Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-05-08
Mechancsbwn, Frederick County, Maryland Thursday May g. 1884,

o steep winrow Of churning foam With -
forward bound it overtakes the steamer,
reaches under her AMI clutches her in lis il
resistible embrace. High over tho horrid
tumult is heard the mate laundering peremp-
torily:
"Hard-a. port! Hard down. Go ahead
fast!"
Almost buried in the brine glance re-
veals the wheel swiftly going over to port.
Over and over as only wheel is ma le to
turn in moments of deadly peril. Tinkle,
tiulle, sounds bell down below
where tho engineer stands with hand
on the throt,l le. On and on races
the wave, still clutching the steamer,
which trembles like frightened bird. Still
holding the wheel hard down the steamers
head is spinning around to starboard. aud
the helnlsman's eyes are riveted on the mate.
The wave sinks from un Ter her, she shoots
around low sandy point of land, AMI the
mate, smiling all over his face, calls:
"Steadyl"
The next moment she dropped anchor close
10 the Swallow in smooth water. Outside,
the Wild wall of the tempest and the thunder
Of the breakers kept their revels, and all
night long the vivid lightning and pealins
thunder combined to make the rescued mar
iners and passengers I1inlflll Of their secur-
ity In the morning the storm went down,
and by the next day with thankful hearts
they rec rosssd the bar, now no longer look
ing 50 terrible Outside the bar the two
vessels parted with prof ,nged cheers
When the Swallow reached New York the
mate received letter inviting him to take
comman of the Ella. He laid it bafore the
skipper, who warmly congratulated him and
advised him to accept He considered over
it several days, and decided to accept the re-
sponsibility. Before leaving for his new
duties the owner Of the Swallow gave all
hands grand blow oat in an uptown hotel;
made speeches about heroisa, coolness ana
courage. The popping Of the coris sounded
like the barking Of nushets between the
pickets Of opposing armies, and the stories
and songs were tn, best Of til ,ir kind. In
those days we did not have such an ALFRED
hurrah about the lower classes and the best
people But in good time the distinctions
came.
Three or for years rolled by and then
came the war OF the rebellion. From the
Highland Ii ,ht to Key West you could not
see tho sha low of sail The fleets #
schooners were idle. Brigs and harks and
ships we're tied up to the docks or had hoist ID
English or Dutch colors aud sailed Ia other
waters. The idle steamers nocked into the
army or navy and id excellent service
wherever they went. In 1865, in the battles
around Richmond, Confederate light bat
terry was posted at point on the South
Shore re ilro,d. ArouAd it was surgins
thousands of armed men in the desperate
efforts to carry the position. From twenty
directions came the screaming shells, which
continually exploded in and around the posi-
tion. Suddenly the continuous thunder
ceased, and over the brow Of Il hil in frolt
appeared squadron after squadron of cavalry.
On the deal ga.lop they came straighv
for the battery Over thci' heads flashed
the sheen Of the sabers which ad.
vanced like waves of the ocean. What could
the gunners doa Before each piece was
fired half score Of times the troopers were
sweeping through the battery. Posted in
thicktt in the rear tho Confederate infantry
novel out to meet the charge. But at
breekneck speed Sheridans Dragons rode
nf,er tie gunners cleaving them with the
saber. On the dead run came a tall aril-
lery man and c.ose behind him a trooper
with saber aloft ready to cut him down.
CHANGING over his shoulder the gunner sees
the hopelessuess Of his case, and turning
short around he lifts his hands oyer his head.
In an instant the trooper is upon him. Pull
irg up shol tly tire two men shake hands in
plain sight of the contendi Y forces-the
Confed ,ratrs are utterly routed, and Of the
men composing the light battery only ono
survived the slaughter. That was the tall
gunner who was overtaken by the trooper.
His name was Anthony James, and the
trooper was the engineer Of the Ella.