Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-07-26
The Diary of a Vagabond.

A lirfughS IdoubOnd ~ San Frdnctsco.
Courage is one of the noblest attributes
of man. By courage do not mean that
reckless temperament which pushes man
beedlessly into unnecessary danger, but the
far nobler quality which enables him to re-
tain his equsnimity and presence Of mind
in the most dangerous positions. Perhaps
no living person possesses that quality IN
more emirent degree than the present DO
bart Pasha, admiral Of the Turkish navy,
Who, under the mon de guerre" Of Captain
Roberts, commanded the blockaderunner
Don, during the earlier period OF our civil
war, and made more successful passages be-
tween Great Britain and Charleston than
any other man engaged in the business.
Roberts, the youngest son Of an English
sarl in early life entered the navy OF his
,outry. and soon won distinction by the gal.
antry he displayed in some cutting-out ex-
peditions against pirstical slsvers, OIL the
cast of Africa. At the commencement OF
our rebellion he resigned from the navy and
,ccepted command of the blockade-runner
DON. where served at the in q subordinate
apaclty. A mid the many exciting scenes
brough which we passed, one has lett q
,ropg impression on my memory. 1t was
bout two O clock on the morning OF June
1861 We had arrived of Charleston with
, valuable cargo OF clothing and merchan'
jisc for the insurgent army, and were seam
no Quietly toward our destination, hoping
q escape observation BY keeping close in
it'll the long sandy beach that lie above the
entrance to the barber, when suddenly q
rocket shot into the air by one OF the block
n6ipp SQUADRON showed that our presence
had been discovered.
Roberts who, up to that momen', ha
been sitting on the taffrail, rose from Is
seat and without the slightest tremor in
his voice, calmly issued the order, Ga
ahead, full speed" and the next instan'
the gallant little Don was darling mady
bro1ph the water trembling in every
rimber beneath the tremendous strain Of
her poverful engines. The scene was one
| Of imposing grandeur. The rapidly eEpio
ding rockets illuminated the atmosphere
with painful brillisncy; the rapid beating
of drums summoning the crews OF the block
sders to quarters; the CLEAN OF lighting lan'
terms as their ports were thrown open; the
boom of cannon and the whistling Of balls
nhoephoretic glitter Of the foam dashing
over our vessels bow-formed one Of the
most magnificent spectacles ever witnessed.
And, amid al the wild confusion, our gallant
little captain remained pacing the quarter
deck as calmly as though his promenade
were down Broadway, the defiant glitter II
bis eyes alone denotiug the ebsgrin be TEL,
at being compelled TO BY from Zoe whose
superior strength afforded no hope IN resls
lance. have seen brave men IN more ina,
one hour of extreme peril, but never such
rue hefoism as was displayed BY Captain
Roberts on that occasion. II was tn,
LOYALTY of such gallant spirits that gainet
EnrIsnd her supremacy on the sea in thu
| FIRST instance; it was their Justly meritec
Aptseouism which vrested from her rapa
cious grasp this magnificent territory, AM
founded the grandest republic on God
beautiful earth.