San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-03-01
THE HARRIET LANE.
Revenue Ia Ter, Gunboat, Biockaaer "nh b,"eA
ade Runusr-Iiow She Was Captured NJ
snd Escaped from Galveston.
NJ. Quad in Detroit Free Press.

snd Escaped from Galveston.
NJ Quad in Detroit Free Press.
No vessel launched from the gov
eminent ship-yard during the last fifty
years had more adventurous career
than the Harriet Lane. Launched
as a revenue cutter during Buchan-
ans term, and named after his niece,
the Lane was made use of at once
when the war opened, and owing to
her light draft and speed she executed
several important commissions on the
coast at a great risk and i'll a salts
factory manner. She was then more
completely armed and strengthened,
plated to protect certain localities, and
handed over to the navy as a gunboat
and blockader.
THE TORPEDO STORY.
Just before the presidents block
aiding proclamation went into effect
there was q great cutlery over rebel
attempt" to destroy the Lane with all
on board as she lay at the Washing
ton uavy-yard. AS matter of fact, 9.
man in Washington, who was thor
ough confederate and acting as a spy
for the Richmond government, was
instructed to board the Lane and
note her armament and strength of
crew. The spy accomplished part of
his mission by getting aboard with
some federal army officers, but in
stead of being provided with torpedo
on au internal machine, he was armed
with note book and pencil, and his
use of them aroused suspicion and
ended in his being arrested. He was
held for few weeks and then dis
charged. The story that he intended
to blow up the cutter was probably
set aAoat to add fire to the northern
heart.
AT GALVESTON.
In January, 1868, Galveston, Texas,
was garrisoned by about 800 federal
infantry, and the naval force in the
bay consisted of five or six gunboats,
among them the Harriet Lane. The
confederates had determined to re-
possess the place, and had planned
combined attack on both forces. Two
hours before daylight two river steam
ers armed with field pieces and large
gun or two, and barricaded with cot
ton and filled with picked men armed
with rifles, suddenly appeared on the
BAY. and almost at the same moment
confederate infantry and artillery be-
gan az attack OH the weak force hold
ing the town.
GETTING THE FIRST BLOW.
As soon as the Lane made out that
the fleet was to be attacked, she at
once took the initiative. She was
armed with eight splendid guns and
had crew of 125men. AS she caught
sight Of the confederate steamers bear
ing down upon her she ran for the
nearest, calculating to cut her down
and sink her. Her guns were being
served at the same time, but owing to
the targets being in motion and there
being only moonlight to sight the
guns by, her SHOT inflicted no damage.
When the Lane struck it was glancing
blow, and almost before she lad slip
ped off the other steamer was into
her with shock which seemed to lift
both out of thewater. The Lane was
not much injured, but the other start
ed leak which sent her to the bottom
in seven feet of water within the next
fifteen minutes.
CAPTURED.
The steamer which the Lane had
struck had taken circle and come
about. and with a full head of steam
on she ran for the federal and struck
with a crash plainly heard on shore.
GrappleS were ready and the two
crafts were dashed together, and now
the coufederates could use their rifle
men to advantage.
For ten minutes there was such a
cenfic. as has seldom occurred on the
water. The crew of the Lane was
greatly outnumbered, but they fought,
not only to save their own craft, but
to capture the other. Beth vessels
were enveloped in such cloud of
smoke that men could not see five
feet away, but the fierce fight went
on without abatement.
The other confederate steamer,
though IL a sinking condition, kept
pouring in her fire on the Lane, and 1