The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-08-16
"WHAr NEWsP"
A Thrilling Incident of the Close of tho
War-How an American ships Grow
Hoard the News.

A Thrilling Incident of the Close of tho
War-How an American ships Grow
Hoard the News
S. NichOluA
Early one morning the mate was
startled by the cry from aloft, BLACK
smoke ahead, SIR! A big steamer
standing to the southwark"
Tho captain was called, and in a trice
bounced on deck, where, applying the
glass to his eye, he took long look at
the stranger, who had pushed so sud-
denly out Of the early mist hanging low
upon the horizon.
Whatever her character, We had but
little chance Of escape, If she had
rifed guns. Many glance OF appre-
hension was directed toward the sombre
hull and pair OF sloping smokestacks
with the twisting smoke trending far
astern.
"Show him our colors, sirI Bend on
tho ensign; we may as well be hung for
sheep as q lamb. II that fellow is Q
rebel, the sooner We know 1.-THE better"
exclaimed the captain somewhat sud
denly to the mate.
1t was close upon six bella Seven
O'clock when the steamer revealed her
nationality.
We fairly yelled as the blood-red cross
OF st. George danced up aloft from the
steamers signal.halyards. She was evil
IDENTIFY q troop-ship bound for the Cape,
a trihe out OF her course, but We did not
stop to consider that.
She was too far distant to speak, but
in obedience to gesture from the cap
tain, the mate emptied bag OF gaily
colored signals on deck; and the boys
were called aft to man the halyards and
lend a hand to bend on the magic flags.
Upward f1uttered the parti-colored bits
OF bunting, glasses were leveled, and
breathless expectancy marked the sun
burnt features of the clippers crew;
for the inquiry flying from our mizzen-
royalmast was, "What news Of the
American war;"
7 The fash OF foam cast up by the huge
propeller greeted our straining vision,
the great steamer Rlided onward, but
no responsive signals gladdened the
anxious hearts of those yearning to
hear news from home.
With q passionate exclamation OF dis
appointment the captain closed the
Joints of his long glass with savage
snap, saying, as he turned away, "He
hasn't our code. It's no use."
"Look at thatl" suddenly exclaimed
the mate, pointing. What Is he going
to do2
"He is coming about" shouted the
captain his bronzed features fairly
paling. "Can it be possible he has
played us a trick, and Is the Alabama
Stand by, all hands, for"
A deep blast of the steam whistle
rumbled over the flashing waters, fol-
lowed by number OF quick toots as the
steamer ranged to leeward; then an ex-
panse of white canvas was lowered over
the side.
Glasses we're directed upon that
bright patch amidships, upon which
dark lines could be discerned with the
naked eye. The glass showed these
Il have It'll" shouted the captain,
leaping excitedly into the rigging.
Spread the news fore and att 1t says,
'The American conflict is overl Davis
q fugitive what's that? Heavens.
yes aLHtGVIk 20 AlNcA1
"strike the colors haif-mast, sir"
continued the captain to the mate, in o
subdued tone. Then he added, "Hoist
the signal, Thank you to the steamer"
At that moment the rich. full tones Of
regimental band were waited across
the heaying swells, and many an eye
glistened with emotion as the we'll
known strains Of Hail Columbia" were
family heard. The steamer slowly fell
of, and resumed her course, while, as
iifactuated by one impulse, officers and
men sprang into the weatLer-rigging,
giving three times three and waving
their hats for the kindness OF the
courteous EngIishmen. The Stars and
Stripes were dipped three times, the
hoarse whistle rang out in return, the
Meteor flag" slowly and maiestically
returned the salute, and the greeting in
mid-ocean was over.
"The commander OF that craft is a
gentleman-every inch of himW was
the admiring remark Of the mate as he
glanced astern at the fast-fadtng troop.
shin