Daily globe., 1882-01-29
Farragut in Mobile Bay.

Happily for the fleet and for the coun-
try, there was a man in command that
day equal to the emergency-a man
whose eagle eye grasped every detail of
the fight, while he possessed the skill to
direct and the nerve and ability to exc
cute. There was no time for doubt or
delay. Had he hesitated, the fortune Of
the day must have been against us The
Admiral was standing in the futtock
shrouds, under the main-top-a position
above the smoke, from which, he could
take in the whole situation, and could
communicate with the pilot in the main
top, and with the Fleet Captain and exc
cutive officer on the deck beneath. For
several years there has been discussion
in the papers and magazines Of the coun-
try as to the Admiral's being "lashed to
the rigging" The writer has no light
to throw on the subject. Farragut was
standing in the shrouds, as described.
when the writer went on deck, and he
remained there until the Hartford had
passed beyond the range Of the fort; but
there were not more than two or three
persons on board who knew anything
about his being fastened in place. The
first heard of it in the feet was some
three or four weeks after the fight, when
the New York papers were received.
Various rumors have been circulated as
to the fact, one Of which was that the
Admiral took rope's-end with him when
he went aloft, and secured it so as to
prevent his falling on deck in case of ac-
cident. This is the story which was cur
rent on shipboard at that time and was
generally believed. Since the incident has
been under discussion in the papers the
"real facts in the case have been made
known, and will stand in history on the
unquestioned authority of Fleet Captain
Draytsn and of Flag-LieutenantJ j. Crit
tenden Watson, of the Admiral's staff.
Thisis to the effect that Capt. Drayton, ,see-
ing the Admiral in the rigging, and fear
ing he might be killed by a fall on deck
in case he were wounded, ordered an old
Quartermaster to take ropes end and
secure it around him, so that he would
be prevented from falling. The writer
is disposed to believe that the Admiral
was SO absorbed in watching the fight
that he did not know at the moment the
precautions taken for his safety by his
Fleet Captain. But whatever doubt may
attach to this particular incident = of
which so much has since been made,
while so little was thought of it at the
time there is no chance for doubt as
to the Admiral's action. Finding that
the Brooklyn did not start ahead, he
hurriedly inquired Of Pilot Freeman, in
the main-top, if there was depth enough
for the Hartford to pass to the left of
the vessels in front. Receiving an af-
frmative reply, he said, II will take the
lead," and Immediately ordered the ship
"ahead fast"
On board war steamer the engines
are directed by the tap Of bell, the
wires connected with which lead to the
quarterback. One stroke of the bell
means 'go ahead ;" two, " stop )" three,
"back ;" and four, go ahead as fast as
possible" Leaning down through the
shrouds to the officer on deck at the bell
pull, the Admiral shouted, "Four bells,
eight bells, SIXTEEN BELLS Give her
all the steam you've got" The order
was instantly transmitted, and the old
ship seemed imbued with the Admiral s
spirit, and, running past the Brooklyn
and the monitors/ regardless of fort,
ram, gunboats apd the unseen foe be-
meath, dashed ahead, all alone, save for
her gallant c6nsort, the Metacomet.-
From an "August Moroi,ag a0sb Far
ragast," by e. c. Kinney, in Scribaer's 8
MAGAZINE.