylight came we got our bearings |
and soon reached friendly domicile, and |
with hospitable cheer and lashings Of drink |
we soon recovered our spirits. We found |
the country full of Yanks, and were in con- |
siderable doubt as to our best way of getting |
through. I was for pushing through at all |
hazards. but Walter Bowie-that was his |
name-had got tired of that sort Of expert
ence. and determined TO stay where ne was
until he got a chance to recross the river and |
return to the armies in the field. He would |
not be argued out of it, so parted with him |
- =. - =. - v,rovad He MANAGED |