The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-08-23
"WHY Has STEAM BEEN GOTTEN UP2"

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"WHY Has STEAM BEEN GOTTEN UP?"
ceeded it would have been the finest piece of
stratagem of the war; and / have sometimes
thought that it would have been at least par
tally successful, had Gen. Dick Taylor pos
sessed half the stTategical ability of his con-
federate. Mrs. Robb 1t is but another instance Of
woman's superior ingenuity and wonderful
resources when she would help that which she
loves. The success of the scheme would have
brought almost irrepaTable damage to the
Union cause; the boasts of Mrs RObb would
have been nearly realized. She used to de-
clare that had the Rather fallen into Con-
federate hands, as she had planned, within
three weeks the Yankee gunboats would
have been bombarding Cairo, st. Louis and
Cincinnati And holding those streams and
their tributaries, it would have been impossible
for the North TO have built and equipped naval
force capable of repossessing tine rivers; our
armies on the Mississippi would have had their
communications cut and general withdrawal
Of troops would have been inevitable.
BUT THERE'S MANY A SLIP, ETC.
The 10th Of September came, and the same
peaceful conditions prevailed about Rodney
that had characterized the neighborhOod for
months. The Rather was quiescent. Had not
the sweet 6OlHCu o. hbuDCy sdiI bi4ab bAC
dear old Rather" should never be mOlested
while lying there? Oh, no; the officers of the
Rather had been too kind and obliging to the
ladies of Rodney for the cavaliers of the Con
federate army to ever fire into or interfere with
her officers or crew so long as R0dney's infu-
ence could be felt. Things were decidedly
harmonious and serene about Rodney The
downy wings Of love lowered over Rodney and
the gunboat Rather. So on the 10th of Sep
H. hid haar, fha for IvaaEc and
months, the crew Of the Rather were ready to
go ashore on either side of the river for " fresh
provisions" and a good time. The obliging
Captain said all could 90 who had any inclina-
ton TO do so. Alarge party went to the LOuisi-
ana shore, and a second one went to the oppo-
site shore. In fact the officers preferred going
to the Mississippi side, because it offered a
chance, as a general thing, to firt with
the pretty girls Of Rodney. The Captain
told MI Wells that he had better 90 with the
others and have good time on shore. But he
/ told the Captain that he was sick, aud pre-
J ferred remaining on board ship. Two other
officers remained aboard. One of them was on
4 the sick list and the other was officer of the
/ deck Besides these three others there were
seven men of the crew left Oh board. Half Of
/ this number were under the care Of the Sur
| geon The day wore away and darkness was
/ settling over the river. Ensign Wells became
/ anxious for the safety Of the officers and men
/ or shore. He yentured TO ask the commanding
/ officer if he did not think they had better get
up steam and move up and down the river FOL
/ greater safety. The Captain replied that there
was no danger. aud that it wouldn't do to ask
sick men to FIRE up.
A few moments after this conversation shot
were heard or the Louisiana side, and Ensign
| Wells again went to the Captain and urged hin
! to get up steam and weigh anchor for the safety
| of the vessel and 70 succor the men On shore i
they were attacked, as the shots seemed TO indi
cate plainly enough that some kind of troubl'
| had befallen them. The Captain drove the sub
! ordinate officer from his cabin, informing hin
that when be desired steam raised be would Civ
the necessary orders. Wells, however, ordered
the men to throw coal into the furnaces, ant
communicated his fears to all the men aboard
Shortly the oars Of a small boat were hear(
approaching the vessel. Wells got into TIL
dingy, the only small boat except the Captain
gig not taken ashore and with couple Of me-
/ pulled out 70 meet the boat. When near enoug
he gave the secret hail. An eyasiye answe
came back. II was clear enough now that th
approaching boat was in the hands Of enemies
! lie called out: II you don't give the RICH
answer we'll fire into you with a boat how
itzer" No answer came back, and the noise
the boat indicated that it was TetTeating towar
shore. Wells gave orders ia loud tone
E" Law 70, boys and wen run em down !" Ii
EkEdls ADNENEIr nc EDs bdCh " MS sb5>el z
5 quick as possible. Again aboard, he gave order
2 TO weigh anchor When the Captain found OF
5 that steam was up and the anchor being raise,
! he became furious and threatened 10 shoot I'll
E oficiOus Ensign. He was told that the be-
thing be could do was to stay close in his cabin
/ The vessel was got under way and moved u
I the stream and as near the shore as possible
7 the hope OF hearing hail from our Essa. Aft,
q a painful suspense Of an hour, during whic
e time some signal lights were displayed for I'll
+ benefit of the men on shore, a hail was hear
: The vessel ran close enough in shore to con
municate and il was learned that nearly IL
entire party were together under the willow
n on the bank Ensign Wells gave orders to ri
r the head Of the vessel against the bank TIL
e was done and gang-plank ran out for the me
e 1t was & great risk, but it had 70 be taken
, anything was done that night for the rescue
p the men on shore. The men scrambled aboa
J., and the vessel backed out into the stream. 81
s. then took up position abreast Of the town, al
r. sent word to the now thoroughly alarmed pop
n lace that il any harm came TO the sailors
ID I that side before morning the place would
81 laid Ia ashes. The gunboat boys were treat
n with great politeness and consideration, esq
.e ! cially By Mrs. RObb. They were taken
N board in the gray of morning, and thencefC
ID ward Rodney was not spoken to as the gunbo;
ID passed by.
y The party that went to the Mississippi side
m LlGlE bCa4Eu u liG5ll ptbFAo4DHS ran dtOul
Sc Dick TaylOT's men, and after firing few sh
y at them made hurried retreat to the ri,
is bank Taylors men did not fire on the sail
A. for fear of alarming the gunboat, bat press
q them as hard as possible in the hope of forci
ne a surrender. A few Of the sailors became
ID tached and were captured.
as THE FINALE.
The feeling on board the vessel was inter
against the Captain on account of what was u
ne believed by all to have been an attempt on
az part to deliver the vessel into the hands Of
az enemy Until relieved Of the command of
Nv boat, however, he was her Captain and the
ic- prene power aboard. He looked pale g
IN wobegone, aud hardly ventured outside Of
ia cabin. Two days after the dramatic eve
of / have narrated was Sunday, and TO the s
he prise of her officers Capt. Fentress called ay
of bis gig. lie gave orders TO the executive
-as Ger to give him 10 men and an officer to aces
sci pany him. The boat was lowered away