Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-02-28

handing the paper to Col. Anneslie, re-
marked IN suppressed tone, but sufi-
GENTLY distinct for me to catch the
words, "By Jove, he is right; there's
Phillimore's opinion p
Mr.. Phillimore's communication was
then read aloud, and the true character
of British gentleman was made con-
spicuous by the courtesy and kindness
promptly displayed and extended tow
ard me during the voyage to Southamp-
ton. There Col. Anneslie called me to
the side of the ship to witness the ar
rival of the SCOTS Fusiliers, who had
just come down from London to embark
for Canada on their warlike mission,
and who, recognizing their colonel as
they were ascending the side of the
transport, placed their forage caps on
their rifles and cheered their command
er. just as he said to me:
"Allow me to present you to my reg
iment." | discovered to my great re-
| gret that all the berths ON Cunard
steamers to sail for the next month had
been taken up for British officers and
their wives, and that my only chance to
get to New York was to take passage on
the German steamer Bremen. just ar
rived, which would sail in three days.
On this vessel | secured passage for
myself and family. Sauntering back
to my hotel, espied natty little craft
in the dry dock, which, on inquiry,
turned out to be the confederate cruiser
Nashville, undergoing repairs. The
officer of the deck, who appeared to be
a stripping of eighteen or nineteen
years of age, wearing pea-green jacket
and cap ornamented with gold braid,
was nervously pacing the deck. AS |
stood on the wharf, this youngster was
joined by two others similarly uniform
ed. The impression they made upon
my mind was that the Nashville was
of6cered by young, enthusiastic and de-
termined men.
l remained on the dock long enough
to take mental observation of her ar
mament. which consisted as nearly as |
could judge. of swivel bow-gun. proba-
bly, 20-pounders. was about leaving
for my hotel, when an officer, who SUBJ
sequently proved to be the chief engi-
neer. approached me, and in the frank
est manner possible, said:
"You are an American, | perceive"
| replied afirmatively. He then in
vited me on board, which invitation |
declined. He repeated the invitation,
stating that the other officers would be
glad to see an American. | begged to
be excused, as | had some purchases to
make, etc. He then told me that he
and the second engineer were New York
ers, and he wished me to take q couple
of letters, containing money, to their
wives. told him the United States
government had sent instructions to
Europe. warning all Americans against
being the bearer of letters from or to
parties in arms against the government
and, trivial as the service might seem,
l regretted exceedingly that could not
comply with his wish.
| parted with him, and was nearing
my hotel, when l heard footsteps coming
rapidly behind me. Turning round, |
discovered my new acquaintance, the
engineer. He approached me. and, in
an agitated voice said:
"Do you propose returning to New
York on the Bremen p
! told him | did.
"Have you paid for your passage %
| replied in the affirmative.
II am sorry, he added, and was about
leaving me, when he turned quickly
came up to me, and in low voice
said; Forfeit your passage money dc
not 60 by the Bremen. We have an au
thenticated list of her cargo. She has
on board eight hundred boxes of Prus
sian rifles for the federal government
In twenty-four hours we will be out ol
the dry dock. Two hours after The
Bremen starts for New York we shall
be in pursuit. The Nashville is fast
we shall rapidly overhaul, burn and
l sink the Bremen. We shall bring bach
to Southampton all her passengers, bu
the baggage will be lost"
thanked him for his information
, and we parted. 1 was plodding along
bewildered. in measure by my situa
e tion, and contrasting unfavorably t.
4 myself, my refusal to take charge of
letter to poor woman IN New York
f who was. perhaps, suffering from wan
q of the money it contained, with tn
anxiety her kind husband had display
: ed to save me from the horrors of per
: haps deadly conflict at sea. ha
y half a mind to go back to him, an
f take his letter and its consequences
n when | ran against Capt. Vessels, Q
| the Bremen. felt it my duty to com
e municate to him the information whic
d had SO strangely come to my knowledge
s He was very much agitated.