Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-01-02
FROM SUNNY FLORIDA.
"Cap'n Ed" Writes of Historic Pensa-
cola and its People.
We sailed from New York on the day

and WOHotonOus. Strangers and anna
tours might enjoy such conditions best,
because there is nothing on the front -ide
4 al ais cart! 50 tieNiI,h and i'll hchavcd
s- "A YES. Il in light ballast. She viii get
en- top of everything this side of the
4guu. aad one not always knowing, in
>rason, which way she is going to drop,
cnnrot tell just how TO brace for the fall.
There is no rule in marine philosophy
that can be applied only an instinct
brought about by long abuse can be Of
any assistance in meeting the many sur
prises.
The only real amusing thing that eye
4 occurs at sea is fair wind; and, some
how, there doesn't seem to be half so
much amusement lately, as we nearly al
/ ways found in days gone by. But all
things change and l still believe that
/ quite large number OF things will come
! TO him who does not wait
Common gales and rough seas, when
they offer only fair play, are, to the pro-
! fessor, of no consequence, and especially
" no fault when they heave in the right
/ direction-he may then easily agree with
i Conrad, who 'loved its roughnesc for the
+ speed it gave" When once clear OF the
coast, on any OF the Atlantic highways or
+ by paths, one does not average more than
the sighting OF one vessel each day; and
thus thrown upon the resources OF the
small kingdom upon which he stands,
with only the few foIlies of small and
generally we'll behaved people to take
note of, the days are slow and not prevoc-
atiye of interest of any special joys.
And yet there is one strange thing con-
nected with maritime life which be
lieve is common to all true seamen: they
are just as anxious to get away from port
they are % get in. Each move, dia
metrically opposite, gives one an equal
degree of sat isfaction and pleasure. Any
one who has not that spirit WAS per
haps not really born for sailor, but
through some misguiding circumstances
has attempted wrong course; he should
be by occupation, well as by birth.
iandsman.
ours the wild life in tumult still to range
From toll to rest, and 10y in every change. -
We arrived here in fairly due season.
and in marine parlance, without he loss
OF ropeyarn. icti labores iueHndi.
When one cannot quickly express his
thoughts in English it Is convenient to
haveG few dried punches OF Dago hing
ing TO the walls OF memory. To the
reader it may suggest classic education
While it offers much pride and satisfse-
ton to the writer,
This port, an old tenting-tield of mine,
j. IN historical and interesting place. All
who cannot remember the times have
doubtless read how in the feH month s
prior to the opening of the war, W hen the
North stood still while in the South
events followed fast. the small govern
ment garrison in Forts McRca and Bar
rancas retreated across the channel and
occupied the better and greater Fort
Pickens. y similar action to that of
Maj. Anderson in moving 10 Fort Sum
teri An expedition WAS fitted by the
government to supply and to heavily re-
inforce Pickens, aud then instructed to
await furt her orders or for some open act
Of offense from the confederacy.
The fleet rendezvou,ed of TIN, fort for
two months, and then received orders TO
land, which WAS begun April ID,
while Sumter vas already being bonn
barded. Other reinforcements arrived
and ~ April! 20 the fort was heavily
psrrisoned and amply proyisioned. Thus
Fort PlcKens WAS saved to the govern
fnent and Is The only fort in the South
orer which the confederate jag nerer
tcared.
For some length of time strange con-
dition Of things here prevailed. On he
west side OF the channel Forts McRe8,
Barrancas and the navy yard We're held
by the enemy, while Pickens, a mile
away, was safely in the hands of the gov
eminent.
Communication was only by sea. and
not often. One day in July the watch
saw a number of men on the opposite
shore rigging something that appeared to
be a toy boat. 1t was set off and held a
direct course across the tide for Pickens.
As it came ashore men We're sent down to
canine it and found it to be primitive
boat formed from a large slab, with a
mast and sail. At the masthead was tied
Il newspaper giving full account Of the
battle Of Bull Run. After he men on the
other shore saw that the paper had been
received they, in hilarious rebel Joy, gave
derl,iye cheer upon cheer which could be
plainly heard by the lonely garrison
ncr2s~ the Aarhor.
The Spanish fort. san Carlos st.
Charles, directly in front Of Barrancas,
a. aort,,. a.