The Mineral argus., 1884-07-17
How the Boys Got Their rObacky.

How the Boys Got Their Tobacky.
Unanimous as the people of South
Carolina are supposed to have been In
favor of secession, there were some
loyal men among them. 1 remember
one specimen, who, although Irish by
birth, has spent his best years in the
State. He was now hard ON to 60 years
of age, and fairly we'll off for a man of
his station in life. He was a dray-man
and Owned quite a number of teams,
which he let for hire When Capt.
Foster commenced work on Fort MouI-
trie a good deal of hauling had to be
done, and McInerry, the drayman,
willingly let his carts for the purpose.
This displeased the rebels, and a COM
mittee waited upon him and demanded
that he withdraw his teams. The
committee reminded him that he was
a citizen of South Carolina, and that
patriotism demanded that he should
not help the enemies of his state "a
citizen in South Caroliny is it?" re-
piled the drayman. Faith, and do ye
suppose 1 erased the broad Atlantic to
become a citizen of only one Shate ?"
Of course McInerry's motives may not
have been unmlxed with mercenary con-
siderations in that transaction, but the
following is believed to be pure. There
was a tobacco famine in Sumter. A
piece of tobacco was almost worth its
weight in gold. This condition of ours
had got abroad in some way, or lovers
of the weed had guessed at it, and one
generous donation was received from
a leading manufacturer in New York.
But that supply was exhausted, and we
were as badly off as ever again.
One Sunday a small boat was observed
leaving Sullivan's Island and COM
ing in the direction of Sumter. 1t had
no white flag, and contained only three
men. When it got within 500 yards of
the fort it was hailed by the sentinel and
ordered off, a shot being fired in front
of it as a warning. The boat stopped,
and the figure in the stern-sheet COM
menced gesticulating violently, and no
doubt shouting, although we could not
make out what he said. At last be
seemed TO give it up. He ceased gesti-
culating and sat down. Then some in
applicable proceedings were INDUCED
in, and presently a large white flag was
displayed, and the rowers resumed pull
ing toward the fort. The sentinel re-
ported, Flag of truce approaching"
and the officer of the day ordered a boat
away to receive it. But the flag of truce
was too quick for him. While he was
yet talking it came sweeping around the
corner of the fort and in an instant had
hold of the wharf with a boat-hook. The
officer of the day was furious at this
irregular proceeding. He ordered the
boat to cast off at once on pain of being
fred into. "Fire away if We loike and
divil a hair I care!' said McInerry, for
he it was in the stern-sheets of the boat.
do We suppose that afther running my
Sunday shirt by tearing the tail off for
a white flag that I'm going to be driven
away like a dog without givin' the boys
the tobacky?" Meantime he was
throwing plugs Of tobacco ashore to the
men. After distributing in this way a
good armful of navy plug he dropped
away without waiting for thanks, and
the officer of the day promptly with
drew in order hat the men might have
an opportunity of expressing them
selves without committing a breach of
discipline in his presence. This they
did with a will, and many hearty cheers
were sent after the generous and loyal
Irishman who had risked his life and
ruined his Sunday shirt on their behalf.
The United Service.