The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-01-17
RUNNING THE FORTS.

Alex w. Pearson, of Nineland, n.
j., writes story of how Porter ran by
Vicksburg. Mr.. Pearson was pay
master on the steamer Red Rover, at
tached TO the Mississippi squadron.
He tells how the gauntlet was un In
this manner:
The ironclads were anchored in the
Mississippi, just below the mouth of
the Yazoo, in the order of procession
they were to take in passing the block
-ade. All seemed ready, and everybody
was on the qui vive for the start. Past
10 o'clock that night we heard the deep
tone of the boatswain's mate, of the
Louisville Che had voice like lion)
callings "All hands! Up anchor!'
"There! They are off," was the word,
and we hurried on deck to get part
ing glimpse of our "forlorn hope" We
breathlessly listened to the rattle of
the chain cables as they came in, and
could distinguish the dark outlines of
the iron-clads as they swung in the
stream. Then there was a signal from
the flagship, and again we heard the
boatswain: "Let go anchor!" The
cables ratified out again, and all was
still. We drew long breath. They're
not going tonight" Something has
happened" SO all hands turned i'll.
Tins, upon successive nights, was
the fleet practiced in the preliminaries
of departure, until all became so used
to the performance that the movement
was as mechanical as any other drill.
and spectators ceased to regard it with
especial interest.
Meanwhile the three transports which
were to go below were getting ready.
It was decided to economic life by re-
moving the crews from these steamers,
leaving only two pilots at the wheel and
two engineers to handle the engines.
The duty of guiding these large and
.defenseless steamers through the tenn
pest of fire they were destined to trav-
erse seemed extra hazardous. The post
of the pilot particularly, perched up
in the sky-parlor, was uncomfortably
isolated and distinguished when 100
FOUNDER shot and shell were flying
about regardless of consequences. The
loneliness in itself was kind of poker
ish." Danger, like misery, loves COM
pany.
To avoid the disagreeable RESPONSE
bility of ordering chosen individuals to
occupy these perilous positions, Admi-
raj Porter called for volunteer pi-
lots. Every pilot in the squad
ron volunteered! Even the two
old Nestors who presided at the
wheel of the Red Rover got me to write
an application requesting that they
might be permitted to have the pleas.
ure" of taking one Of the steam trans
ports past Vicksburg.
THE PILOTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
Here was another difficulty. All were
so eager for the post of honor that il
was adeiicate matter to make selection.
I cannot forbear DEPRESSING here to
place ON record my humble tribute oil
respect and admiration for the pilots OF
the Mississippi river. Taken as class,
their gallantry outves compar son.
Accustomed to grave responsibility in
sudden emergencies, bred to decide and
act instantly, when upon such action
may depend the safety of hundreds
confiding in their care, in the face o.
imminent peril deliberate yet prompt
with courage which has stood al
tests, their seeming recklessncss spr ngs
not from regardlessness, but from {
heroic contempt of danger and in the
performance of what they understood
to be legitimate duty. verify believ,
that the pilot e the Mississippi squad
ron would h we volunteered to take n,
feet of steamers over Niagara falls.
Those who were SO fortunate as to b,
permitted the pleasure" requested t
arrange their surroundings according
to their judgment; that is, they didn'
want any surroundings. Reasoning
philosophically that cannon shot Oft
en- does more harm 10y the splinters j
scatteys than by itself, they had tn
pilot house, which shelters the whee
ON the lofty decks of these Western
steamers, removed, leaving the whee
and themselves exposed. This settle,
the splinter business, except such a
might come from q shot striking tn
spokes of the wheel. One of the pilot
remarked to me when inspecting hi
post of duty and honor, They'll hav
to take center shots TO raise the hal
on us nowl" Still, there was an unus
nal nnkedness about the elevation cal
c1lated to make one feel as i once Eel
when topping out hall hay tack in Tia
midst of vindictive thunderstorm.
vas head CENTER just then, an
felt 80.