The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-05
HISTORY OF A CANNON.
Through the War and Presented to a
Palatka Steamer.
From the Pdldtka (ffd.) Herald.


The little cannon aboard the steamship
Seminole. that was presented to Capt,
Platt by Can't. Mckee, played an eventful
aud CONSPICUOUS part during our little IN
pleasantness and since the great angel OF
peace spread her wings over our country
1t still hearsthe sound of its war ike yoice
on the IlacId waters Of the grandeSt water
course of the world.
This little brass piece first graced the
quarter deck of the English blockade run
ner Herald, which, after making her first
trip between Nassau, n. F., aud Charleston,
was renamded at Charleston the Anti
mecca in honor and respect TO the good lady
of her gallant commander.
This little gun did Its part IN that glorl-
Gus ceremony, in firing eleven rounds In
honor of each Of the seeded states; and still
its voice bore glad tidlngs to the confecer-
ate authorities in Charleston and Whining
ton on more than one occasion, tor many
battle of our war was gained with the sup
plies that the Antiuecca brought in for the
war department.
Blockade running by the Antinecca was
something, for that good ship drew from
fourteen to fifteen feet Of water tand any
sailor knows what navigation is with all
lights, day marks and buoys gone, to make
the entrance of a blockaded harbor on a
dark, stormy night, and made Twenty-Five
SUCCESSFUL EOuLltl Ilpcf "-Aei "A9 sStA az
complishment that required brains, naviga-
ton and seamanship. When one who
knows hears the voice of that gun, it brings
back to MIN the memory OF that commander
who knew 10 fear IN war, aud in the times
of sweet pleasant peace never met with an
accident.
On the third trip of the Antinecca from
Charleston to Nassau, she was chased from
Hole-ln-the-Wa TO the very bar OF Nassau
harbor by the u. S. steam sloop of war
Adirondack, the Adirondack firing her bat
teries during the whole chase, and even
fired a couple Of shots into the harhor of Mas
sau, which many living to-day in Nassau and
the United States recollect. Tho excitement
and CONSERVATION it caused to to the inhabl-
tants of Nassau and II. b. NJ. sloopS OF
war Petrol. Greyhound aud Bulldog that
were in the harbor at the time.
All three Of these men-of-war got under
way Immediately and steamed out of har-
Dor, to demand by what right federal snip
of war dared to fire shot i'll the dominions
of her Britannia majesty.
The officer in command Of the United
States steamship Of war AdirOnd lck in
vited these gentlemen aboard his ship, and
over Il few bottles of Old madeira and cham
payne the representatives of II. 3. NJ. were
fully satisfied that the queen was not in
suited, the bands playing God Save the
Queen" and "Hail Columbia A great
many of these difficulties during that un-
pl7asantness Of of ours were patched up in
this manner.
This brass piece fired salute when the
Antinecca dropped her anchor in the har-
Dor of Nassau, which was responded to by
over thirty guns, aboard as many block
| ade runners.
This chase was watched from the cupola
of the Royal Victoria hotel at Nassau by
| both Captains Mufiltt and Semmes, and their
| officers, who were on their way to Europe
| from the confederacy to gain the Conteder-
ate States steam sloops of war Florida and
! Alabama.
The Antinecca was watched by thousands
| of eyes, and her gallant commander was
seen, as soon as the vessel came IN stance
that glasses could determine objec 20 81
| lively, on her starbOard paddle box, which
| position he held under that terrible fire of
| the Adirondack until his vessel was an
| chored inside the harbor of Nassau when,
| descending to the main deck, he gave the
| orders to fire that little brass piece eleven
| times; and the salute was taken up by every
vessel i'll the harbor. The Adirondack was
| lost little while afterward hunting block
ade runners, on one Of the Bahama islands.
This little gun was buried in Charleston
| for few years to save il. 1t was brought
to light again whel Caot. L. NJ. CoxstteI
bought the Dictator, and placed her on the
| route between Charleston ana Florida via
| Savannah, and was used to announce that
packets arrival at Charleston, Savannah,
Jacksonville and Palatka. 1t was trans
ferred to thesteamer st. Johns when that
vessel took the place of the Dictator, and
there joined at Yorktown in the salute at taa
reception of the descendants of Lafayette,
Rochambeau and Count D'Es:aing on the
centennial Of the battle of YORKTOWN.
The gun was afterward transferred from
| the steamer St. Johns to the CITY of Palatka
and on that We sci it sounded It's victorious
salute when the City of Palatka beat the
| steamer City of Monticello from Charles
ton to jacksonville tifty-eight minutes. II
was one of the grandest races that ever two
| steamers participated in.
| The distance that the Monticello took was
100 miles from Charleston sea buoy to St.
Johns sea buoy in straight course The
distance the Palatka took was 164 miles
from Charleston to Martins Industry
| lightship. and from lightship to st. Johns
sea buoy. The Monticello was the fastest
vessel by half knot, and sill with four
miles in her favor and being a half knot
| faster, the Palatka beat her from Charles
ton to jacksonville fifty-eight minutes.
The Palatka made that run from dock to
dock in thirteen hours and twenty-eight
| inmates.