Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-03-27
TALES BY A TAR.
One of the TaIIapoosa's Crew TIE
His Adventures.

Boston Globe.
Upon a terrace on the left bank of
the Mystic river, in Chelsea, stands
the United States naval hospital. The
main hospital building faces the river,
and is 149 feet long by 70 feet deep.
The older portion of it was erected IN
1885, and it was enlarged to its present
proportions in 1862 1t is built of
stone, and its walls of massive thick
ness look as if capable of withstand
ing the storms of centuries. The
hospital grounds comprise nearly one
hundred acres, and a more delightful
spot for Uncle Sans jolly tars to re-
cruit in its difficult to imagine. Sick
ana disabled officers and men often
come to it from a great distance, its
freedom from all malarial influences
making it especial y well adapted for
patients from the south Atlantic
squadron, as well as from all southern
climates.
Situated about an eight of mile
from the main hospital is a small and
well>arranged building for small -pox
patients, though it is rarely occupied,
the diseases most common in the hos
pital being those contracted by expos
ure, such as rheumatism ard pulmon-
airy troubles. On an average forty
four patients were treated daily in 1884,
and during the past summer there
were but two cases of malarial fever.
and none of scurvy nor yellow fever
The running expenses of the hospital
are paid by special appropriations and
the naval hospital fund. the latter
consisting of tax of 20 per cent. per
month levied on every enlisted man
in the n wy and marine corps. 1t now
has thirty seven patients, but has ex-
ceilent accommodations for me hun
dred, and could on an emergency ac-
commodate $50.
A Globe reporter lately took a stroll
through its comfortable wards and
conyersed with some of the patients"
I've been foolerin' the sea for morn
thirt.y year." said one old tar, "an'
have been in the navy bout twelve
years. sailed from England when l
was 13 years of age, in the merchant
service, an was nine years in China
waters. was at the fightin' at Tien
Sing in '72, but was not hurt any"
'1've been IN the merchant service
most of my life," said another. "and
only three years in the navy. | was
on the Tallap0osa when she went
down. was in my hammock when
the collision took place, and the shock
threw me out, breaking one of my
fingers and bruising my legs and
knees. got on deck in time to jump
overheard just as she was going down,
and was picked up by one of the boats.
1t was a narrow escape, and the
strangest part of it was that it hap
pened Aug. 81. Jan. 81, 1882, was
wrecked off Cape Hatteras IN bark
called the f. L Carney, hailing from
New York. We were bound from the
West Indies to Baltimore with cargo
of guano. 1t was about o'clock in
the afternoon when we struck and
very dark and foggy. The chief mate
was in charge at the time, the captain
being sick. There was eleven of US
aboard, sll told. About three hours
after she struck she commenced TO
break up, and we all took to the boats.
There was heavy southeast wind
blowing, and we hadn't got more n
five fathoms astern Of the ship when
wa were swamped in the breakers. An
old man in the crowd I've forgotten
his Rame-went down at once, and
the rest of US climbed on to the bot
tom of the boat. What night that
was One after the other my ship
mates got benumbed with the cold,
and was washed off. By2 o'clock
in the morning l was alone on the
boat About3 o'clock the boat struck
on a sand bank as she drifted through
the Hatteras inlet. 1 stald on her
until daylight, when l was picked up
by Capt Gill, of the schooner Watch
full
Il was quite deaf and so benumbed
that they had TO lift me into the boat.
All that kept me alive that night was
the bowl of an old wooden pipe that !
had. The stem was gone, and l broke
the bowl in pieces and chewed it.
Capt. Gill put me ashore at Hatteras,
and | staiI there seven weeks trying
to find the bodies Of my shipmates. I
wanted very much to find the cap
tain, but was only able to find three
of the crew. From there l came TO
Washington and shipped IN the the
nav. Ny name is Charles ]. Carl
son. ] was born IN Sweden"