The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1898-08-13

were recovered, but none was recog-
nized, SO badly were they mutilated.
The ram Albemarle was the most
dreaded, as it was the most daring and
best differed of the confederate fleet.
She was, when Lieut.. W. B. Cushing's
ingenuity was brought to bear upon
her case, lying at Plymouth in the
Roanoke river. He believed that he
could, If allowed to have his way,
make close up to her and destroy her.
His plan was this. He would construct
picket launch, furnish it with COM
pact engine, man it with a small num-
Der of men all as brave as himself, and
with it ascend the river stealthily by
night to where the Albemarle was
| moored. Picket boats were not a new
thing, but they had formerly been
| rowboats; nothing of the description
that was proposed by Lieut.. Cushing,
| propelled by steam and carrying tor
pedoes, had ever been seen.
| This plan was approved OF by the
/ admiral Of the feet and the navy de-
partment, and young Gushing was de-
tailed to visit New York and procure
whatever he thought might be neces-
sary for the success of the undertak-
ing. When he returned he had with
him steam launch, of size and shape
best calculated to elude the vigilance
Of the enemy. It remained, that he Sc
cure his crew, and this he did in the
manner that crews are invariably OBJ
tanned for extra-dangerous enterprises
by calling for volunteers. These
numbered several times as many as
could be accepted. Indeed, the number
accepted was the same as that had
by Hobscn when On his perilous ad-
venture of the other day. Seven men
were all the little launch could we'll
take, and in a very short time these
were Instructed in their duties, the tor
pedoes were attached, the engine fires
started up, all ready for start On the
night Of October &C. 1864 She did start,
but quickly ran aground and was with
much difficulty again: set afioat. The
following night all went in better fash
ion; the launch was now OF for good.
His arrangements were carefully
made to insure complete SUCCESS,
should he first succeed in passing the
encEny's pickets and come alongside the
Albemarle. Approaching, there must
be perfect silence. The usual bell sig
nails to the engineer were accordingly
replaced by pulls at line, one end Of
which was fastened around his leg,a
while the other end was in the hand
Of Lieut.. Cushing. Another line would,
when pulled, detach the torpedo from
the launch, and a third was to enable
When come within hearing distance of
the Alhemarle the engine was to be
stopped and the oars then used. The
nightWas pitch dark when with muff1ed
oars they roWed toward Plymouth, and
as they passed safely under the walls
of the fort, they turned and shot across
the river and on up the river above
where the Albemarle was. Then they
descended, still undiscovered, upon the
ram which, they found, was moored to
a wharf and protected by log boom
against just such attack as was this
one. They were close upon the ram
when they were discovered and chal-
leIged in the words, "What boat is
that?" The answer was a lie, of course;
it was '"The Albemarle's boat" At
the same instant the launch struck full
against the logs, which also in the SAME
instant drew upon it shower of bull
lets from the infantry on shore. In an
other second the ports of the Albemarle
were open and belching shot and shell
upon the daring visitor.
Now Lieut.. Cushing touched off a
howitzer, and pulled the line which ex-
ploded the torpedo fair against the side
of tbs ram, and SO damaged her that
she soon sank, carrying several lives
with her. But musket ball had hit
the lieutenant in the right arm and a
shell had burst on the launch; he and
all the men We're compelled to jump
into the water. It was icy cold, but
all, except the lieutenant, swan to the
near shores under rapid fire from the
rebel infantry. Gushing, with one arm
disabled, was longer in the water and
made directly down the stream for
several miles to safe landing for him.
Crawling ashore, he could do nc
more then, but fell asleep only to be
awakened by men talking. They were
rebels, and talking of the wonderful ad-
venture Of the preceding night From
what he overheard of the conversation
he knew that the sAlbemarle had gone
down and that his work was effectual-
" done. After another day and night,
he was again with the fleet and the OBJ
ject of admiration and praise. Soon his
exceptionally heroic deed was kloFn to
the whole country, ard for the time
and as long as he lived, he was made
the recipient Of many appropriate atten-
tions and rewards 49, 49,. IS
The Cold Shoulder.
1t was once customary in France,
when guest had remained too long.
for the host to serve him cold shoul-
der of mutton instead OF a hot roast.
This was the origin Of the phrase, ss.to
give the cold shoulder. =