Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-09-11
terials in the river and burned all tbe
files they could find.
stole a steamer.


Charleston, s. @. The money is to be
paid for the performance Of one of the
most daring feats of the Civil War.
May IL, 1862. the Confederate steam.
ship Planter, the special dispatch boat
of Gen. Ripley, the Confederate com.
mander at Charleston, was lying at the
wharf in Charleston. The officers had
all gone ashore, leaving on board crew
Of eight men, all negroes. Among them
was Robert Smalls, who was virtually
the pilot Of the boat. For some time
previous he had been watching for an
opportunity to carry into execution q
plan he had conceived to take the
Planter to the Federal feet. This, he
saw, was about as good chance as he
would ever have to do SO. Consulting
with the balance Of the crew Smalls
found that they were willing to coop
crate with him, although two Of them
afterward concluded to remain behind.
The design was hazardous in the ex-
treme. The boat you'd have to pass
beneath the guns Of the forts in the
harbor. Failure and detection would
have been certain death. Fearful was
the venture, but 1t was made. Wood
was taken aboard, steam was put on,
and with her valuable cargo Of guns
and ammunition, intended for Fort Rip
ley, a new fortification just construct
ed In the harbor, about 2 O'clock in
the morning the Planter silently moved
off from her dock, steamed up to North
Atlantic wharf, where Smalls' wife
and children, together with four other
women and one other child, and also
three men, were waiting to embark.
All these were taken on board, and
then, at 1926 a. NJ, May 13, the Planter
started on her perilous adventure, car
rying nine men, five women and three
children. Passing Fort johnson, the
Planters whistle blew the usual sa-
lutte and she proceeded down the bay.
Approaching Fort Sumter, Smalls stood
In the pilot house leaning out of the
window, with his arms folded across
his breast, after the manner of the
commander of the boat, and his head
covered with the huge straw hat which
the commander wore on such occasions.
The signal required to be given by
all steamers passing out was blown as
coolly rs IL Gen. Ripley was on board,
going out on tour of inspection. Sum-
ter answered by signal, "All right"
and the Planter headed toward Morris
island, then occupied by Hatch's artil-
lery, and passed beyond the range of
Sumter's guns before anybody suspect
ed anything was wrong. When at last
Planter was obviously going toward
the Federal fleet of the bar, Sumter
siglaaled toward Morris island to stop
her. But 1t was too late. AS the Plant
er approached the Federal feet white
flag was displayed, but this was not at
first discovered, and the Federal
steamers, supposing the Confederate
rams were coming to attack them.
stood out to deep water. But the ship
Onward, Capt. Nichols, which was not
q steamer, remained. opened her ports.
and was about to fire into the Planter,
when she noticed the flag of truce. AS
soon as the vessels came within hailing
distance Of each other, the Planters err
rand was explained. Capt. Nichols
then boarded her, and Smalls delivered
the Planter to him.
Dutchman and Prisoner.
At the breaking out Of the war en-.
listed with a Dutch neighbor and we
were soon put on picket duty together.
The officer Of the guard finding the
Dutchman utterly ignorant Of the ordi.
nary duties Of a picket, concluded that
he would at least know enough to
watch prisoner. So he placed the
Dutchman in charge of prisoner with
instructions to shoot him IL he at.empr-
ed to escape. The name of this Dutch
man was Hans, and he was incliaed to
be Of an obliging disposition, although
not over bright and having little too
much confidence in human nature. The
prisoner was tied with his hands be-
hind him to tree, and soon was on
friendly terms with the Dutchman. He
managed in some way to loosen his
hands and then asked the Dutchman TO
do him favor by taking handkcr-
chief out of his pocket and wipinv mis-
nose. Hans placed his gun against the
IACCs S1AO PAOSCCOCO W uO dS CCuuCStC0.
but suddenly the prisoner struck him
on the side Of the head and Knocked
him down, seized the gun, and skipped.
The Dutchman got up, rubbed his eyes.
and said, "Jiminy Christmas, dot dod
vas an elefand kick"
Then, looking around, he said. s.Mtne
prisner vas gone, my goon vas gone,
und guess I peter bo back by de
camp out.''
And thus he reported that his pris-
oner had escaped.
Hog Eat Dog.
Ed Trick, Of Burlington, VT, who
served in Company G, Second Vermont.
is the man who played the practical
Joke on the officers of New Jersey reg
iment. The Vermont regiment cap.
tured some sheep one night, killed,
dressed, and hung them up. During
the night the servant Of the New Jer.
sey officer stole the sheep, and they
feasted. Trick had had hand in get.
ting and killing those sheep, and, of
AoDk