St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-03-06

until the boat was within four miles of
the Ohio shore. It was then o'clock in
the afternoon. In less time than 1t takes
to tell it the Philo Parsons was trans
formed from lake steamer into hos
tile privateer. Rurley on the main deck
and Beall on the upper made the seizure
In true piratical style. Burley attended
to silencing the master, who happened
to be the captains clerk. The captain
had gone ashore at Michigan port.
The clerk was standing idly in front Of
the office, when three men suddenly
confronted him with drawn revolvers
and threatened to shoot if he offered re-
sistance. At the same time Burley, fol-
lowed by some of his fellows, closed in
from another direction, completely hem
ming in the clerk, who was ordered to
get into the cabin quick at the peril Of
bis life.
Beall was more adroit, for he had the
man at the wheel to settle with, and
one Of that class is not to be trifled
with, as rule. His occupation gives
him cool nerve. Beall first drew him
into conversation, which he could readi-
ly do, being man Of first class attain
ments. At the proper time, while the
eye of the helmsman was turned over
the lake, Beall whipped out revolver
and held it where he would look into
its muzzle on turning. II take posses
sion of this boat in the name of the Con-
federate states ~ was the startling an
nouncement which greeted the pilot.
There was no chance for parley. Beall
commanded the situation and coolly Or
dered the helmsman to put the steamer
about and head for Middle Bass island.
Just in front of the pilot house, seat
ed on steamer chairs, was party of Ia
dies and gentlemen, Ohioans. homeward
bound from Niagara. None of the party
detected anything out of the way until
suddenly man was seen hol te-g pis-
tol at the pilots head. The man was
not Beall, but sentinel whom the
chief had placed over the pilot. Beall
himself was advancing down the deck
with a revolver in each hand When
the men in front Of him started as if to
go to the pilots aid, Beall cried "Stand
back Stand back ~
The dramatic attitude Of the raider
would have made the scene extremely
ludicrous but for the spirit of one of the
men addressed, Cincinnatian named
Skinner Beali assumed that he had to
deal with armed men. 1t was wartime
and the scene was on the border. Not
few who dressed in civilian costume in
the north were Union soldiers on fur.
Tough, and these men, as rule, carried
pocket weapons But for wonder there
was not revolver on board, except
those in the hands of the crew who had
seized the vessel. Skinner saved appear.
ances by demanding sternly of Beall
what does this mean?" The reply was
SO startling that all thought of resist.
ance vanished. sit MEANS" said Beall
calmly, "that we've captured this boat
in the name of the southern Confeder-
acy, and You are our prisoners. "
Under Beall's direction the steamer
reached Middle Bass island and landed
at the dock. The regular crew and pas.
sengers were set ashore. A small pas
senger steamer, the Island Queen, ar.
rived while the Parsons was unloading,
and the raiders Immediately seized her,
bringing her people on board the Par.
sons. Among the fresh captives were 80
unarmed Union soldiers. After dark
the privateer steamed away, leaving all
the prisoners stranded ON the island.
The Queen was scuttled and sank in
sight of her late passengers and crew.
The adventures of the raiders, al.
though not attended with fighting, new.
ertheless called for a display of nerve
on the part of the leader. The worst
was to come, Beall steered the Parsons
direct for the gunboat Michigan and
got within cannon range. There he
waited in the bright moonlight for tho
signal that all was ready. None came
and he ran the steamer so close to the
Michigan that voices could be heard on
board. There being no stir, he conclud-
ed that the plot had not been discovered
and decided to steer for johnson s is
land and strike the blow alone. At this
his men mutinied, and the Parsons was
run ashore and abandoned.
Beall reached Canada in safety; but,
with the recklessness of his class, put
his neck into the halter within 80 days
after his raid failure. With three others
be attempted to wreck a train on the
Erie road, near Buffalo. This failed,
and the party reached Niagara City on
their way back to Canada. They had
separated. the more easily to avoid de-
lection. One of the party was boy
named Anderson, who scarcely knew
the nature of the enterprise When the
others were ready to recross into Cana
da, Anderson had not reached the rem
devious. Beall staid behind to hunt the
boy up, and his companions crossed and
went free. Beall found the boy and
guided him to Niagara City. While
waiting in the station for a train the
pair were arrested on suspicion. Ander-
son confessed and swore away Beall's
life. The charge of being spy and q
guerrilla recited the Philo Parsons pira-
cy and the attempt at train wrecking.
Beall was native Vireinian, of sub
stantial property and good blood. He
was a graduate of the University of Vir-
ginia GEORGE L. KILMER.
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