New-York tribune., 1891-12-27
A WRECK AND THE RESCUE.
AN EXPERIENCE OFF HATTERAs.
THE STORY OF AN OLD RIVER sTEAfBoAT'
WHICH SHOULD NEVER HAVE PUT OUT

by martial music, n BATTALION OF ohVu "'aoe'
Marines, under the command oil Major feyholus'
left the Marine Barracks at Washington al'e'
marching through some of the stree's VI '""'
city they took passage on the ,ia'eu o'a'
steamer Pawnec. Toward evening the vessel lett
her wharf, and, moving slowly down the r',ei'
droppcd her anchor Under cover Of darkness net
living freight was transferred TO an ola proouoe
steamer, which made her regular trips upon 'ne
Potomac The policy of this movement was not
a1parcpt until early the next morning, when she
passed battery planted on the rivers panK' wl.h
the Pawnee two or three miles in her wake Inc
eyes Of the enemy were evidently fixed upon inc
Pawnee: and the rusc which had been resor'eo
TO to get the 400 marines safely past the oa''etS
was not discovered until IL was TOO late' Inc
old produce carrier had steamed leisureiy past 'he
battery unmolested, but as soon as the Ia"neo
came within range bang !" bang bang! went
the cnns from the fort. In full view OF the rebel
battery. but out Of range. the four companies oi
marines were again placed on the Pawnee, ai'cr
which the steamer proceed to Hampton Roads
to ioin the feet then fitting out for the Port koyai
expedition.
The vessel designated TO convey the battalion
of marines 10 its destination was an old side-wneei'
walking-beam, river steamboat, bearing the asSur-
inr title Of United States steamship Governor
of the expedition, put ont TO sea. Some of the
boys being quite well supplied with money, caro-
playing was the order of the day. On the second
or third morning out many sets of players could
he seen scattered about the deck engaged in their
fayorite amusement About n. IN. the weather
became thick and heavy. the vessel began TO
pitch and plunge, and one party OF players alter
another went below deck. by noon there was not
q single game in progress. The hrst lntimauon
any one had that things were becoming serious
was given by the crash OF the falling smoKcstacK
and its disappearance over the side OF the Vcssel
into the sea Some time after that incident oc-
cured portion Of one of the masts was carried
away As the time wore on something became
dsarranged in connection with one of the steam
pipes and finally the rudder failed to do its duty.
The vessel, wallowng in the trough OF the sea-
was then wholly at the mercy OF the waves
After being subjected TO the terrible strain OF
tumbling about on the waves for number Of
hours the beams NJ the vessel began TO jerk back
and forth with the motion of the vessel, produc-
Ing ominous creal<ing sounds, though there
were not timber in the whole ship which
was not being twisted all into splnters.
The feelings Of those 400 men in that rickety.
crcaking vessel can be imagined. If, after pass
ing through such an ordeal. their hair had turned
white no one would have been surprised 1t is
said that the soldiers of the war die very young.
With the experience which many of them had. is
IL any wonder? The motion of the beams opened
large seams between the planking. and permitted
the water 10 pour into the vessel. Those who
have never bern in such situation have only
faint conception of the feelings which such sur
.oundings produce To prevent immediate disaster.
large ropes were fastened to the walking beams
and then secured TO some substantial support
This kept them steady and. to some extent stopped
the water from coming in.
At daylight the next morning, after night OF
terrible suspense we could not discover a vessel
Of the entire expedition. The men determined.
however, not TO go down without making many
heroic efforts for life. Large baing parties
formed. leading from the deck down each gang
way TO the water below. AS set of men he
came exhausted it was relieved by another. With
an ordinary crew the vessel could not have
been kept afoat for twenty-four hours. but with
400 athletic young men in the prime of life. con
scious that their safety depended on their own
exertions, the prospect for life WAS little more
promising.
The clements. however. had no respect for
strength or numbers. Sea after sea broke over
the disabled vessel during the many weary hours
of daylight and darkness which followed. The
boat trembled and re,led in her struggles. The
deeper she plunged and the higher she was tossed
the wider became the opening seams and the more
the water rushed in, rendering increased eXertiOn
necessary to keep il from rising above the point
OF danger That there must have been great pri-
vation is evident from the fact that the danger
admitted OF no opportunity 10 prepare anything
TO eat to partaSe Of il if il had been prepared.
The strain then began to tell on those who were
engaged in the struggle for life. One man did so
far lose his balance as TO determine to put an
end to the suspense he plunged headlong into
the sea-. where any attempt to rescue him was
utterly impossible.
dangered men was in a. measure relieved by the
appearance OF the small gun-boat Isaac Smith.
which, after much difficulty, succeeded in passing
@ line TO the disabled vessel The hopes excited
by her efforts to render assistance were destined
TO be of short duration. Owing TO the greater
weight of the disabled vessel, there was danger
her destruction. 10 prevent this, the hawser
with which she had taken tho Governor in tow
was severed, and she steamed away out OF sl2ht.
leaving those in the disabled vessel more hopeless
After a few hours another sail appeared in
sight This to be the oOp ,S on Taf Ibe a'ans re
menduous sea that then running, would not
be expected to render any assistance Realizing
her Inability TO AFFORD the much-nceded help, she
turned and gradually drew away. She was,
watched until she became mere Speck; and when
that speck disappeared beneath the horizon, more
than one pent-up sob became audible among the
Cruising off Cape Hatteras at that time was
the United States trigate sabine All ut once, the
shrill whistle Of the boatswain heard upon
her gun deck and minute later voices resounded
fore and aft: "Al hands make sail" In an
instant every man sprang to his duty. All was
excitement turmoil and confusion. Sail after
sail was flung the breeze, rope after rope was
hauled taut. and studding-sail after studding-sail
was added TO the already excessive and dangerous
amount of canvas which was sweeping the vessel
onward over the mighty deep. Captain Ringod
was well nigh omnipresent in every part of the
ship his presence animating the men TO do their
duty The object of this bustle though to them
still unknown, was something of great Importance.
They were pursuing vessel, which carried at
first the French flag; then, becoming more
audacious the English flag; finally the Rebel flag
was seen waving from her mast All these manoeu-
vres tended to increase the speed of her pursuer.
As hour after hour passed away, the race between
the two vessels was almost evenly divided, each,
with great tenacity, holding her own Presently.
resoundng from the cr0ss-trees of the Sabine came
the cry Sail ho" From the officer on deck
went hack the inanrY. "Where awaYg The