Wichita eagle., 1888-05-11

principal attraction of the rooms of the
club. Straying into the smoking room to
burn q cigar, ] was introduced TO gen
tleIuan engaged in extracting smoke from
4 Havana, or alleged Havana, roll of to-
bacco.
Let NE make you acquainted with
Capt. Smallnlan.
''G1ad to see you, sir OF Chicago?'
''No, | am now living in Grand Haven. -
The captain is man of about 80, of
medium height, compact figure, indicat-
ing fine connection OF strength and
activity. Ills eyes are q blue gray, his
face calm, pleasant and intelligent, his
hair brown, with small island OF white
being thrown UP by time on the crown.
There was nothing at all striking in the
appearance of the captain | supposed
that he was the commander in chief of a
schooner on the lake, and that he occu-
pied himself in the commonplace and
useful occupation of transporting iron
ore, shingles, lumber and other articles
from point TO point on the lakes.
Anxious to make myself agreeable for a
moment, | yentured some comment on the
business of sailing the lakes, and natug-
ally adverted to the late tremendous
storms which had swept the inland seas,
and which carried death and destruction
in their progress.
Endeayoring to ingratiate myself with
the man with the nautical prefix to his
name, j spoke of my experience on the
ocean; how had crossed the briny Allan
tic a half dozen times, and considered
myself a tar seasoned to perfect finish
And then, to compliment the valor and
endurance of the navigators of the lakes,
/ added that stormy, bottomleSS, cruel
and unsympathetic as is the ocean,
would rather risk a voyage to Liverpool
than one from Chicago to Maclinaw
''You meet tremendous storms on the
lakes, do you not?''
ooh. yes, sometimes
'And find it very dangerous some sea-
sons of the year!''
Yes
And were you ever shipwrecked?''
''Well, no, not exactly. L have seen a
good many, though, at one plG.ce or an
otl err
The rather Indifferent expression which
habitually prevailed, oA the face of the
captain changed slowly into one glowing
with something like excitement. / saw
that memory was stirring his soul, and
inquired:
SIS there any of your experiences of an
unusual character.
''Yes," he answered slowly, as if dream
ing.
What was it"'
sT'n tell you one incident" he said.
with a serious air.
There were two or three listeners be-
sides myself We were all standing up,
as if the coming recital were not of suffi-
cient Importance or length to warrant the
occupation of seats.
During the civil war;" commenced
the captain, II was in the Federal navy
in the fleet engaged in blockading the AZ
lantic coast. | then performed a service
which at the time seemed TO me to be Of
importance The war ended and the
event was gradually almost forgotten.
"Not long ago I began to think the
matter over, and concluded that l wouli
call the attention of the government to is
] wrote letter to Secretary Whitney, in
which I recited in detail all the facts in
the occurrence. The letter was soon an
swered by the secretary by one in which
he admitted the truth of all my state
nents, including one to the effect that nv
assertion coincided with the accounts ON
file in the record of the operations of the
navy department.
"He also stated in his letter that a
medal had been ordered, and which would
be presented to me as a recognition of
my services"
''Well, captain, what was the event;
what did You do TO earn the medal and the
commendation of the secretary of the
navy"
''AH right, I'll give you the facts"
The captain then proceeded in modest
way TO relate the incident.
During that period of the civil war when
the efforts OF the blockade runners were
most frequent and energetic, Capt. Small
man was acting as master of Federal
vessel Many were the adventures de-
veloped during this period Of service,
among which frightful storms, the chasing
of blockade runners and the carrying of
Information from point to point were
among the most conspicuous.
During the summer months of 1864 the
captain found himself in front of the
Wilmington coast and engaged in the
hebor of watching for smugglers. One
day there came up sudden and tre-
mendous storm accompanied by wind
that blew directly in shore. 1t extended
through the night. and lasted all the next
day and night without the smallest inter-
mission in its fury.
The third day Of the storm, lust after |
daylight, lookout from the deck Of the /
Federal boat saw through the crests of
the tenpestuous waves what seemed a
signal, or an indication Of human exist
ence. Closer observation confirmed the /
fact that somebody in the distance was 1
showing what looked like seaman's /
jacket. BY the aid of the glass it was !
soon discovered that vessel had broken
up on a reef to which number Of men
were seen TO be clinging.
The situation was terrible one to both /
the people on the wreck and the Federal |
vessel. There was imminent danger
any attempt Of the latter TO
approach the former, rs it was liable to
share the same fats Safety demanded
that the vessel should keep on It's course;
humanity, that some effort should be
made to rescue the wretches who were
imprisoned on the reef. There was hot
discussion pro and con, until at length it
vas determined to remain in the vicinity
With the hope that opportunity might be
Afforded to reach the wreck.
1t could be seen that the men on the
broken vessel were ip desperate condi
son, They ccEld bs observed thrergs tie 1