The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-11
A NARROW ESCAPE



Before Butler arrived at New Orleans
with his troops Admiral Farravut
steamed up in his flagship, the Hart
ford, followed BY his fleet, and took
possession of the city in the name of the
United -,tates government A company
of marines was sent on shore and short
" after the stars and stripes were foat-
ing over the custom house. The city
was captured but not subjected. and
Admiral Farragut apprehending that
some attempt might be made 10 take
down the colors. says the New York
World. arranged a plan of action in
case the attempt should be made. A
couple of howitzers were fastened in tn
rigging of the Hartford and a man
stationed at each one. From this ele-
waited position the lodkouts could COM
mand good view of the custom house
and the town. They were instructed at
the first indication of an attempt to
haul down the flag to fire their guns
A broadside from the Hartford would
follow and this would be the signal for
the whole feet TO open fire on the CITY.
The next day was Sunday. Farragut,
who was very religious man, had
ordered all hands below for PRAYERS,
only the officer of the day and the two
lookouts remaining above deck Rain
threatened AT the time and the fuses for
igniting the big guns when in place
were exposed TO the weather. The
officer. wishing to save the fuses from
being spoiled, went around to each gun
and removed them to a place of shelter.
Suddenly the flag was seen to go down
from the custom house. The lookouts
fired their howitzers, and the prayers
came to an abrupt ending. Officers
and men rushed up on deck and took
their places. The thoughtfulness of the
officer of the day in removing the fuses
caused a slight delay, and before the
broadside could be delivered the look
outs reported to the admiral that they
saw no indication of a disturbance or
unusual excitement on the streets, and
Farragut concluded that the hauling
down of the flag was the act of some
reckless person and not a revolt of the
city, as 1t was afterward found. He
therefore decided to investigate the
matter first and gave the order to hold
the fire. Nothing could have prevented
the total destruction of New Orleans if
the feet had once commenced to shell
the town. Farraguu's religious habits
saved the city. Had he remained on
deck the fuses would not have been
touched and the broadside signal would
have been given without delay.
milford is the name of the man who
exposed New Orleans to such peril by
tearing down the American flag from
the custom house. He was gambler
by profession. and committed the deed
in a spirit of reckless bravado. After
the flag had been taken down it was
torn to bits by Milford and party of
MS associates, and pieces of it were
used to decorate their coats. milford
tied long strip of the flag in his but
tonhole and Mad it on when he was
arrested by Gen. Butler a few DAYS
later. Milford paid for his foolishness
with his life. He was tried and sem
fenced to be hanged. Even after his
sentence Milford refused to believe that
he would be executed, and he main
tanned this belief up to the last moment.
They will not dare TO hang me-" he
said. Strong pressure was brought to
bear on Gen. Butler to spare Mulford's
life, What made the case more dra-
matte was that Mulford's wife was a
Massachusetts woman and she had a
family of five little children. She
pleaded hard for her husbands life, but
without success. An old PRESBYTERIAN
called at Buffers headquarters
and began long argument Tor Null
ford's life. ''Show your greatness by
being merciful," he said. Ills but a
stroke of your pen" Yes" replied
Butler. "a stroke of my pen would save
him and stroke of my pen would put
you in his place! 1t is because have
the power that | cannot afford to be
governed by sentiment. That man has
forfeited his life and he must de-