The National tribune., 1892-10-13

left while protecting wall was standing had
they been provided with provisions and ann
munition." These words were uttered III the
cabin of the Baltic, and all who heard them
were so moved that we were silent Ill awful
appreciation of the beroism of the defense of
Sumter.
On referring to the record of the account /
took down from Capt. Doubleday's lips at the
same time j found, among other things, the
following. After describing the scenes so
graphically referred to by Maj Anderson, he
said:
1--WE got 90 barrels of powder out and threw
them into the sea, leaving 200 barrels in.
Owing to lack Of cartridges we kept five men
inside the magazine serving as we wanted
them, thus using up our shirts, Sheets blan-
kets, and all the availsbles in the fort. When
we were finally obliged to close the magazine
and our material for cartridges WINS exhausted,
we were left destitute of any means to con-
tinue the contest We came very near being
stified with the dense, livid smoke from the
burning buildings The men cere PROSTATE on
The around with pet haadkerchiets Orer their
mouths end eyes qGspiRg for breath If an eddy
of wind had not ensued, we all probably would
have been sufocated The crashing Of shot,
the bursting Of Shells the falling Of acds and the
roar Of flames made pandemOnium Of the fort.
Nevertheless are kept up steady fire :"
1t was while this state of things existed that
the scene, he having crawled into the fort in
some unsuspected way, accompanied by num-
Der of other rebel nOtab!es, among them Col.
Roger A. Pryor OF Virginia. They came to
have 1.-THE firing stopped" so he said to the
first officer he saw. who was Lieut.. Jefferson Z.
Davis. The Lieutenant said the firing would
be stopped for no such demand.
Wigfall said: Your flag is down and the
fort is on fire."
To which Davis replied: No, the flag is not
down; it waves from the ramparts"
Let us stop this" said Wigfall. "Here is
a white flag: will no one show it? If there is
no one else who will do it, | WILL"
He did So but the firing continued whereat
the rebel exclaimed:
Damn it! They don't respect this flag
They continue to fire."
Major Anderson then coming up the con-
versation was substantially repeated. Suisse
quently a protracted conversation took place
between Gen. Beauregard and Maj. Anderson,
which led TO the evacuation already de-
scribed.
There was hardly ever scene of terror and
destruction that did not have a ludicrOus side.
When Col. Pryor came in with Wigfall he ap-
peared to be considerably exhausted. At all
events he at once looked around for something
that would be good to drink. He soon found
himself with DR.. Crawford, afterward the dis
tinguished Gen. Crawford. of Pennsylvania
j he doctor was at Work over WOUNDED man.
He had prepared mixture suitable for wounds
and this was in tumbler on a table, Judging
from its color Pryor supposed it might be what
he was in search Of and so he drank much of
it at a single gulp, perceiving which Crawford
exclaimed seriously: Col. Pryor, did you
drink from that tumber?" Pryor became
agitatsd and said he did. Then" said Craw-
ford you are dead man, unless / can save
you!" Pryor grew pale and begged the doctor
to do his best. Pryor was Enthusiastically
attired, coored flannel shirt, belt and pistol,
bowie-knife and spurs. Crawford babe him to
remove these as quickly as possible, which was
done. Then q big dose of ipecac was admin
istered, and Crawford turned his attention to
the wounded man. That Pryor had a time
need not be said.
The defense of Sumter as whole has hardly
an equal as feat of heroism and fidelity to
duty, country and the flag. The story has
never been completely told in every respect.
While we admire the heroisr, of Maj. Ander-
son, his officers and men, one seeks for the
place to locate the responsibility of leaving
Sumter to her fate all the months they were
cooped up there.
Gen. Anderson died at Nice, France, in 1871,
aged 81 years.