The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-09
CUSHING'S DISAPPOINTMENT.
Hitherto Unwritten Incident in the Career
Cf a Gallant Naval Commanders.
For The ,rribun'

For The Tribune.
While the United States ship Monticello
was scaling boilers in Beaufort, n. C.,
the dispatch boat from the fleet OF Fort
Fisher N. c., came and reported iron
clad ram had scattered the fleet. Com
mander Gushing was on shore. About :
o'clock in the afternoon the brave young
seaman came on board and as soon as MS
feet were ON the Monticello's decks his or
ders rang out: '"Tell the chief engineer
want to see him at once. Stop scaling
boilers; call your men out. Put on man
heads; fill the boilers with water; get up
steam as soon as possible; it is reported by
dispatch boat that ram has scattered
the feet!'
Mr.. Hadfeld hoisted the union jack
for a pilot and orders were issued to
crowd on all steam and to get out TO sea
as quick as possible. We got to the fleet
in the night Off Fort Fisher and early
next morning got under way for Western
Pass, sixty miles around Frying Pan
Shoals, and on our arrival Cushing called
for volunteers. Among those who re-
sponded We're Officers Charles A. Petit,
William l.. Harworth, Charles Croton, G.
A. MARITIME and w. II. Call, and men to the
number of forty-one. We got into the first
and second cutter and our young COM
mander into his own gig. BY the way, the
officers and men had to joke a little, says
ing our commander had ram on the brain.
Well, to the point: We let go from the
ship and pulled away in search of the ram
with mufiled oars; pulled past Battery
Buchanan and Smith Island, up to Smith
vile in searchNof the ram and found 10
signs of one. On our return we hugged
bank, going out to sea from Smithville,
and when near Fort Caswell the boats
were stopped by signals agreed on before
starting on this expedition. Right close
to Fort Caswell We all thought we saw
the ram, with sloping sides and smoke
stack In center. Gushing says: Now,
men, ! don't say so. but, men, follow me.
and remember this night is the twenty
first of February on the eve of General
Washington's birthday, the Father of our
Country. and let every man distinguish
Of thirteen men board on starboard and
take possession Of hatch and engine room
as soon as possible"
won't say all my thoughts Just then.
only goodbye Scranton" was upper
most as the order came: ''The first cut
ter will starboard bow and take possession
of the two forward ports, and the gig
board on starboard quarter and take pos
session OF the two after ports. Now, give
| way. men!' and as we got near We could
see the guards pacing to and fro on their
beat.
What was our disappointment to find
that the supposed ram was only fiat
roof shed, with big derrick sticking out
the center for landing stoves from Will
mington, N. c.
Then we crossed the channel and land
ed on Smith Island, about 800 yards from,
the battery containing as reported 500 or
900 Confederate States of America soldiers
wanting to do DANCE Of some kind Jusi
at that time the moon began to raise out
| Of the water and there was an alarm M
the fort and we got into our boats and
pulled for the ship. thoroughly dsappolnt.
| ed that 1t was not possible for us to nc.
| complish anything. l think this is a hith.
erto unwritten episode In the life of The
brave young commander. w. b. Cushing
Respectfully
w. r. Call,
Ex-second Assistant Engineer, u. s. n