Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-03-07
-" DANDY JACK"
A Hero In Kid Gloves and Patent
Leather Boots.


blue Jackets gathered about the main
mast OF the Colorado, when the new
lieutenant we were expecting came up
the ward room hatohway, and stepped
out on the starboard side Of the quarter
deck.
lie was trim and dapper little fell
low, barely FIVE feet Ave in his shoes;
slim, and yet with certain wiryness
standing out that 10 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, respondent with its un-
furnished ornaments, set jauntily on
bead whose every hair seemed to have =
place and occupy 1t. 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 tho deck, while
patent-leather boots sbone beneath the
| smoothly -buttoned CATERS on his feet.
We were used 10 the neat clothes and
bright ornaments, for many OF our offi-
GERS were noted examples Of we'll
dressed manhood, but we had not been
sdncated up to the standard wherein kid
gloves and patent leather were blended
with salt water and tar and our criti-
,isms, II not loud, were many.
But Dandy jack flor the name thus
lnvoiuntarily given chung to him), If he
knew OF these, gave them no attention,
and daily acquaintance with them
soon made us accustomed TO the innova-
vation, and we quickly discovered that
our new lieutenant was thorough mas
| tor of the different drills we found
thrust upon MS by the opening of HOSTILE
ties. We had been ordered South, and
we're lying off Fort Pickens. with the
Confederate flag in plain sight, as 1t
futtered over the walls of Barrancas
and McRae, and at the truck Of the flag
stan in the navy-yard at Warrington.
Steamers from Pensacola ran down to
the last named place, and now and then
4 schooner winged her way alongside 81
the sea-wall fronting the buildings. But
there were no signs Of warlike prepare
tons on board OF these. and so they
. brought MS no excitement.
The ease was changed, however, wheI
ono morning we saw, hauled under the
, shears and already partially armed, ,
schooner whose yacht-lise build ant
, ralSish spars told Of an adaptability TO
I privateer purposes that could find read,
/ employment II once allowed to get on
, tn tho waters of the Gulf, SO full o
small Yankee traders. 10 capture thi
vessel. or destroy her, was an obiec
8 that our officers much desired, and al
| expedition was soon proposed, and II
, quickly organized.
!, We did not know the number OF guns
! or how large IA crew the schooner car
: ried but We did know that heavy an
efficient batteries, manned by numeI
!, Gus Confederate force, protected hef
(, Tor she was moored directly in thei
= range. Yet this was not considered dis
q :ouraging, for one can not expect sue
I enterprises To ba devoid Of danger. Wer
\. they so, it would take from them groa
!. part OF the charm that makes men see
: the excitement they now possess
OF course the preparations for the @,
y petition were carried on secretly, S
: that no intimation of them should reac
= the enemy and on the 18th of Septen
~ Der every thing was ready for the das
We were to make that night. Five
A the boats were to compose the exped
ton, headed by the first launch undo
: tho command of Lieutenant Russell
shile the second officer in rank W.
. "Dandy Jack"
L The night was just suited to such a
- exploit az we meditated, being one
n those gloomy, mist-peryaded SeasoI
"A WHEN objects become the most indistinc
though not too dark to discern outlin,
, rising higher than the low sides of tt
- boats We were in. After leaving Il
:. ship we pulled slowly and with mutil,
- oars up TO the shore of Sante Roi
!, island, and cautiously followed thi
: keeping we'll under the shadow of Flo
=, piekens until We reached point who!
a. bearing with the navy yard and ii
schooner had been accurately dete
mined. Here the boats were ranged
order, and then the whispered commas
Of give way" made US bend steadily
nj our work, and, in a little time we we
gliding swiftly forward, the oars malir
~ no sound save a light plaSh that vi
Il very much like the wash OF low wave
In few moments We saw "Dant
a. Jack" lean eagerly forward, and hea
N the words; There she is, give way, II
= boys" spoken in low but clear tone
ID And we did give way, just as an ex,
ted voice short distance from us erie
r. Boat ahoy, What boat Is that?"
z No word made reply, but our muscl
re grew harder with an added strain,
d the cry Of. THE Yanks, the Yanh
Beat TO quarters sounded through II
81 night
IN The next instant our boat graf
IL alongside OF the schooner. and we gra
ie pied chain-plate. Then the flash oi
IL musket shone redly in the gloom, ~
r. by tho sudden light we saw, siandii
n boldly out on the rail above as, the da
per form OF Dandy Jack, who Ii
At been the first 10 chamber up the side
t. the enemy In a moment, cheered
L. by his act and voice, We had reached {
= deck of The schooner. Already the va
beyond was loud with the turmoil
men rushing 10 arms, and we soon fou
that we could not get the schooner o.
10 So the tire-brands We had brought We
o' lighted and flung into the hold.
Waiting few moments to see d
IL these were doing thsr work, we
Ia treated 10 our boats and pulled aw
a. into the darkness, stopping to sem
he few rounds of grape and canister amo
w the men we saw forming ranks beyo
nd the blazing schooner. The work we
p set out to do was accomplished.
Wv Judah WAS cut ad rift from the nj