Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-05-23

H III -
sxALLs STOOD In THE PILOT HOUSE.
Ecr, at the risk of his life. The COM
zzsast tee on war claims has made favor
zzsaze report on the bill, and the report
gives the history of the heroism of
SSEnalIs-
On May ID. 1862, the confederate
4zeeamboat PLANTER" the special dis
1saach boat of Gen. Ripley, the confed-
~HaGe post commander at Charleston,
- e, was taken by Robert Smalls under
the following circumstances from the
wharf at which she was lying, carried
safely out of Charleston harbor, and de-
,EEvered to one of the vessels of the fed
-sral fleet then blockading the port.
On the day previous, May IL, the
Planter which had for two weeks been
engaged in removing guns from Coles
ISLAND to James island, returned to
Charleston. That night all of the Off
GERS went ashore and slept in the city,
EezEing on board crew of eight men,
mi colored- Among them was Robert
sSssK,aiis, who was virtually the pilot of
ohe boat, although he was only called
wrfzeriman, because at that time no col
.cEed mnn could have, in fact, been
rEliade a pilot. For some time previous
Inc bad been watching for an oppor-
Hnnity TO carry into execution a plan he
had conceived to take the Planter to
the federal fleet. This. he saw, was
shout good a chance as he would
ever have to do SO. and therefore he
determined not to lose it. Consulting
with the balance of the crew, Smalls
f0sHnd that they were willing to CO.
operate with him, although two of
them afterward concluded 10 remain
behind The design was hazardous in
Gfhe extreme.
'Rhe boat would have to pass beneath
the gums of the forts in the harbor.
Failure and detection would have been
-Ge<tain death. Fearful was the ven
Eurc, out it was made. The daring reso
LxutiOn had been formed, and under
command of Robert Smalls wood was
raken aboard, steam was put on, and
with her valuable cargo of guns and
ammunition, intended for Fort Ripley,
"A a<ew fertilization just constructed in
the harbor, about two o'clock in the
morning the Planter silently moved off
ezssrn the dock, steamed up to North At
EAuthc wharf. where SmalIs' wife and
2DSo children, together with four other
women and one other child, and also
three men. were waiting to embark.
All of these were taken on board, and
-4anrn, at 1926 a. m, May 13, the Planter
sstarted on her perilous venture, carry
Isug nine men, five women and three
children. Passing Fort johnson, the
Planters steam whistle blew the usual
salute and she proceeded down the bay.
Approaching Fort Sumter, Smalls stood
Mn the pilot house leaning out of the
window, with his arms folded across his
breast, after the manner of Capt. Re
Hay, the commander CT the boat, and
~<ith his head covered with the huge
STRAW hat which Capt. Relay commonly
0Sore on such occasions.
The signal required to be given by all
steamers passing out was given as
=@,colly as if Gen. Ripley was on board
-xrusng out on a tour of inspection.
Sumter answered by signal; '-An right -
and the Planter headed toward Morris
ISLAND, then occupied by Hatch's light
ARTILLERY, and passed beyond the range
OF Sumter's guns before anybody sus-
Hsected anything was wrong. When at
East the Planter was obviously going
toward the federal fleet off the bar,
SSGniter signaled toward Morris island
90 stop her. But it was too late. As
rke Planter approached the federal
Sect, a white flag was displayed, but
-Ehis was not at first discov cred, and the
SEez3eral steamers, surprising that the
~s1yafederate rams were coming to at
E8Ck NAcIl. StOOQ out TO Qeop wafer
Nsut the ship Onward, Capt. Nichols.
which was not a steamer. remained,
1pened her ports, and was about to
Sire into the Planter. when she noticed
wine dag of truce. AS soon as the
vessels came within hailing distance of
Ez<-h other, the Planters GRAND was
~p7ained. Capt. Nichols then boarded
her and Smalls delivered the Planter
rss him. From the Planter Smalls was
1zansferred to the Augusta, the flag
ship off the bar, under the command of
Capt PARROT, by whom the Planter.
with Smalls and her crew. were sent to
Fort Royal TO Rear Admiral Dupont,
Hzscn in command of the southern
squadron.
Snlalls continued to distinguish him
-scif il i number of naval engagements.
zrnd upon one occasion. in December. S63.
while the Planter, then under Capt.
Asckerson, was sailing through Folly