Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-03-29
" DANDY JACK"
A Hero in Kid Gloves and Patent
Leather Boots.



lieutenant we were expecting came up
the ward-room hatchway, and stepped
out on the starboard side OF the quarter
deck.
He was a trim and dapper little fol
low, barely Ave feet five in his shoes;
slim. and yet with a certain wiryness
standing out that 10 the careful observer
told OF strength. Ills clothes looked as
though they had just come from the
tailor, so bright and fresh were they.
His cap, resplendcnt with It's I'M
furnished ornaments, set jauntily on
bead whose every hair seemed To have a
place and occupy It, Ills black side
whiskcrs were as carefully arranged,
aud "A Kid glove clothed the hand that
he held out for the trumpet that de-
noted his charge Of the deck, while
patcnt-lcathcr boots shone beneath the
smoothly-buttoned CATERS on his feet
We were used 10 the neat clothes and
bright ornaments, for many OF our off
rers 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-
tAHNlN, II not iDhus WtTt many.
But DANDY Jack" for the name thus
involuntarily given chung to HIM, If he
knew Of these. gave Thorn no attention,
and daily acquaintance with them
soon made us accustomed to the innova.
walton. and we quickly discovered that
our ncN lieutenant was thorough mas
ter ~ the different drills we found
thrust upon MS by the opening OF hostili.
tics. We had been ordered South. and
were lying oil Fort Pickens. with the
Confederate flag in plain sight. as IL
nnttered over the walls OF Barrancas
and McRae, and at the truck of the flag
stan in the navy-yard at Warrington.
Steamers fronr.Pensacola ran down 10
the last named place, and now and then
a schooner winged her way alongside %.
the sca-wall fronting the buildings But
there acre no signs Of warlike prepare
tions on board Of these, and so they
brought Ms no excitement.
The case was changed, however. when
ono morning We saw, hauled under the
shears and already partially armed. a
schooner whose yacht-like build and
rakish spars told OF an adaptability for
priyatccr purposes that could find ready
employment IL once allowed 10 get out
In tho 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,
nE how large a crew the schooner car
ricd, but we did know that heavy and
efficient batteries, manned by numer-
Gus Confederate force, protected her,
Tor she Was moored directly in their
range. Net this was not considered dis.
couraginE, for one can not expect such
enterprises to be devoid Of danger. We're
they 80, il would take from them great
part " thu charm that makes men seek
the excitement they now possess.
OF course the preparations for the ex-
petition were carried ON secretly. so
that mo- intimatiun of them should reach
the enemy and on the 18th OF Septem-
Der every thing was ready for she dash
We were 10 make that night Five of
the boats were Ia compose the expedi-
ton, headed Icy thu first launch under
The command Of Lieutenant Russell.
while the second officer in rank Was
"Dandy Jack"
The night was Just suited 10 such an
exploit as we meditated. being one OF
those gloomy, mist-pervaded seasons
when objects become the most indistinct.
though not too dark 20 discern outlines
rising higher than the low sides Of the
boats We were in. After leaving the
snip We pulled slowly and with muitiea
oars up 10 the shore of Sante Rosa
Island, and cautiously followed this
keeping Ncll under the shadow of Fort
hickeus until We reached a point WHOSE
bearing with the navy yard aud tho
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 a few moments We saw DANDY
Jack" lean eagerly forward. and heard
tho words There she is. give way, my
boys" spoken in low but clear tone.
Aud We did give way, just as an excl.
ted voice a 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 lanks, the Yanksl
Beat TO quarters" sounded through the
night
The next instant our boat grated
alongside % the schooner. and We Crap.
pied a chain-plate. Then the fash Of a
musket shone redly in the gloom. and
by the sudden light We saw, standing
boldly ont on the rail above as. the dap.
per form % DANDY Jack" who had
heen the first 10 chamber up fhe side OF
The enemy. In . moment rheered on
hy his act and Voice, wc had reached the
aes'k u re schooner. ALREADY the yard
beyond was loud with the turmoii OF
men rushing to arms, and We soon found
that W. could not get the schooner out.
)" the tire-hrande we had brought were
lighted and flung into the hold.
Waiting few moments 10 see that
these were doing thsr work, we re.
treated 70 our boats and pulled away
into the darkness. stopping 20 send a
few rounds Of grape and canister among
the men se saw forming ranks beyond
tbe blazing schooner Tho work we had
set out . do was accomplished The
Judah was cut adrlft from the navy
yard. and want drifting with the tide
~ me hay, d mass Of leapiHg and curl