Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-12-05

most tremendous pair of black eyes
ever saw in my life-the lids We're half
closed-and the eyes themselves were
bloodshot. Somebody had evidently
been knocking the fellow about; as he
turned slightly, / noticed that his shirt
was red with blood. The man had
evidently been logged; but though we
could all tell that at glance none of
us pitied him.
"Well, mistep," said the officer, what
are you hanging about for. Are you
spy?"
"Worse than that, said the man, "Pve
come to surrender, end to split on my
comrades yonder. I can tell you where
the Harbinger is if you'll make it worth
my while. | was third stoller aboard
of her."
"Put him in irons. - said the officer
coldly, "and set a sentry over him."
and he turned on his heel
1in't bother myself about the de-
sertcr-I was too tired and too wet;
and / turned into my hammock and
slept like a top When / came on deck
next morning there Was the ,deserter,
the man WHO had come to us in a
canoe through the fog, with pair of
handouts on him, standing on the
bridge coming the ship, quartermas-
tor, revolver in hand, by his side. BY
the bright light of the morning sun the
man looked, if possible, uglier than
ever. Somebody had given him an old
jacket, which hid the signs of the fog
ging: but the fellow looked thoroughly
miserable and thoroughly wicked. We
We're running straight for the entrance
of one OF the innumerable bayous. Sud-
denly silent order was passed along
to clear for action. 1t was most puz-
zling order; there wasn't sail in sight;
but it was carried out rapidly enough,
the discipline on board the Columbia
being good. In few minutes every
man was at his station. Our heavy
guns were loaded and depressed. Sud-
denly the word was passed round
among the men that the Confederate
war steamer Harbinger was in the
bayou, and that there would probably
be a no-quarter fight in few minutes.
l was volunteer; and, though I drew
Uncle Sans pay and Uncle Sans ra-
tions, it was not for pay / fought, but
for principle, and, / suppose l must add
glory-you see was only %. I began
to feel that, if there was to be o hand
to-hand fight with the Harbinger, it
would become historical affair like
the Shannon and Chesapeake thing; I
should get to be hero; and the hero
profession was the particular business
into which, at that period of my life,
most longed to go.
Presently we entered the bayou.
There lay the Harbinger, big pair of
shears rugged over the engine room,
and great crowd of men hauling away
at something they were drawing up
from it. So busy We're they with the
job that at first they didn't perceive our
approach. The fellows rushed to their
quarters, and several of the officers
hurried on to the bridge. The Hardin
ger was anchored, you know, and her
within fifty yards Of her stern, SO as 10
rake her with gun after gun if needfnl.
the bells in our engine room ordered
the engines to be reversed, and we al
most ceased to move.
Of you don't surrender" shouted our
commander to the Confederate Captain,
l.
We all into almighty blazes."
There were the three great Dahlgren
guns; their shot would have passed
through the Harbinger's decks, and she
certainly would have gone to the bot.
tom five minutes afterward.
81 guess I'LL come down." said the
confederate chief. He was brave man,
but he knew that resistance was USE
less.
"Tell your chaps to throw down their
arms and go for'ard, y cried our old man,
cor I'll sink ye at once"
Admiral Sykes had to give the order;
it wasn't time for joking, and our boss
would have carried out his threat.
Slowly and sullenly the confederate
crew left the guns, and finging their
weapons upon the deck, marched for
ward in body. Then our boats were
lowered and we took the entire crew
prisoners and put guard over them
of which was one. 1 never saw such
tattooed, starved hungry-looking lot
in my life before. They were quiet
enough, poor chaps, at first, till sud
denly one of them 4espied the man who
had betrayed them standing on our
bridge. the quartermaster still by his
side, revolver in hand and then great
yell went up from the whole crowd of
prisoners, officers and men. They
would have lynched him then and there
if they could have got at him. They
shook their fists ct him, they ground
their teeth, they cursed and swore and
called names; they'd have torn him into
little pieces if they could have got hold
of him. And that chap had to stand by
the auartermaster's side and face them.
He looked dreadf1llly scared, and we'll
he might. Those that cursed and swore
loudest were naturally the fve-and-
thirty deserters that chad got to be
hanged" Poor chaps! They knew
who had fitted the ropes around their
necks. Sykes had had to surrender
Internationally, and every one of
those tive-and-thirty men was hanged,
except a couple who jumped overheard
and were comfortably drowned before
we could manage TO get the prisoners
below and put the matches on.
Judas had a certain amount of pluck
yes, it is impossible to deny his pluck.
| w.