The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-12-30
THRILLING TALES.



Mr.. Robert Steele, foreman of re-
pairs at the Brilliant Station Water
Works, says the Pttsburg Dis
patch, claims the proud distinction of
having done longer continuous and ac-
tive service in the United States Navy
than any other man in the country.
Mr.. Steele is large, wcll-built man,
probably about 90 years of age. Alto
gether his service in the navy extends
over period of eighteen years. From
1861 until 1868 he was continuously in
active service without leave Of alb
sence. During his life on board war
vessels Mr. Steele was tattooed from
head TO foot. His body, legs and arms
are covered with pictures Of jolly
sailors, pretty women, ships and bat
ties at sea. The highest priced me-
mento of his long service, however, is
large minnie ball, which he carries
about with him, embedded in the
fleshy part of his left arm. 1t is only
a short distance below the skin, but he
would not have it taken out for large
amount of money To q Dtspdtch re-
porter who called on him yesterday
Mr.. Steele told stories of his adventures
and exploits calculated to cause ones
hair to stand up to its fullest height.
81 enlisted in the navy" he began,
''in 1858 and was placed on the United
States steamer Great Republic, which
was smuggling arms and ammunition to
the Crimea. We run very success.
full blockade for three years, when |
was transferred to the United states
frigate Minnesota, under Admiral Du-
Dnnt NJ n tn China aud
opened the port of Pelin for trade with
rebellion came to be an almost assured
fact, we came back to the United
States, and in 1861 | was transferred to
the Tuscora, with rowing commission
over the Atlantic and European waters
in search Of the rebel privateer Nash
vile. We met the Nashville off
Southampton, England, and would
have captured her had not the English
Government sent three linc.of battle
ships to protect her. She escaped then
but She was afterwards captured at
Fort Beaufort Then we went for
the other rebel privateer Sumter,
and after almost three years
cruising we captured her at Gibraltar.
Her captain, Simms. escaped and went
to Liverpool to build the Alabama.
Well, we watched the building of that
boat with the intention of capturing
her as she left the harbor, but one
morning she slipped past us in fog
and got away. Then | came back to
the United States and commenced to
get intimately acquainted with the
rebels at home | was placed in
picket-boat in the Albemarle Sound,
and while / was there we sent out
little torpedo one day. 1t went under
the hull of the rebel ram Albemarle
and just ten seconds later you couldn't
find enough of that fine little boat to
make chicken coop of. One night,
short time after the destruction of the
Albcmarlc, was sent to Charleston in
command of steam launch. Coming
back we were caught in storm and
were unable TO reach the ship. When
daylight came at last, Fort Moul-
trio saw us and fired on
us. We surrendered; didn't ex-
actly see any other course to
pursue, you know, and were taken
TO Charleston. We had been there a
week and had already been troubled
with visions of Libby and Anderson
vile, when one night man named
Campbell and myself saw chance to
escape. We stole boat and were al
most past the rebel picket boat, when
we were discovered and fired at Cap
| turc meant Andersonvillc, so we de-
cided to run the chances of swim.
| We jumped overheard, and, after u
swim Of four miles, reached our ship.
| 1t was while we were stationed in the
vicinity Of Morris Island that received
| SO 400 rs prize money for one nights
| work. Among our captures that night
was the Robert Il. Lee, with over $780,
| 600 worth of arms and ammunition on
| board, Another time, not long after,
| did harder work, and my share of the
money only amounted to l6 cents. A
few months later Joined the South
Atlantic blockading squadron.
and had position with Admiral Far
ragut How we captured New Orleans
and Mobile you have read in history.
Then joined Admiral Porter's North
Atlantic squadron, and was at Fort
Fisher There | was wounded in the
leg, and just as | was going below got
the ball which | am still carrying
around in my arm. | had scarcely re-
covered from my wounds when / as
sisted in hauling the famous Swamp
Angela 200 pound Parrot gun
across the swamps and placing it on
Morris Island, where it did such terri
bic work in the storming of
Charleston"
"Then the war closed and we went
TO Philadelphia, from where we were
ordered to Havana to bring back the
| gunboat StonewaN Jackson. We