The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-26
GILLMNRE'S SWAMP ANGEL
Tn. GUN That POURED SCREECH-
INC MISSILES INTO CHARLESTON.
The fir,t Messenger from the Ma-i ed
Battery in lie Nafsli-Accnracy II the
Gunnrrs-incidents Of tho Cannonading.
A Fu-e she'll

noise that some roo.Ie ha1 tecome familiar
with, .4t one taet - ,Ao women and chlt
drcn IN Charleston us entirely unAno''n.
Some p.n. compared % ro he blast Of tho
Ii,t fru.l. .'.r. tl o.. ll. d,
and o..,. 10 l.l, concentrated No. %. ~
600 locomotives rushing through q tunnel IN
the air AID condensed into scream OF the
most narrowing intensity
Il was the first Swamp Angel messenger
sent into Charleston by the late Gen. Gil
more The watchman nj St Nichoel $
steeple sounded the alarm, and the hremen
and other people hurried out IN haste. Inc
shell came from masked battery which
Gan. Gilmore had erected in the marsh at the
extreme south end Of Gsrris Island. and on
tie southern borders Of the creek which Seps-
rates Morris from Folly Island Ina straight
line it was over five miles distant from he
city. The battery had been constructed I'M
der the greatest difficulties, and M what was
considered an impossible place. Tho w.3 OF
gun throw q proiectiie dis.aare of five
miles had ret at that time pca,,rlrel the
minds Of the average public, and tine arrival
Of the est messenger from the Swamp Angel
was as unexpected rs 10 was unpleasant
The battery was the famous Swan Nns.
Il consisted of single S-.uch '- r.o
mounted in the marsh aaj surround tt aa
earthwo-s OF circular share it hr et
the thirty sixth rou4t. and ttct No-
Of the Swamp Angel proper A'tr t
h1mHauimret WIS uuue.ei from tae te--
r.r... 90 Morris I .1aI 1t Is said t.a- 'he
elevation Of che guns was 50 great that tacg
could only la used 20 fire "a L.f dozen t.ra
and rs matter OF fact the people r-
nlainsd hero durHs the bo'ubayone- b..
came so accustomed to the sound ta-t they
could ten by the sound when Gln has
burst
Gen. G1lmores guunrs soon attained
wonderful accuracy IA firing their gins IL
WAS said that TIE Swamp Angei shells ~
loaded with Greek fire hut this Has never
verified. Fires frequently occurred, and the
firemen always promptly turned ont, ie'uS
the chances Of the shells \ tire at night 10
yariably aHoke the Swamp Angel 20 renewed
activity The shells were sent ~ generally
at an average ratio OF one overy fifteen or
twenty minutes. Occasionally when a gun
would burst there would bo a suspension 0t
operations at tho Swami Angel end of BE
line. sometimes tor seswal Days This in
yariably followed l.c ID thec.tT i1o n-l.
from the blaze would give the ctmners aJ the
swami Au-e. good Ha's. and d.. would
ire more rapidly, which probably c1- tacn
several cuus aAd taon tae people o. Charles
ton would have - rest mtI tha L-ia- -.--
were replaced
The accuracy which ta.Saump Angel --r-
ue- lt,auei was remarkable o. .... .'el-
s!cu Vie buildings ol Browns "-aa H..a
fred during tic day Iae he .l-r
vas promptly ON taa -Vo. aad a, o. ro.. I'D
ex.ir-ai,h the flames TIE bub.il- "-i o1
the water front ami t,s daas columns %
,nol. offered sp.cui.i t,ct to Gen. Gul-
nioro's mar alon There are perhaps
dozen men iu Charleston today who "i- ia-
call The incident and who Will testify .r la'
fact that durlug the progress oil tllt Lra 81.
least thiee Shells were thrown u.1 tne 3. .a-
iae huidiu- The accuracy VITA which Tie
SWAMP Aa-ei gums wora iloI. IA lac-, gave
cglorto the statement subse9uan Eaoe CHAT
thecuunari intentionally rciIoirct iron Dr.
ingat So N-aaels stcepie, Which was never
hit during tue entire Two years OF Tao b.I-
harlmsIi.
Percussion Sd Us were u5ed by the Sfa.lp
ApesI guauprs Tor over year. During this
tim, The people OF Charleston had .l-tIAt
time to study the peu.loriti-5 %. t.e per-ai-
cion Parrot shell. The she'll. "a c3ume,
could only bo oxp!5lel whcn ltcamo "a con
tact with ha:d surface and was, therefore,
only dan-croGs under these conditions in
nine cases out Of ten porcus ION 5E"il that
struck a wooden building simply buried
itself ia the earth and remained tIera. Tho
only danger 70 he OF Iimb, therefore, "os ID
being struck 81 the shell on IT, 30 sae, and
most people soon learned 10 avoid this.
In 1864 there was startling change in the
condition Of Things By this time those ~ho
we're compelled to remain in TIE city had
become uSed to the Swamp Angel Up
10 this TINE not moro than tao OF three
people hai been killed, outstanding the
fact that fully five thousand had been a.uoat
constantly under fire, to say n0.h.cs vi o..
exnoerre ~ tie iiramen, who, De..lci G1.as
military d4,y az night along the "a.cr front,
were Gated upon frequently 70 sgAJa3 IRE
flames 20 the s-eliei district On tie H. 10
of sept. ,. 1854 building v.5 Grri So tae
lower wards The alarm wes sounded. ava
in fga minutes tIe engines +era oY tna.r a..
70 the clus of tie co-ia-rc. jon.
The boom of the alarm bell and C-e -.
glare OF the fire Invariably eau a
swamp Areais % wake up AND rl.ll5.-
their attentions 20 tie "do1aeI c.t. .ln
eauna. tla Puma.x. Was 90 rs "-T Co tao
fire, drac-al tya dozen or moro a.eA H.
Hayue street an obstacle vas met y ines
sengor from the Swamp Angel plunged into
the earth directly in front Of tl3 men. and
making hole SIX feet wide and a. many feet
deep, buried Itself IN the ground. 4 half do
Zen meB were precipitated into the eScava-
ton, and the engine, odd Betsy followed
suit. The shell did not explode, however,
and beyond several painful bruises nobody
was hurt
While the men were getting the dust out Of
their eyes and trying to lift up odd Betsey'
the boom which s:gnified the advent of an
other messenger from the Swamp Angel was
heard. Then every one stool still ami list
ened. 4 few seconds after the boom came
the peculiar and excruciating whistle
which marked the passage Of the messenger
through the air The wnistle vas not famil-
lar There was an indescribablo something
about it that made one SILVER It was not
the old familiar percussion shell scream. \
| few moments later and the mystery was cZ-
planned Just as every one was lying low,