Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-05-07


sharpshooters along the bluffs wcfr firing
upon the helpless seamcn struggling for
LIE In the river and also upon boats sent
out to their relief by tho S. Louis. Word
was passed along the indianlan's ranks 20
pay special attention 10 those shnrpshoot-
ors and drive Tor the battery at double
quick. The regiment moved up on front
and flank and took the four gun battery
with dash. Capt. Fry meanwhile bad
left his post 10 consult Huntington and
Williams Returning. he met the enemy
advancing. and rallied his handful for
final stand at Dunuington's position. There
be soon fell wounded and unconscious, and
was made prisoner.
The ~. Louis succeeded IN hooking onto
the disabled Mound City and towing her
ashore. She had been deserted by all her
ablcboiied men Out Of lis ollicera. men
md boys only . were NJ for duty. In the
casematc WHERE the missile struck 81 were
killed either by Confederate fire or the
scalding steam. OF those who Jumped
from the vessel I? were drowned, and rs
wounded were taken from the ship and
the water. IL was an awful shot and
might have won the fight 10 the Confcdrr.
atcs but for Col. Ftoh's ready good sense
and courage. Capt kilty's bold dash
upon the batteries with all his vessels had
dumfounded the enemy to such an extent
that they lost their heads nj the very mo-
mcnt when Dunnlngton'a marksmans p
virtually put the gunboats ont al the fight.
/ As u was, Fitch carried everything. and
the bluffs were passed as far ~ the town
within an hour. Nelson's Texans were at
hand, actually within sound Of the firing,
and an hours delay on the part Of Fitch
might have been disastrous.
Capt. Kitty was seriously sealded and
| lost an arm. Iio aftcrward arose TO the
rank NJ commodore. Col Fitch was n
volunteer officer, UNFRAMED 10 arms. lie
left the service soon after on account OF
disabilities.
Capt. fry's Later career was an exciting
one. lie drifted east after hi. exchange
md commanded the famous blockade run
ner Eugcnic, which always sailed under
the Confederate ilag Ono day he attempt
ell to carry cargo Of powder 20 Fort
Fisher, North Carolina, while the Unior
blockading tioet was treating that work tS
lively cannonading, Signals were sent
him from his suptrlors on shore TO save bis
crew and scuttlc the ship; but he refused
TO do 10, lighted her and took her safely e
port. When the war closed Fry settled IL
] tue nNfAnt anu VA zoe ht'hlNN AAlAiAhllAfl
Of the III starred Virginius, Of Cuban reyo
luton fame. lie was taken by the Spsnlsl
authorities and, with % u his crew, wa!
ummarily put 10 death, although protest
ing his right To trial Us United State
citizen.
During the war and at the time Of III
Virginius episode, II was asserted tha
Fry personally ordered his men To In
upon Capt Kilty's unfortunate sailor
who jumped from the Mound City to saw
themselves by swimming ashore. On Tia
other hand, Capt, Williams, IN an oflcia
report made four days after the fight d,
clarcd that he gave the order TO his shurI
shooters TO shoot the struggling victim,
Lieut., Huntington reported that when III
Mound City driited toshOre she was halle
to lower her Tag, and this failing to com
down, his men were directed TO IRE upo
those In the water Apologists OF III
state that he was not near the scene at III
, moment the firing began and could no
have been responsible, In fact, such han
, bnrous impulses rarely throb under d
, same Jacket with the truly martial spri
, that Fry On all occasions displayed.
I GEORGE l., kILNlER