The Princeton union., 1894-11-08

q load Of canister from q boat howitzer
In the launch. About this time several
men were wounded, and Cushing receiv-
ed three balls in his clothing. But the
hero pressed on and soon had the salts
faction Of knowing that his work was
accomplished and the ram destroyed.
The bows Of the launch were now
within ten feet of the deck Of the iron
Glad and under her guns, with the hos
tile crew aroused and prepared to meet
the assailants. A moment would, decide
The result. and this was the supreme
crisis for Gushing. the guiding and in
spring genius Of it all. He could not
hope to go farther, and his launch was
in imminent danger Of being sunk by
shot from the Albemarle's 100 FOUNDER,
while the small arms Of the Confederate
crew were thinning out his men, even
in the darkness, SO close were the YES
sells.
Cushing's torpedo was attached to q
spar which swung from a stanchion in
the fore part Of his boat This must be
lowered by line and guided to it's place
under the ram. At the proper moment
another line connecting with the ex-
ploding cap must be pulled, and the ad-
justing of the motions for the two was
a matter Of nice calculation, even when
the directing arm was cool. Here the
situation was one Of a hot battle, and
Gushing was the anxious and RESPONSE
1.J Jo.. ,1 loJ
reserved to himself the task of explod-
ing the terrible weapon. At the very
moment the exploding cord'was pulled
the big gun of the Albemarle, the muz-
zle Of which was.not more than ten feet
from Cushing's head, blazed out and
sent a shot through, the launch. Th,
swell Of the water that was lifted by
the explosion OF the torpedo swept a
wave over the bulwarlzs Of the launch,
and the little craft was disabled and
sinking The fire from the ram contin.
ued with small arms, and the hail was
given from her deck to the brave crew
in the launch to surrender. Gushing
spurned the summons and ordered his
men to save themselves. He then re
|
ed into the water, with others, ant
swan out into the stream, followed b,
scattering rifle balls from the ram.
The situation on the Albemarle mean
time was one of absolute astonishmen
ard terror. The launch reached tn
ram about 3 o'clock in the morning
when the officers and crew were asleep
II, ofo1, inl Ia NY
the alarm, the men rushing to quarter
for action in bare feet and in shi1
sleeves Before anything could be don
TO arrest her the adventurous boat wa
SO close on the ram that the guns c
the latter could not be depressed
rake her. When the torpedo explode
and water began to rush in through th
six foot aperture made in the hull {
the Albemarle, pumps were set to work
But it was useless. She Went down i
a few minutes, carrying everything bu
her crew. She rested on the bottom
with her iron plated shield and smoke
stack above water. Eleven of Cusl
>ing's followers were picked up alive b
boats from the Albemarle and tw
were taken out of the water deat
Gushing and seaman named Hougl
ton swan beyond reach Of the 'Confet
crates.
After numerous adventures and hal
I breadth escapes from capture Cushin
appropriated an old skif from under tt
; eyes Of the enemy's pickets and mao
; his way alone down the river to tt
fleet, which Immediately steamed up
Plymouth and captured it.
For this exploit Gushing received tt
, thanks of congress. His brother, Lie7
1 tenant A. Fl. Gushing, fell at Getty
1 burg, and another brother, Lieutenal
Howard B., was killed by Arizon
Apaches in 1879. Still another broth
served in the navy during the war. I'll
hero died in 1872 of brain fever, supe
induced by wounds and exposure
service. GEORGE L. K1MER.
" ssALBEMARLE'' GUSHING.
Joy in rebel Plymouth town in the spring
siXty-fOur, <."a a#E- 'E :
When the Albemarle down on the Yank
. frigates bore, #. - "
With the saucy stars and bars ct her MAN,,
When she smote the Southield dead, and t
stout Miami quailed,
And the feet in terror fled when their nigh
cannon hailed ..e, .'
Shot and shell on her iron back in vain,
Till she slowly steamed away to her berth
Plymouth pier, ~. .@. <. ...'
And their quick eyes saw her sway with b
great beak out Of gear,
And the color Of their courage rose again.
Gushing, scarce man in years,
But a sailor thoroughbred,
sWith dozen volunteers
,.. will sink the ram,' he said.
e 'tAt the worst tits only dying" And the {
commander, signing, ..E.t1
"'Tis to save the fleet and flag. Go ahead
u . +
n .. D:,4 49,, .,,,,,, ,,.a 1,,o.