The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-03-20

"DHh4 cuA lOI NJ least the
present But 1t was not to be. As iii.
luck would have IL schooner loaded
With cocoanuts was anchored near by, and
IN some unaccountable way about !
hundred recruits got ON boori Of her and
2 storm OF cocoanuts was tbs result. The
Empire City was bombarded until the
supply Of ammunition gave out. The
entire cargo had been transferred with
out the formslity Of . bill Of ladinR.
Some months after an effort was made
by the owners OF the cocoanuts to have
theirvalue in money charged against the
pay Of the two officers in charge OF the
detachment, but it was clearly shown
that 1t was not the Officers fault, and I
think finslly the Government paid the
bill.
It was with feelings Of unalloyed
pleasure that heard the signal given
for leaving, and when the lines were cast
on and We were under way for the Dry
Tortugas ! thought we might enjoy At
least short interval Of peace. The
capacious swallows were gorged to re-
pletton With cocoanuts and cistern water
and we hoped much from this fact. Nor
were we disappointed Quiet reigned
until the Tortugas or Fort Jefferson was
reached at an early hour the next morn
ing.
As our ship came to the wharf the re-
cruits began to jeer at and chaf the
colored sentinels, throwing bits Of hard
bread and pork at them. They did not
know that q colored sentinel is the worst
person in the world to fool with, as he
feels to an unusual degree the impor-
lance Of his position, and is quite ready
at any time and on the slightest provo.
cation to shoot
l, knowing this, several times warned
these would-be wags Of their danger.
They took no heed, however of the
warning, aud while at the height OF
their fun ] saw the sergeant OF the
guard deliberately come forward and or
der his guard to fall in When about
forty men were in line and before or
the recruitscould understand their in
tentions they fired q volley point blank
into the ship. They were preparing to
fire again when commissioned officer
came hurriedly upon the scene, putting
a stop to the proceedings.
The effect on the recruits was most
satisfactory to In moment not
one could be seen above the guards Of
the ship. Some plunged headlong down
the steps leading to the hold. Others
Rugged the deck until satisfied that the
war was over. The ringleader of all the
disturbances was shot in the mouth, and
several others were pretty severely
wounded. No more bacon and hard tack
were thrown after this, nor any more
chaff INDUCED in.
We remained at the fort for about
twelve hours and then steamed off for
New Orleans, where in due time we ar
rived without any more disagreeable ex-
periences.
The skirmish at the Tortugas we re-
garded as most fortunate occurrence.
The effect certainly was gratifying to
lovers Of law and order.
While In New Orleans the detachment
was confined, like SO many conscripts, in
cotton press and guarded by nearly a
regiment of infantry. When marched
to the Texas steamer, notwithstanding
all precautions, large amount Of whis-
ky was struggled aboard, and when
about half way down the river its effects
became alarmingly apparent. The ut
most lawlessness prevailed, and fears
were entertained that the recruits might
take full possession of the ship. At one
time regular battle was going on In
the forward part: ring having been
formed by about a hundred, with some
fifteen or twenty in the center engaged
in an all-around fight, first with fists,
but as the excitement arose knives were
drawn and many severe wounds resulted.
The officers were powerless among SC
many, and it was only the giving out
of the whisky that caused matters after
awhile to quiet down. Otherwise some.
thing serious would certainly have hap
pened.
As a calm generally follows a storm,
SO did quiet and peace return after this
wild orgie was over. We disembarked
at Port Lavaca, and went into camp
about ten miles out, on the line of the
old dilapidated railway, between Port
Layaca and Victoria. Here we were to
await the train which was loading with
the baggage and rations from the ship
During the night q "wet norther" sci
in, and on bald prairie without stick
of wood for a fire, the temperature freez
/ ing, no tents to shelter us--the situation
was wretched enough. The recruits
pulled ties from the track and made q
fire, but the wood was soaked with water
and afforded but little warmth. The
train arrived the next morning, and took
us aboard; but the unusual weight was
too much for the wheezy little engine
for after crawling few miles the train
came to dead stop, nor did it move or
again. The track had sunk in the mud
The outlook was most depressing te
the six hundred tired, hungry and shiy
ering human beings, wing were now
forced to get off the train and face agair
the pitiless sleet which was being blown
from the north at terrific rate. II
make a long story short, it was nearly
night before the train was pried out o.
the mud and we were again rolling along
| in the direction of Victoria, one-half o.
the detachment, however, being obliged
TO walk and push the train up any little
grade. After few miles an exchange
| would be made; those on the train would
lake their turn at walking and pushing
and so on, alternating, until at last witt
one mighty effort, taking nearly the en-
tire strength of the detachment, thu
train assembled the steepest grade OF al
and rolled majestically into the LITTLE
town Of Victoria.
have heard Of, even experienced
stage-coaching where one had to wall
and carry rail- but this railroading ant
showing train was certainly new ant
novel mode Of travelling. From Victori'
70 San Antonio at this time there was NJ
railroad. Consequently this last hun
dred miles Of our long journey had to b
performed on foot However 1t was Il
due time accomplished without particu
lar incident. There being no towns Y
mass through there was blessed ab
sence Of whisky. The henroosts aloni
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