Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-12-29
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
cuLN WAS NO COWARD.


Bl ickade.
Everybody knew Culn on board the
ship. Perhaps this was because no one
had ever seen an uglier darley or one
who was more obliging. have seen
Culn tumble out of his berth at fur
o'clock in the morning to sew button
on for q sailor who was mean enough
TO pour water in his face at that early
hour. BY the way, that was the only
manner by which Culn's terrifying
snoring could be stopped He was al
ways afraid Of not doing enough, and
had the poorest opinion of himself. I
was talking with him once and he said:
Eye know, Mahs'r Dale, dc parson,
says dc good Lord amt made muffin for
muffin, and guess Culn't got somefin'
to do in the realm of nature, but I'll
bress dc lamb II kin find it out"
1t was the time of bloclSade.running
at Charleston. Our ship, the Wasp, had
four guns, and strict orders to use them
on any boat trying TO break the block
ade. We had been cruising several
days on the coast near Charleston with.
out any excitement. The morning of
August l2, 1858, dawned bright and
clear, and as the sun rose over the
horizon the black lines of n ship were
distinctly marked on the golden disk.
Our glass soon told MS that il was fast
clipper, flying no colors, trying to run
the blockade. by breakfast time the
clipper was only few miles to wind
ward, but we were ready with every
man at his post and every gun loaded
TO the muzzle. We could see the beauti-
fully shaped black hull, its smooth APP
pcarance only broken by few murder
ous-looking cannon. II she had once
gone by us her speed was a safe pass
port from pursuit.
"Show her what we're here for,
boysr shouted our captain One Of
our cannon obeyed the order the ball
purposely striking the water several
hundi cd feet ahead of the sharp bow as
a fair warning.
A fash came from one of the ports Of
the stranger, and piece of our second
mast toppled TO the deck rs kndling
wood. Our cannon answered the insult
with but little perceptible harm to the
stranger.
Lieut.. Crisp was handling our best
six-inch gun. lie was II splendid marks
man, but little liked by his men on ac-
count of his severity Culn had been
ordered to position near Lieut.. Crisp's
gun. The poor fellow was trembling.
Nearer and nearer the stranger enemy
came, and it was evident that unless we
disabled her in some way, Charleston
that evening would again be cracking
jokes at the ineficicncy of the Yankee
boats" to keep the blockade.
Culn had crept as much as he could
behind a life boat, when Lieut.. Crisp
caught sight of him. Angered by his
lack of courage he cried: Come here,
you coward and stand by me-"
We were not two hundred yards away
from the blockade runner when three
flashes and three wrcaths of smoke shot
from its hull with n single report. A
second later twenty OF our men lay
wounded on our decks. Our enemys
cannon had been loaded with grape
shot
Lieut. Crisp had at that moment been
ready TO fire his gun again, when II
bullet tore away his hand. Every gun
ner near him was wounded and dis
ablcd-all but Culn. But was that the
same Culn who but moment before had
| stood trembling?
His eyes were fixed on the passing
ship and every muscle stiifened by i'm
tense, sudden courage. Snatching the
cord that had fallen from the hand of
| Lieut. Crisp he gave il pull that
broke It in two, not, however until it
had fulfilled its duty and sent the
| spark of Gre into the powder of the
cannon.
The graceful ship twisted and tunrcd
like n wounded stag. Culn's shot had
broken the rudder and left the ship at
our mercy. And Culn? lie was bend
ing over Lieut. Crisp, tying up his
wounds, regardless of the bullets hiss
ing about
few minutes later white flag had
climbed up the mast of the blockade
runner; she had surrendered.
With two pieces of cruel lead in his
body Culn lay on 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 Lud
never made nuflin-fo nufiln.n a proud
smile lit up Culn's homely features as
the head fell to one side With an
effort he raised it. Tell Mash'r Crisp
when he wakes-dat Culn died no cow
ard"
AS we stood with bowed heads while
the chaplain read the funeral service
| that evening, the stars and stripes fut-
tered at half-mast-for Culn. IN. Y.