The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-12-20

80. - oysshss.ls5 Ii Szosed Vi 3 ]
avsssel ltom nualaad CO.. ging
/ d Cor tie Confsderase government LIE
papers were sealed mp q Tn boz. Inc
custodian had ample documents 20 90
thenticate his mission. He was plotted up
the river to the wharves of JacksonYliie,
the boat was placed in friendly charge
and the bearer Of dispatches proceeded
Il once on his way to Richmond.
/ In March. 1859, o Federal force sud-
denly took possession of Jacksonville.
On IL approach the few boats or water
craft took refuge &c seemed most advis-
/ able. and the yacht was hurriedly run up
% Dunn's creek, above Palatka, then into
the environed sheet Of water known -
Dunn's Lake; this precinct, bearing an
illustrious English name. seeming 1T
ting one to screen the Nautilus, which after
her triumph became transferred to Eng
lish ownership. Scarcely was it located
and sunken for security than the power
which was steaming its hostile ships all
along the river found the yacht, took pos
session Of her, and turned her over to the
government as . snug little prize. She
was all through the war thereafter as q
government despatch-boat, for which her
build and fleetness well adapted her. A
thousand times has she been sent out, in
fair or foul weather, on counter service
to that in which she was engaged on her
return to her native land Key West,
Nassau. Havana, and Northern ports all
became familiar with "the long, low,
rakish-looking barque which reconnoi-
tered and played Mercury for her new
masters from New Orleans to New York.
She emerged from the war in the same
custody, as bright as pin, and as capa-
bic of doing service as any vessel afoat.
In May, 1881, General b. F. Butler Wis
tied Florida in his yacht. She was in the
harbors of Jacksonville and Fernandina,
and was the attraction to as many, at
least, as her illustrious owner. As she lay
in the ofiing at both places many went to
the wharves to see Ben Buffers yacht"
and were curious to see Ben Butler him.
self The General made his pleasure ex-
cursion in his yacht along the Southern
coast, and returned at its close to its more
familiar cruising ground eastward.
Three months ago General Butler re-
turned from one of his frequent excur-
sions in the waters of Massachusetts, He
landed at the pathway to his own home
on the Merrimac President Garfield was
then in ectremis from the wound of his
assassination. The General stepped ashore
and was received by friend with more
than commonly expressive grasp of the
hand and signs of sadness in his face. A
flag was at half mast on the staff on the
roof of the Butler mansion. The tried
old civilian and soldier glanced at the EN-
blem and said: "The President is deadr'
His friend was mute and walked with him
in silence, leading him by the arm through
the broad entry door of the old mans
home; thence-still in the mystery of
silence-to room in which lay dead
son dear to the veterans heart. Then
ana there the hush broken by sob from
the breast of the father, which quailed
quicker At the sight revealed to him than
the experience of thousand shocks of
rugged life had ever moved it. The son
had suddenly died during the absence of
the parent, when no such circumstance
fingered in his remotest dream. ~
The yacht was housed, and has not
spread it's white wings to coquette the
winds of pleasure since
Such are the adventures of a Yacht.
She was the first of her dimensions that
crossed the Atlantic. Neptune trailed
his trident at her approach.
She was an adjunct in the greatest In
surrection the world ever saw, and she
swept through the powerful blockade line
like colossal carrier-pigeon with impor-
tant dispatches for the Confederacy, when
the whole coast northward was so envi-
roned that there were no other means of
entrance.
She was captured and served the resi-
due of an official term in the Federal SER
vice.
She was purchased and became the
pleasure-boat of one who had name than
which none on either side of the great
struggle evoked more harsh epithets and
approving phrases
She returned him to his home where he
was to learn the transition of JOY to sor-
row as suddenly as if the mercury fell in
an instant from summer heat to zero.
And now she rests-her sails folded
away, her graceful form hidden from view,
as there is time when it is unseemly to
make inanimate things the Instruments of
human pleasure. She is put out of sight
that she may not more embitter the grief
Of the owner, but the impersonation Of
ship is stronger and sadder to his heart
Such was the career Of the yacht Amer
n