Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-05-11
"Oil On the Troubled Waters. :,


In October, 1861, the coast survey
steamer Vixen was assigned to duty
with the Port Royal expedition, then
fitting out al Fortress Monroe, under
the command Of Flag Officer (afterward
AdmiraD Dupont The Vixen was
small sidewheel steamer, built in 1916
for service in the Mexican war. She
was a miracle Of uglines8 and was SLOW
and difficult 10 handle in heavy weather,
but she was strong and had weathered
many severe gales. She was placed under
the command Of an old assistant in the
coast survey, Mr. Boutelle. with q picked
staff Of reliable officers. For reasons
no, belonging TO this narrative Flag or.
icer Dupont decided that Mr.. Boutelle
should accompany him in the flagship
Wabash, and the Vixen went TO sea
with the fleet from Fortress Monroe in
charge Of her executive officer, Mr..
Robert Platt. then Of the coast survey
and now Of the United States navy.
The fearful storm the feet encountered
on the North Carolina coast south OF
Hatteras is matter Of history. On tho
morning after leaving Fortress Monroe
the number OF the feet reported
10 the commanderin-chief as in
sight was forty.nine. On the
next morning the squadron had
dwindled to its square root. Only seven
we're in sight. In the height of the
gale the large and powerful frigate
Wabash labored 30 heavily in the ire.
mendous sea that the headlights closing
the windows Of tho flag officers state.
room had been broken in and he had
been driven 10 occupy a sofa in the
main. cabin. Many OF the transports in
the fleet were notoriously untitled 10
encounter such a storm, and anxiety
and fear for their safety prevailed. Few
Of the marine battalion who we're upon
the Inflated steamer Governor will ever
forget their awful experience. or their
rescue, chiefly through the seamanship
and pluck Of Lieutenant tnow Rear
AdmirAll Balch, then executive officer
Of the frigate Sabine.
Small hope was entertained that the
little surveying steamer Vixen. with
her decks hardly Ave feet above the
water, had survived tho gale. but a. the
flagship approached the rendezvous of
Port Royal she was seen quietly at an.
ohor, having reached there among the
first OF the squadron. The commander,
Mfr. PIatt, in relating the experiences
Of the storm TO his chief, Mr.. Boutelle,
modestly recounted that. when the
storm grew too heavy for him to keep
his course, he bad brought the vessels
head to sea and had put out u drag to
assist him in keeping her in that
position. As the storm reached its
height and the huge waves frothed
and combed, they began TO break on
board and tho vessel was in great
danger. He then poured about gal
Ion Of oil overheard, just abaft the lee
paddle.b box. Il drifted with the vessel
and soon formed an oily scum about
her, after which not q sea oombed or
broke on board, and she rode out the
gale in safety, arriving at the appointed
rendezvous in advance of many vessels
of enormously greater power and speed.
Mr.. Boutello Immediately reported the
circumstances 10 his official superior,
Professor A. ID. Bsche, superintendent
Of the coast survey. A. any other
period Il would probably have been
published and excited attention, but
wo were ,hsn in the midst Of events OF
too great moment Tor 80 small matter
10 attract general notice. -RaitrOad
Journal.