Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-02-03
PICKERiNG'S PERIL.
Blown Up with the IIousstonic by u
(onfedste Torpedo Boat


Confedste Torpedo Boat
Commodore c. w. Pickering. OF the United
States Navy, now IS years OLD, was daring
officer during the civil war, aud had one OF
the most thrilling escapes from death record
ell In the annals Of the navy. la the winter
he lives at 81. Augustine, Fla. II was while
migrating TO bis winter quarters that he WAS
met by New York Nal and E1 JreSs reporter
at the Windsor Hotel The commodore looks
like Frenchman OF Napoeon's Old Guard.
His hair aud mouslache are snow white and
In strong contrast 10 his swarthy complexion.
One Of his legs Is para, zed and eight or ten
OF his ribs have been broken. His escape
from death when he was b Own up on the war
vessel llousatonc was llttle short Of the
miraculous. His own account OF it is as fol-
lows
The blockade runners during the war would
pass almost under the shadow OF a war ship.
ia the chances Of being sunk by few
shells. / had command Of the Ilousatpnc.
armed with 200-pOuuders, smaller cannon and
hOwitzers, aud was stationed at the mouth OF
Charleston llarbOr. One night In February,
1854 we were on The lookout for blockade
runners. IL was beautiful night at
times, the shifting clouds now and
then revealing the stars and the
ocean for m les 10 scawarl. Fort Sumter was
near, black and frowniug aud Charleston in
the distance, with its dim lights, made us
long to be ashore. When the hour grew late
! gave instructions to the officers on deck and
went below We were anchored. but had
everything ready to yet under way IN few
minutes time. No blockade runners we're ex-
pected that night, but they were liable to come
at any time, hence my constant precauiIon.
! Was talking 10 INV clerk, Charles .. Muzzey,
OF Boston, when | heard tue alarm gong
sounding on deck The gong, instead of a
bell or "A cannon report WAS our signal 10 pre-
pare for action AZ night seized my double
Oareled gun and rushed on deck. my clerk
following me. Nv idea VAS 10 shoot the man
at the wheel on the blockade runner while IL
Was passing One of the officers sang out;
/ at Is "A TORPEDO boat ~
But did not hear him and still thinking a
blockade runner was going b., | looked
around Then the officer IN loui tones sang
out again, Torpedo bnatp
gave the order then 10 slip the chain OF
the anchor, that ihr vessel might swing
around aud possibly escape tue torpedo boat
To m, surprise luid not hear the ch in rattle.
] asked why and The officer repl ed: The
chain is gone" lie had cut it ON the instant
aud the vessel was swinging arouni Iuen |
saw the torpedo boat, or rather small glass
-Ouudhousc, large enough for one man 10
.
the water. ! knew that destruction ava ted
Is IN css | could stop that little submarine
monster moving swiftly toward the stem OF
the HOusstOnic.
/ aimed at the glass above the water and
bred both barrels OF my gun Then / sang
out orders for our csCl 10 20 astcrn faster.
II was too late. There was sfnOthercd sound.
Ike howitzer exp odWg under water and
felt myself going up into the air For at
I east second or Two | was conscious and
-
from the time of the explosion regained con
sciousness and found myself 10 the wafer,
boating ON the debris Of the vessel. was
b ecding from several wounds but stu | re-
solved 20 escape dreaming If possible. \
small boat showed Itself ab1V' the wat.r Nud
| scrambled 10 b., but 10 rolled sud abandon
.d IT, saw that p.rt OF the
llousatunic Mas not gone, and swan for
&c. catching hold 70 some ropes An officer
and mari q were in a small boat hanging "a
lie dayts ! managed o. get into te BOAT
with them and gave or iers 70 en- the ra.,e.s
The officer had 10 kuiic, aud just ~ That
moment the vessel. or rather TIE part OF il
e rolled over aud we fell into tue sea- The
. officer never came up aga u. ] sank twice,
aud finally caught an oar from the boat and
managed 10 reach the wreck aga ~, where the
marines in the fore rigging Of the vessel as
sisted me. The list Ot XII Il aud drOWue,.
MAS only six. When the IIousatOnc began to
settle the men In the fore rigging rushed 10
The stern and managed 10 save those ~ hO
we're there struggling 10 eXtricate themselves.
Wy clerk, Mr.. Muzzg, who came on deck with
ne, must have been blown all 10 pieces for
We never saw his BODY | think must have
gone at least thirty feet into the air, aud my
Impression Is that did not lose consc business
/ 1ntil reached the point where | began To de-
/ scend. What became OF the submarine
torpedo boatt | sank it when | fired into IT,
/ )r very few minutes sitcrward. The glass
/ lookout, YOU see was water-tight AMI nv dis
/ charge Of buckshot broke IL and the water
! -u~hIng IN fuallN sank IL. There we're six In
| The torpedo boat AM all were drowned |
nad several ribs broken and was paran Zed.