The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-10-17

operations in Charleston harbor. the
Tenth army corps made sudden
dash and drove In the thin lines OF
pickets which the Southern officers
had posted on the eastern end OF
Morris Island. When daylight came
every gun which Beauregard could
bring TO bear upon the new work be-
gan TO rain shot and shell.
There were enough men there. but
there was a deficiency OF ammunition.
and so n mule-driver volunteered TO
deliver the ammunition.
The only road was the smooth sand
peach along the bay and the distance
between the two points about a mile
and IA hall. Half that distance was
within easy range of Fort Sumpter.
and Battery Wagner's guns covered
all the way TO tho sand hills, behind
which was the federal camp.
| am describing the incident as 1t
appeared from the shipping In tho
bay. and what called attention 10 II
was the sudden waking up Of every
gun on the southeast angle OF
Sumpter.
Looking TO see the cause OF the
furious cannonading, everybody was
surprised 10 see mule team tearing
up the beach in the direction OF the
new work. The driver was laying tho
lash on. and shat mule had It's ears
laid straight back and was making its
legs go.
Occasionally shell would touch
the beach, bound up and explode. and
the mule would then hesitate and
try TO turn back. But the
driver would lay the cowhide on with
renewed vigor; then the rule put on
another squirt. until at last IL became
entirely demoralized by the explosion
of ten-nch shell almost under IL.
The driver got of his sent. took the
animal by the head, whirlod 1t round
once or twice and started IL up the
beach once more.
Fort Sumpter flashed and famed.
Battery Wagner belched and thun-
dercd. and still that daring driver
urged his mule along, though the way
was swept by at least thirty guns.
AT last he reached his destination,
but he could not stay there. and In u
moment he was turned around and ox-
horting that animal TO do its level
best. The mule did not need TO be
told TO step out, for In its rear there
were roar and racket, and about its
ears were flying sand and scrap-iron
which seemed To stimulate its fleetness.
Down that hard beach few the
mule, the light cart bobbing and
swaying and tho drivers arm rising
and falling as he dealt out lash after
lash. Az last they neared the friend
ly shelter OF the sandhllls.
In another minute they will be safe.
but just as they neared the place TO
turn aside a shell came screaming
from Sumpter. Everybody could see
the huge mass OF iron as IL roared
through the air. IL struck the beach
directly In the rear OF the mule. and
with n bound II overlook IL and ex-
ploded with terrific violence.
When the shell exploded a circle OF
smoke hid the mule for n moment,
but when the smoke cleared. Mr.. Mule
had his ears laid back. and with head
down and legs lashiug wildly out, he
was making kindling wood OF the cart.
which had been badly domoralized by
fragment Of the she'll.
Presently the driver Is seen limping
TO the mule; In second the mule Is
free from the cart and with the
driver on his back and farewell
whisk OF his tail. disappears behind
the cover OF the hills.
The thousands OF boys In blue unite
In long and hearty hurrah; the sail
ors wave their hats and shout them
selves hoarse. and. harkl the South
ern soldiers have cnught the infection,
and are cheering, too!