The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-02-28
=" DANDY JACK. "
A Hero in Kid Gloves and Patent
Leather Boots.
"Dandy Jackw

his was the involuntary exclamation
that came from several of the group Of
blue jackets gathered about the main
mast of the Colorado, when the new
lieutenant we were expecting came up
the wardroom hatchway, and stepped
out on the starboard side of the quarter
deck.
He was trim and dapper little fell
low, barely five feet five in his shoes;
slim, and yet with a certain wiryness
standing out that to the careful observer
told of strength. His clothes looked as
though they had just come from the
tailor, SO bright and fresh were they.
His cap, resplendent with it's I'M
furnished ornaments, set jauntily on a
head whose every hair seemed to have a
place and occupy it. His black side
whiskers were as carefully arranged,
and kid glove clothed the hand that
he held out for the trumpet that de-
noted his charge of the deck, while
patent-leather boots shone beneath the
smoothly-buttoned CATERS On his feet
We were used to the neat clothes and
bright ornaments, for many of our Off
GERS were noted examples of we'll
dressed manhood, but we had not been
educated up to the standard wherein kid
gloves and patent leather were blended
with salt water and tar, and our criti-
;isms, if not loud, were many.
But DANDY jack for the name thus
tnvoluntarily given chung to him., if he
knew of these, gave them no attention,
and a daily acquaintance with them
soon made us accustomed to the innOva-
Walton, and we quickly discovered that
our new lieutenant was a thorough mas
ter of the different drills we found
thrust upon us by the opening of HOSTILE
ties. We had been ordered South, and
were lying off Fort Pickens, with the
Confederate flag in plain sight, as it
duttered over the walls of Barrancas
and McRae, and at the truck of the flag
staff in the navy-yard at Warrington.
Steamers from Pensacola ran down to
the last named place, and now and then
schooner winged her way alongside Of
the sea-wall fronting the buildings. But
there were no signs of warlike prepara-
tons on board of these, and so they
brought us no excitement.
The case was changed, however. whe1l
one morning we saw, hauled under the
shears and already partially armed,
schooner whose yacht-like build and
rakish spars told of an adaptability for
prlvateer purposes that could find ready
employment if once allowed to get out
in the waters of the Gulf, so full of
small Yankee traders. To capture this
vessel, or destroy her, was an object
that our officers much desired. and an
expedition was soon proposed and as
quickly organized.
We did not know the number of guns.
Or how large crew the schooner car
ried; but we did know that heavy and
efficient batteries manned by a numer-
Gus Confederate force, protected her,
Tor She was mOored directly in their
range. Yet this was not considered dis
couraglng, for one can not expect such
enterprises to be devoid of danger Were
they so, it would take from them great
part of the charm that makes men seek
the excitement they now possess.
Of course the preparations for the ex-
petition were carried on secretly, so
that no intimatiOn of them should reach
the enemy, and on the 18th of Septem-
Der every thing was ready for the dash
we were to make that night. Five of
the boats were to compose the expedi-
ton, headed by the first launch under
the command of Lieutenant Russell.
while the second officer in rank was
"Dandy jack
The night was just suited to such an
exploit as we meditated, being one of
those gloomy, mist-pervaded seasons
when objects become the most indistinct.
though not too dark to discern outlines
rising higher than the low sides of the
boats we were in. After leaving the
ship we pulled slowly and with muffied
oars up to the shore of Sante Rosa
island, and cautiously followed this,
keeping well under the shadow of Fort
Pickens until we reached point whose
bearing with the navy yard and the
schooner had been accurately deter
mined. Here the boats were ranged IN
order. and then the whispered command
OF give way" made us bend steadily to
our work, and, in little time we were
gliding swiftly forward, the oars making
no sound save light plash that was
very much like the wash of low waves.
In few moments we saw "Dandy
jack lean eagerly forward, and heard
the words: There she is, give way, nv
boys!" spoken in low but clear tone.
And we did give way, just as an excl
ted voice short distance from us cried:
Boat ahoy! What boat is that?"
No word made reply, but our muscles
grew harder with an added strain, as
the cry of, "The Yanks! the Yanks,
Beat to qUarters." sounded through the
night
The next instant our boat grated
alongside of the schooner, and we Crap
pied chain-plate. Then the flash of a
musket shone redly in the gloom, and
BY the sudden light we saw, standing
'oldy out on the rail above us, the dap
PER form of Dandy Jack" who had
been the first to Chamber up the side OF
the enemy. In moment, cbeered on
by his act and voice. we had reached the
seck of tire schooner. Already the ward
beyond was loud with the turmoil OF
men rushing to arms, and we soon found
that we could not get the schooner out,
SO the fire-brands we had brought were
lighted and flung into the hold.
Waiting few moments to see that
these were doing their work, we re-
treated to our boats and pulled away
into the darkness, stopping to send a
few rounds of grape and canister among
the men we saw forming ranks beyond
the blazing schooner. The work we had
set out to do was accomplished. The
1uoah was cut adrift from the navy
yard. and went drifting with the tide
up the bay, ? mass Of leaping and curl