The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-13
/ REMARKABLE REHlNIScENCE.
row A DESIRE FOR REVENGE
WAS CONQUERED.
r,ramssie Incident Of the Early Iife OF
Admiral Franklin Bachanan--Hss
Goodness, Courage, and Com.
mand or Men.
(ror the pispa,ch.l

md on returning 10 New York, where at
Frat time was resident, that rather than
encounter the fatigue OF the overland route
he way Of Fredericksburg--for In those
dsvs there were no railroads, or were
otherwise In their incipicncy--i adopted
the rIyer-line, which Is 10 say by steamer
IN Norfolk. and from thence by the mesa
neake Bay.Line Of steamers 10 Bait'more.
on reaching Norfolk, having some ac-
os,aiutances there, l determined 10 larry
dev or two. and on the morning alter my
arrival was very politely invited by irieno
10 take dinner with HIM on that day. ne re,
marking ut the same time that 1 wouiG
meet with some acquaintances ana nava,
officer or two, who, with the crew, hao
lust been deem discharged from the iilgate
Constellation after three-years cruise III
the Mediterranean. very gladly accepted
the Invitation, and met at the appo,hteu
hour q very pleasant, geniai party Oh Ten
or dozen gentlemen.
After the cloth was removed, ana the
conversation took general turn, aiiusioh
was made by some one present 10
THE HOSTILITY THAT SEEMED TO PERvADE
The Consultations crew towards Mr..
franklin buchanan, the first lieutenant OF
the shin. That as they rambled about Inc
streets and shops, nearly all OF them, rs 1t
seemed, more or less under the influence OF
LIQUOR. the whole burden Of their song
seemed to be denuncintory Of Lieutenant
Franklin Buchanan, accompanied by
threats loud and deep. One OF the officers
present who had been on the cruise re-
marked that Buchanan was rigid disclp-
liuarian, but he was not prepared TO say he
had ever exceeded his authority or the
rlIles. and that enforced obedience was aD-
aoIutelv necessary TO the preservation OF
order and the working OF the ship. He
went on furthermore to ssy that he baG
heard OF the threats, and II Buchanan
was not murdered on the streets
he might be the next AFTERNOON,
as he was going up to Baltimore, and posi-
bly, hundred or hundred aud my Oh Tue
ships crew along with him, ana that nav
inc been informed he had also been appiled
TO by some of his friends 10 delay us ee-
partllrc a few DAYS longer In Norfolk. But
he repJied that he had written 10 his mother
and sisters he expected 10 meet them ON
certain day in Philadelphia, and be was not
10 be deferred from his purpose by the
threats of any man or any number OF men.
On the next afternoon | went myself on
board the steamer, which had been adver-
tised to leave at O'Clock. j observed
NUMBER OF sEAMES
on the forward deck, but there was no one
present with whom / was acquainted VINO
could point out 10 me Lieutenant frankiih
Buchanan. We got under weigh az the
appointed hour, and as 1t was chilly on
deck | went below into the aiter-cabin,
where / observed some ten OF dozen
gentlemen seated around the stove, which
seemed to me about constituted the num-
Der OF what is called cabin-passengers.
The conversation was quiet, yet II was
quite evident from the subjects spoken OF
that several OF the gentlemen present were
naval OF -afs. But there were no uniforms
worn, no names called, and nothing
to indicate which was Lieutenant Bucha-
nan. We had proceeded about two hours
on our way when 1 observed shree or
four seamen coming down the stairway,
and on reaching the foot stood still and
directed their eyes 10 where we were sit
ting. Immediately one OF the gentlemen
near Inc got up, and carrying in his hand
what l supposed 10 be sword-cane,
marched three or four times up and down
the whole length OF the cabin, and at times
almost touching the seamen. While this
was going, and not word said that we
could hear,
THE CAPTAIN OF THE STEAMER
came below, and In the most decided man.
ner ordered the seamen out, reminding
them ut the same time that the conditions
Of their being taken on board were that
they were not TO come abaft the wheel
house. With scowling expression on
their countenances they turned about and
went out. The gentleman with the cane
quietly returned to his seat. There was
now no difficulty In recognizing him as
Lieutenant Franklin Buchanan.
We had our suppers at the usual hour,
everything had been cleared away and our
seats resumed around the stove, when
body OF seven or eight seamen came below.
The Lieutenant Immediately rose 20 his
feet, and with cane in hand began his
mach. He had passed them but once Oh
twice when the captain, in some manner
appraised, came below q second time, and
In the most violent language ordered them
out, saying at the same time he would run
the boat ashore and land every one of
them unless his orders were obeyed. To
my great stonishment-drilled 10 ODE
dience, suppose--every man OF them
turned about and went out. At this mo-
ment Colonel Robert L. Hayne, of South
Carolina, whom had never seen before or
slice, came forward and expressed the
hope that as he had his family on board
THERE WOULD BE no BLo0DsHED,
and desired the captain TO exercise the
most determined authority for the mainte-
nance Of order. While this was going on
there was q little by-play around the stove.
A passenger whom / had not before OBJ
served ventured the remark that he had
never been In the company OF naval officers
that there was not some disturbance. Iu-
stantly young gentleman sprung 10 his
feet, and told him II he dared 10 say :
word against the navy he would tear every
limb from bis body. The passenger seemed
TO think he would do II, too, for never
saw him afterwards. This young gentle
man, was afterwards informed, was mid
shipmen, now Admiral David Porter.
Ten o'clock came--about the hour for
retiring-when It occurred to me before
doing so ! would step out on deck and see
"what OF the night There was passage
way under deck TINT led from the rear TO
the forward cabin. This took, and reach
ing there. by the light Of great globe
lamp that hung at the top of the stairway,
4 ] ascended to the deck. found there any
number OF seamen, who spoke In tones
somewhat subdued but the decree had
gone forth, and was yet adhered TO, that
Lieutenant Franklin Buchanan must die.
l looked out upon the Wide waters, All
tsted by strong northwest wind. and
every wave that broke upon the bows
seemed to send
THRILL THROUGH THE BOAT
from stem TO stern. The night was mag
nifccut. The air was cool, crisp, and
bfaclng, and the ornament glowed with
fis iufinity OF stars. Turning from this
magnificent spectacle, what was my aston
f1hment To see standing immediately under
the great globe light. its beams lighting up
every feature OF bis face distinctly as the
day, Lieutenant Franklin Buchanan. There