Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-02-21


blood. The man had evidently been
fiogged; but though we could all tell
that at glance none of us pitied
him.
"Well, mister" said the officer,
what are you hanging about for.
Are you spy?"
Worse than that, said the man,
"I've come to surrender, and to
split on my comrades yonder. can
tell you where the Harbinger is if
you'll make it worth my while. l
was third stoker aboard of her."
Put him in irons" said the Off
Ger coldly, sand set n sentry over
him." and he turned on his heel.
/ didn't bother myself about the
deserter-I was too tired and too
wet; and turned into my hammock
and slept like a top. When l came
on deck next morning there was the
deserter, the man who had come to
US in a canoe through the log, with
a pair OF handouts on him, standing
on the bridge coming the ship, n
quartermaster, revolver in hand, by
his side. BY the bright light of the
morning sun the man looked, ii pos
sible, uglier than ever. Somebody
had given him an old jacket, which
hid the signs of the tlogging; but the
fellow looked thoroughly miserable
and thoroughly wicked We were
running straight for the entrance OF
one of the enumerable bayous. Sud-
denly n silent order was passed
along to clear for action. 1t was a
most puzzling order; there wasn't a
sail in sight; but it was carried out
rapidly enough, the discipline on
board the Columbia being good. In
a few minutes every man was at his
station. Our heavy guns were load
ed and depressed. Suddenly the
word was passed round among
the men that the Confederate
war steamer Harbinger was in the
bayou, and that there would proba-
bly, be a no-quarter fight in a few
minutes. | was u volunteer; and.
though drew Uncle Sans pay and
Uncle Sans rations, it was not for
pay | fought, but for principle, and,
| suppose | must add glory-you see
l was only %. / began to feel that,
if there was to be a hand-to-hand
fight with the Harbinger, it would
become a historical affair like the
Shannon and Chesapeake thing; l
should get to be a hero; and the hero
profession was the particular bust
ness into which, at that period o, my
life, most longed to go.
Presently we entered the bayou.
There lay the Harbinger, n big pair
OF shears rugged over the engine
room, and a great crowd of men
hauling away at something they
were drawing up from it. So busy
were 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 Harbinger was
anchored, you know, and her furnace
fires were out. Aswe ran within fifty
yards of her stern, so as to take
her with gun after gun, il neediul.
the bells in our engine room ordered
the engines to be reversed, and we
almost ceased to move.
/ If you don't surrender" shouted
our commander to the Confederate
Captain, who stood upon the bridge.
an blow We all into almighty
blazes."
There were the three great Dahl
| gren guns; their shot would have
/ passed through the Harbinger's
/ decks, and she certainly would have
gone TO the bottom five minutes
aiterward.
Il guess I'll come down." said the
confederate chief. He was a brave
man, but he knew that resistance
was useless.
Tell your chaps to throw down
their arms andgo for'ard," cried our
old man, "or I'll sink We at once"
Admiral Sykes had to give the or
der; it wasn't a time for joking, and
our boss would have carried out his
threat. Slowly and sullenly the con.
federate crew left the guns, and fling
ing their weapons upon the deck
marched forward in body. Then
our boats were lowered and we took
the entire crew prisoners and put q
guard over them OF which was one
| never saw such tattooed, starved
hungry-looking lot in my life before
They were quiet enough, pool
chaps, at first, till suddenly one
of them espied the man who haC
betrayed them standing on oul
bridge, the quartermaster still bS
his side, revolver in hand; and ther
a great yell went out from the whole
crowd Of prisoners. officers and men
They would have lynched him ther
and there if they could have got al
him. They SHOOK their fists at him
they ground their teeth, they cursed
and swore ana called names; they'C
have torn him into little pieces i
they could have got hold of him
I And that chap had to stand by TIN
! quartermaster' side and face them
He looked dreadfully scared. ant
well he might. Those that cursed
and swore the loudest we're natural,
the fve-and-thirty deserters tina
Hhad ornt IN no hanund - Poo