Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-03-13
ACROSS the OCEAN.
"A Blue Jackets Story OF the wyo-
mtng's Chase After the Ala

AAA = SA1oSO oAIOA tu0 Alb
bama.
While reading a Sunday newspaper
recently my attention was called to an
account OF some events that happened
during the late war, in which u ma
val officers and blue jackets were the
principal actors. / often think that
there has not been given to our navy
the honor that is due to many Of the
officers. Among some of them l will
mention the name Of the late Com
modore David McDougall. as brave
and courageous an officer as ever
paced the quarter deck Of a vessel.
1t "a my fortune to be one of the
crew or the United States steamer
Wyoming, commanded by Commodore
McDougall, which vessel sailed in the
latter part Of June, 1862. from San
Francisco for a three years cruise on
the Asiatic station. During that time
many interesting events occurred of
which the public knew but little. One
OF the most interesting Of all was the
way he lost the honor of capturing the
Confederate steamer Alabama. 1t vas
soon after our engagement with the
Japanese in the Straits of Simona
Soeca, in which we destroyed three OF
their vessels and the batteries COM
handing the entrance to the inland
sea. We returned to Yokohama,
where there we're assembled numer-
Gus men-of-war of different nations
American, English, French, German,
Russian and Dutch. 1t was
with pride that we looked on
our flag among that formidable fleet
of vessels. We considered ourselves
the lions of the day, for we had accom-
plished more than any other foreign
nation in those waters. We we're wait
ing for orders to return To the United
States, when we were somewhat sur
prised to hear the word passed to cup
anchor" and proceed to sea. Where
we were bound no n appeared to
know. Curiosity was soon at an end,
for we soon found out that we weIc
bound for the Straits of Sunday, which
come the Indian ocean with the
south Atlantic.
On entering the straits the word was
passed TO .'snake down the rigging,'
which is always done when going into
action. All the cutlasses were ground
to a sharp edge; battleaxes and board.
ing pixies were o~verhauled; chests OF
small arms, consisting of navy revolt
vers, breech-loading rifles, cartridge
boxes, ETC., were thrown open so that
the crew could arm themselves at a
moments notice. Then came the word
from the officer of the deck to the man
stationed in the foretop.
keep a sharp lookout for the Ala
bama."
The secret was out. How eagerly
the lookout scanned the sea in hopes
that he would be the first to discover
the world-renowned privateer! Tho
officers could be seen at all hours on
the ~forecastle or bridge earnestly look-
ing seward, while the crew were
making bets that we would sink her
the first broadsido, Or that Captain
Semmes would run away il he could,
or that "Blucher," as our commander
was called, would board her if we
could get alongside, knowing that he
could depend upon his well-fed crew.
We had had a bill of fare, furnished By
Uncle Sam for two and a halt years,
consisting Of pork and beans, salt
beef, bareback and rice, considered
great d~elicacies by the government,
but not appreciated too highly by the
blue jackets and marines.
Proceeding through the Straits of
Sunday, we arrived at the port of
Anjou Point, situated in the Island of
Java, where we come to anchor. Here
all vessels bound for China, Japan and
ports in India pass in full sight. One
evening, while we were lying at an
Choir, several vessels were seen nearing
the entrance of the straits. We i'm
mediately got up anchor and proceed
ed to interview those that were coming
in, hoping to hear some Jews of the
prize we were in search Of. After in
t%erviewing several, but learning moth
ing definite, we returned to our anchor
ago and remained for two or three
days, when we were ordered to up
anchor and proceed to Christmas
Island. There we would find a vessel
loaded with supplies, which we intend
ed TO contiscate without ceremony.
The evening before our departure
the Alabama was only seven miles
away from US, lying on the opposite
side of Java Head, and looking at US
as we were steaming away on a wild
goose chase.
We were in q great state of excite