The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-07-11

took the best care of him we could. L
is probable that he made his escape il
the dugout which we found near, and
received his wound from the rebel picket:
while on the river.
Lieut.. Gushing ordered us to stay
with him where we were, while he took
the dugout and endeavored to make the
fleet. The dugout could carry but one,
and was a poor affair at that; but des
perate ends require desperate means
The fleet, instead of being in near the
mouth of the river, as we all supposed,
had moved 10 miles or so down the
Sound, and as it was now dark and nasty,
choppy sea running, this was no light
task even for a strong boat and hardy
crew, but desperate alternative for a
tired and sick man to undertake. The
boat was unsafe for even one, much less
for all of us.
Again Cushing's luck came in dire
time of need. After padding few
hours he was discovered and hailed by
the Z. s. steamer Valley City, which
was doing picket duty. Cushing was
nearly exhausted, and could not have
held out much longer He was taken
on board, but no one could recognize
him, and then did not believe his state
ment, as the report had been circulated
among the feet that Gushing and all
his crew had been killed.
This report had been brought by a
contraband darky the night before, and
the officers of the Valley City did not
believe his story, or that he was Cush-
ing. They thought it sort of rebel
dodge to get them to send a boats crew
on shore TO be captured, and thus we
were left TO spend another comfortless
night on the island while they took him,
practically prisoner, back to the feet.
As soon as the fleet was reached
Gushing was taken before Commodore
McComb. who recognized him at once.
He could scarcely believe his own senses,
as all firmly believed that Cushing and
all his crew were safe on the other side
O. Jordan.
As soon as they could recover from
their astonishment, and mutual congratu-
lations exchanged, the Valley City and
a tug-boat we're sent back post haste to
rescue us. We were taken from our
uncomfortable and
PERILoUS SURROUNDINGS
late in the day, and by 5 o'clock the
next morning we were relaxed in our
ease, and we were allowed to have our
hammocks swung all day, and until we
were restored sufficiently for service
again, when we were taken aboard
the Shamrock and publicly thanked in
person.
That made us feel as though we were
doubly paid for all the dangers and hard
ships we had undergone; particularly as
he stated We should have a medal, prize
money, and all sorts of things; all of
which, however, we have never seen or
heard of We never even received dol
lar of prize money. We heard afterward
that some of the men who served with
the feet, under Porter, off Wilmington,
received few dollars prize-money for
the sinking of the ram, while we in the
Sound never received anything.
This expedition, resulting in the de-
struction of the ram Albemarle, opened
the Roanoke River to the fleet under
Commodore McComb, and a few days
later he attacked and captured Ply
mouth, and at once proceeded up the
stream to the support of Gen. Sherman
in the attack on and destruction of the
Weldon d. Richmond Railroad at
Raleigh, n. c., and which was one of the
great causes which compelled Gen. Lee
to evacuate Richmond.
On this expedition up the river | was
attached to the steamer Otsego, and the
rebels were partly revenged on us by
blowing her to pieces with torpedoes
Here again | was at the post of danger,
being stationed in the ships main chains
heaving the lead had just called out
the depth of the water when a terrific
explosion occurred directly under my
feet and throwing me 90 feet in the air
in company with several shipmates, a
heap of debris and a 150-pound Parrot |
gun.
| am positive | am the only one of |
the four survivors living. ] have used |
every possible means to find out the
others without success, and am positive
all are dead.
I'm aware of the fact that there are |
some WHO claim to be survivors of the |
Cushing expedition. They may have
been in the lanch which we towed to the
picket station on the wreck of the South
field, and who, when we left to blow up
the Albemarle, returned safely to the feet,
but Of those who continued with Cush-
ing and escaped with him, | am the only
survivor. Three Of us only returned |
with him, and my opinion is the others
were shot in the water.
Russian Paternaiism.
Russia has embarked seriously on a course |
Of parental government The State Bank adj |
vances money at four and "A half per cent |