The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-04-20

lOined by two others similarly uiil-
formed. The impression they made
upon my mind was that the Nash
vile was differed by young, en-
thusiastic and determined men.
| remained on the dock long
enough TO take mental observa-
ton of her armament, which con-
sisted rs nearly as / c3Ild judge, of
a swivel boW-gun, probably 20
Founders. | was about leaving for
nv hotel, when an officer, who sub
sequently proved TO he the chief en-.
gineer. approached me, and in the
frankest manner possible, said /:
"You are an American, ] per-
ceiye.
Ireplied aflirmatiHely. lie then
invited me on board. which invita-
ton / declined. He repeated the
invitation, stating that the other OF
ficers would be glad TO see an Amer
icqn. | begged to be excused, as /
had some purchases to make, etc.
He t5en told me that he and the sec
ond en- .ineer were New Workers,
and he wished me TO take a couple
Of letters. containing money TO their
wives. told him that the United
States government had sent instruc-
tions to Europe, warning all Ameri-
cans against being the bearers Of
letters from or to parties in arms
against the government, and. trivial
( as the service might seem, regret
ted exceedingly that could not
comply with his wish.
| parted from him, and was near
ing my hotel, when heard foot
steps coming rapidly behind me.
| Turning round | discovered my new
acquaintance, the engineer. lie APP
/ preached me, and, in an agitlted
voice said
( "Do YOU propose returning to New
York on the Bremen ?"
| told him did.
Have you paid your passage p
| replied in the affirmative.
Il am sorry" he added, and was
about leaving me, w-.en he turned
quickly, came up to me, and in a
I low voice, said Forfeit your pass
! age money, DO not go by the Bre-
men. We have an authenticated
/ list of her cargo. She has on board
eight hundred boxes Of Prussian
rifles for the federal Government.
Intwentv-lour housr she viii be out
ofthe dry dock. Two hours after the
Bremen starts for New York we
shall be in pursuit. The Nashville
I is fast we shall rapidly overhaul,
burn and sink the Bremen. We
shall bring back TO southampton all
( her passengers, but the baggage VIII
be lost
thanked him for his information,
and we parted. | was plodding
along, bewildered in a measure by
nv situation. and contrasting unfa-
yorably to myself, my refusal to
take charge Of a letter TO Il poor wo-
man in New York. who WAS, per-
+ maps, suffering from want of the
money it contained, with the ankle
tv her kind husband had displayed
to save me from the horrors of per-
haps a deadly conflict atsea. ! had
half a mind TO 90 back to him, and
take his letter and Its consequences,
when ! ran againt Captain Wessls,
of the Bremen. | felt it my duty
TO Communicate TO him the informa-
ton which had so strangely come to
my knowledge. lie was very much
agitated.
Glow long" said he, will it take
you to get your family down to the
steamer ?"
Twenty minutes" replied.
Il viii give you half an hour.
Forty minutes from this moment
! quilting out his watch we shall be
under way"
In twenty minutes my family and
baggage were on board. In ten
minutes more every passenger going
by the Bremen was on deck. The
gang plank was hauled in, her fast
enings cast off, the tinkling of a bell
was heard. we backed cut from the
dock, another tinkle, and We were
Gader way. ! looked at my watch
Forty-fve minutes had elapsed
since | had been conversing with
the captain in front of the hotel.
Fortunately the steamers fires had
not been put out from the time OF
her arrival, few hours before.
The Bremen was a staunch craft,
and differed by hardy men of ex-
perience. As much steam as we
could safely carry was given her,
and we left rapidly behind US the
shores of old England. That night
Captain Vessel told me that every
thing he possessed in ihis world was
on board the steamer; that he was
largly interested in the safe delivery
of the eight hundred boxes of arms
that the Nashville was very fast ;
and in fair weather could overhaul
US with twenty-four hours start /;
that if she died, he would fight her
with steam as she came alongside,
and would scald to death every hu-
man being on board if possible.
Here could not help but think we
stood a chance Of having a broil
converted into boil, with somebody
cooked gratis. | should be telling
an untruth if | stated that | relished
the prospect.
For about forty-eight hours we
doomed along in splendid style,
when a gale Of wind sprang up,
which although favorable TO our
prospects, nevertheless tried the me-
tai fastenings and cordage of our
gallant iron craft. In such a heavy
sea the Nashville could not live, the
captain said, which had the effect
of consoling us for the rolling and
tossing, the loss Of meals, and gener-
al discomfort of all around US. On
the ninth day the captain, in honor
of cur escape from the Nashy lie,
gave us a 'jolly spread" with line
old Renish wine, and other accom-
paniments. Songs were sung, and
toasts were drank in favor OF Pa
dcrland." Our Fritz" etc., for, with
the exception of two ladies, my fam
ily and myself fbc naSsenoers yvern