News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-11-22

One of the finest displays of cool con-
duct, fine seamauship and daring that [
ever saw, says a naval officer, took phase
off Galveston Bay, Texas, on the morn
ing OF April l, 1868. at which time and
place We were doing blockade duty on
board the United States Steamer Sem
mole, Captain Clarey, commanding.
We had sighted the strange steamer and
We were speeding along ut the rate Of
about ten miles an hour, which was the
Jest / ever saw her do under steam
alone. We were now gaining rapidly on
the stranger, when she changed her
course to the nortbward and set her iib
and toreSall and was getting away from
Us IN fine style, rs quick as she did this.
Captain Ciarey, Selling 4 trumpet
from the officer of the deck, sprang into
the horseback and shouted.
In less than a minute the Seminole
was staggering under cloud OF canvas
trimmed well aft and every rope draw
ing tight as fiddle string, making the
sea all around Us like soapsuds rs We
fairly flew through the water.
We were now rapidly Overhauing the
stranger, which was about three miles
OFF, running full speed for the shore,
with a big bone III her teeth For the
first time We got good look at her.
She was Il long, low Clyde-buiIt steamer,
with side wheels, two smoke stacks and
two masts, fore-and-aft rig, with fear
ful rake In them, all painted in grayish
white, which WAS the usual custom with
all the blockade runners. so as TO make
them undistiugUishable against the
foggy horizon which prevails in the
Gulf. We now began to get within
range with our guns.
''Fo'castie there, called out Captain
Clarey. ''DO you think you can reach
her with the rifle?'
Eyes, sir.
''Try it -
In a few seconds a flash and 4 puff of
smoke announced that thirty-pound
Parrot shell was flying toward her, but
it went over her and exploded in the
wafer beyond
CRY it again, sir - and second shell
exploded in the air above her.
Very good, sir. but trr again, -" and a
third shell exploded under her bow.
But she pail 10 more attention to these
than if she had been going on about her
regular every day business and We were
amusing ourselves with a little target
practice
We were now within less than two
miles when we opened fire on her from
our eIeven-iuch pivot, exploding a shell
right under her bow and nearly dclucing
the Snip with water, but doing no further
harm. While we were rcIoadinG the
pivot she put her helm "hard a-star-
fnDar,4''
directly for the su0re-distant about a
mile and a INDEPENDENTLY intending
to run herself ashore. While this was
being done we were not idle; the change,
of course, compelled us to shorten
sail, and have often seen our men do
some handsome work ii elect exercise, -
but never before in my life did I
see such quick work or more splendid
seamaUship than our officers and men
exhibited on this occasion. The fore
and maintopsaiIs. the fore and main
sheets and the iib was hauled down.
clewed up and slowed, and the men back
TO their stations at the guns in less an
five minutes without the least confusion,
but amid the most intense excitement
As soon as the last man reached the
deck Captain Ciarey shouted: PUT
a-starbOard, sill" answered the officer at
the wheel at the same moment, putting
the wheel sharply about and the ship
turned on her heel as if she knew what
was expected of her and started directly
for the shore with the stranger, now
right abeam, starbOard side about a mile
oil, bringing our whole battery OF five
guns 10 bear on her. The captain called
ont TO forward EIEe: ''EIre as soon as
Won ar" TcHdy and without further
orders, only don't waste the rII1I1IItiou
Pivot there, sir; fire carefully, and aim |
ut the vheeI-housc and at no other place. |
Sink her, if possible; 90 ahead and
show us what you can do. Quarterback
battery six eight-inch guns, take good 7
aim and fire as rapidly as Won can: aim
ut the WheeLhouse; don't let her get
away from US.
All this was done in less time than it
takes To describe it, and rs we were now
nearing her rapidly, it seemed impossi-
bic that she could escape US. A shell |
from the nile exploded over her; Il shell /
from the ulGyeu-iuch burst close beside
her, and the three and cight-iuch shell
guns we've sending their compliments
thick and fast, but strange to say not a
single shot had struck her. She seemed |
TO bear q charmed life. We were about |
half mile distant from each other and |
about q mile from tine shore, when she |
suddenly changed her course to south
southwest and started to run down along .
the coast, heading directly for Us. Al /
the same instant the Ieadsman III the |
chains crIed out:
by the deep three fathoms -
''Hard a-starboard, quartermastar !" |
cried Captain Carey, and as the ships !
head swung to port he remarked: by /
God, we'd been ashore in another /
second y The Seminole was drawing /
sixteen feet and deep at that
1t was uowuip and tuck. The stranger |
was going to run for it and had the bar /
between us. Our only chance was to |
sink her before she got in. Nothing
now could save her as the steamer Pen
gum, which had been after the other
sail, which, by the way, was n passing
friend, now joined us in the chase. and /
opened upon the living steamer, with no
better success than before, her shots fv-
ing wide Of tine mark. The most ire
mendOus excitement prevailed on board /
each vessel. Captain Ciarev raved and
swOre and stamped in an intense bUt
sUbdued tone, but all to no effect. Shot
after shot went over and exploded ha-
You'd on the shore; some exploded short
and covered the steamer with spray.
some in the air, others cut the water
just ahead, some Just grazed the stern.
but not one touched her apparently. 1t
seemed impossible to strike her. The
men worked the guns as if they were
only TOYS in their excitement. and
loaded and fired as if their lives de
pended on the accuracy of each shot,
So F1TeIfify- did fin. +E,.l4 l,,1