The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-07-16
If not paid in advance, $l.2j
A WAR INCIDENT.
BLOCKADE. RUNNING IN MipNIaHT THuN.
DER SroRM--A THRILLING SCENK
IN CHARLESTON UApBoR


DER SroRM--A THRILLING SoENR
TX CHARLESTON HApBoR.
The day had been a sultry one. All day
long tho flower Of the American navy had
been laundering at the sea-wall of Fort
Sumter. The massive masonry had been
slowly crumbling, but the shades of even
ing had put an end TO the furious canonod-
ing, and the gunboats and monitors had
retired out of range and came to anchor for
the night. On the bar or just outside, the
frigates and heavy side-wheelcrs took up a
posi- ton. Beyond "Rebelion Roads," and
extending out to sea, was a double banked
column Of gunboatsj while almost within
range Of Sumter and Battery Wagner the
New Ironsides and the monitors were rang
ed.
After It grew dark thunder storm began
to work up from the westward. Fitful
flashes of lightning and the rumbIng Of
thunder gave promise of a stormy night.
About ten o'clock the storm was raging fu-
riously, and on the low unsheltered decks
of the ironclads the watch were exposed to
the fury of the pelting rain.
Near midnight the storm began working
back with redoubled violence. Flash fol-
lowed fash, and peal followed peal rolling
and crashing with terrific conclusions. At
times the tossing waters were lit up with a
wierd, ghasty light, plainly revealing the
low-lying islands and the gaming embra-
sures of the fort lying hard by.
Suddenly the heavy thud of gun came
down ON the wings Of the wind from sea-
ward, and following it a crinkling, zig gag
binding shaft Of light streams across the
heavens. The momentary light illumina-
ted every portion of the broad expansc.
Then there was tremendous crash that
shook the solid monitors to their keels As
the thunder roared and reverbrated ana
died away in the distance, the deep boom
of heavy Dahlgren gun was heard out on
tho bar. Presently another, and another,
in rapid succession. The watcl. below
came springing out into the storm, every |
eye peering into the darkness.
While every ear listened to catch the dis
tant sounds came the stirrug music of the
American navy--a dozen drums beating |
the tumultuous measured roll and tap-tap,
and dozen fifes screaming in shrill ca
dence. Rockets stream alof and lights
fash intelligence that steamer is inside
the blockade and bounl in.
Then there was n tumult for second.
Tho monitors beat to quarters, steam is
runa up, und the trained crews 20 to their
stations. From under the shadow of Fort
Sumter I strain through the iron embra-
sures and sec fitful flashes along the line of
gunboats. Ycs the fugitive was running
the gauntlet of the feet Trusting to the
darkness to escape. But her people did not
know that they must almost rub the muz-
zles of our guns to pass. The pluclSy fugi-
tive was rapidly coming up and in few
moments more would be blown out of the
water.
The. drums have ceased beating, and
from afar come quick EXPLANATIONS, the
heavy booming of tho monitors and the
swift revolutions of screw. Iron-clad az
ter iron clad make the steamer target; but
II is pitch dark, and her swift way is
against them. Aboye the tumult of the
elements come the loud roar OF the huge
guus; but still those adventurous spirits
picked their way through the inky black
ness. A bright light is blazing npon the
ramparts Of Sumter, and broad off upon our
port beam, in the direction of Fort Moul-
trie. Rockets are streaming continuously
the bearings of the Confederates display to
help the fugitive.
On she comes. The pulsatious of the
trelcss engines are now heard, together
with the swift churning of the screw. Now
she is passing the monitor ahead, and in an
instant will be alongside. The Montauk
delivers both her guns; there comes flash
Of lightning, and the steamer is revealed for
the first time. From her low smoke stack |
the smoke is rolling in thick masses, and
directly IN front, perched on the bridge, is |
the pilot He stands upright as an iron
bar. In her waist hand is slung casting
the lead AS looked his arm was sway
ing and the lead whirlng over his head,
then it was dark. AS she came abreast,
fairly pushing the blacl,ness before her, the
lesdman's voice, full and strong splced,
too, with favor Of Cockney accent, rung
out
"And n 'alf two r.
Another flash revealed everything, the
man in the wheel-house whirling the
wheel, tho Cocknoy gathering in the slack
line, as if intent on having another cast be-
tore being blown up, and then bell tinklcs,
the turret turns steadily to port, and the
men crouch away from the recoil; then the
vehement order TO "Gre" There is
breathless pause, and then terrible male
diction, for both primers refuse to burn, and
the bold blockade-runner had vanished
around the northeast angle of Sumter.
Some men are boon lucky and some have
luck thrust upon tbemi but generally the
man who is reckless and bold to execute is
favored by fortune. 1t was thought the
blockade-runner supposed the outer line of
vessels was the blockade, and when he dis
covered that he bad run into hornets
nest, had promptly decided to run in at all
hazards. That special providence inter
fere6 in his case is evident from the singu-
lar Circumstance Of two primers failing to
burn. As for the failure to hit her, all vet
Grams will comprehend the difficulty of hit
ting an object in rapid motion, especially
with heavy artillery.
-
springfield, (Mass.) Republican,
\ PrOnlinent Lawyers Opinion.
In one of our New England exchanges we