The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1892-10-22
"CulN'S" STORY,
They Called Him a Coward but He
Brought the Enemy to Terms.
FyorybOGy knew Culn on board +

Every body knew Culn on board the
ship. Perhaps this was because no one
had ever seen an uglier darky or one
who was more obliging. I have seen
Culn tumble out of his berth at
o'clock in the morning to sew on but
ton for sailor who was mean enough
to pour water in his face at an early
hour. By the way, that was the only
manner by which Culn's terrible snor-
ing could be stopped, says contrib
utor to the Cincinnati Commercial Co.
zette. He was always afraid of not do
ing enough and had the poorest opin-
ion of himself. l was talking with
him once, and he said: "Ye know,
Mahs'r Dale, de parson says de good
Lord amt made muffin for muffin, so l
guess Culn's got somefin' to do in de
realm of nature, but III bress de Lamb
if kin find it out"
1t was the time of blockade-running
had four guns and strict orders to use
them on any boat trying to break the
blockade. We had been cruising sew
eral days on the coast near Charleston
without any excitement. The morn
ing of Aug. 12, 1868, dawneG bright
and clear, and as the sun rose over the
horizon the black lines of a ship were
distinctly marked on the golden disk.
Our glass soon told us that it was
fast clipper flying no colors, trying to
break the blockade. By breakfast
time the clipper was only few miles
to windward, but we were ready with
every man Of his post and every gun
loaded to the muzzle. We could see
the beautifully shaped black hull, its
smooth appearance only broken by a
Misunderstanding cannon. If she
had gone by us her speed was safe
passport from pursuit.
"Show her what we're here for,
boys." shouted our captain. One of
our cannon obeyed the order, the ball
purposely striking the water several
hundred feet ahead of the sharp bow
as fair warning.
A flash came from one of the ports
of the stranger. and piece of our sec
ond mast toppled to the deck as kind
ling wood. Our cannon answered the
insult with but little perceptible harm
tc the stranger.
Lieut.. Crisp was handling our best
six-incl gun. He was a splendid
marksn M, but little liked by his men
OR account of his severity. Culn had
been ordered to position near Lieut..
Crisp's gun. The poor fellow was
bling. Nearer and nearer the
stranger enemy came, and 1T was evi-
dent that unless we disabled her in
some way Charleston that evening
would again be cracking jokes at the
inefficiency of the yankee boats" to
keep the blockade.
Culn had crept as much as he could
caught sight of him. Angcred by his
lack of courage he cried: "Come
here, you coward. and stand by me-"
CuIn tremblingly obeyed.
We were not two hundred yards
away from the blockade-runner when
three flashes and three wreaths of
smoke shot from his hull with a single
report. A second later twenty of our
men lay wounded on our decks. Our
enemy's cannon had been loaded with
grapeshot.
Lieut.. Crisp had at that moment
been ready to fire his gun again, when
bullet tore away his hand. Every
gunner near him was wounded and
disa abled-all but Culn. But was that
the same Culn who but a moment be-
fore had stood trembling?
His eyes were fixed on the passing
ship and every muscle stiffened by in
tense, sudden courage. Snatching the
cord that had fallen from the hand of
Lieut.. Crisp he gave it pull that
hS.ll -
had fulfilled its duty and sent the
spark of fire into the powder of the
cannon.
The graceful ship twisted and turned
like wounded stag. Culn's shot had
broken the ruddcr and left the ship at
our mercy. And Culn? He was bend
ing over Lieut.. Crisp, tvinr up his
wounds, regardless of the bullets hiss
ing about.
A few minutes later a white flag
climbed up the mast of the blockade
runner: she had surrendered.
With two pieces of cruel lead in his
body Culn lay on a folded sail, while
the surgeon told him that it was he,
Culn, who by his shot had brought the
enemy to terms. The chaplain stood
beside the surgeon. The surgeon had
sent for him.
"Parson, you's right-de good Lord
never made nulfin-for muffin" 4
proud smile lit up Culn's homely feat
ures as the head fell to one side. With
an effort he raised it. Tell Mahs'r
Crisp-when he wakes-dat Culn died
no coward"
AS we stood with bowed heads while
the chaplain read the funeral service
that evening the stars and stripes tiut-
tered at half-mast-fo Culn.