The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-12

Hunter concluded he would take the
town, instead of blockading the port,
Tor he had learned that the Mexicans
were destroying public property. He
began Hing on the forts Immediately on
reaching the place. The forts-there
were several of them-made no re-
/ spOnSe, and, night coming on. he sus-
pended action until the next morning,
when he opened fire again. Several
/ hcrsemen were seen galloping down to
| the beach bearing a white flag, and a
| boat put off from the harbor with a
| flag of truce, commanded by the cap
tain of the port, who invited the COM
mander of the Scourge to take posses
sion of the town. The Scourge was
brought up TO the town, and two Of
ficers and eight men were sent on shore
with a demand for an unconditional
surrender within so minutes. The de-
mand was promptly obeyed. The forts
which defended the town, as my in
formant says, who was one of the cap
tors, were bugbears only.
Understanding that several vessels
with munitions of war had gone up the
river, Lieutenant Hunter pursued
them, capturing on his way four
schooners, one laden with powder,
which was burned, and two brought
back to Alvarado. Arriving at Ha Ca
Taisaw, and after firing on the town,
three officers and six men We're sent
ashore TO summon the alcalde of the
city to surrender. 1t was so early in
the morning that official was awakened
from sound sleep and the demand
made upon him. The summons was
obeyed. The town contained about 1000
inhabitants. After this capture the
Scourge returned to Alvarado Ind, on
the way back, Lieutenant Hunter.
Passed Midshipman Temple Cnow adj
miraD and my informant. Major l. H.
Mcintosh, aid TO Hunter, captured a
! large boat loaded with cotton, hides and
dry goods.
OF course, Lieutenant Hunter was
tried for disobedience of orders and dis
missed from the squadron. On his re-
turn to New York he received an ova-
ton. The freedom of the city was vOt-
ed him, a splendid sword presented to
him by the citizens of New York, and
a banquet and reception followed.
When he visited mis- native place,
Trenton, n. J., a like ovation met him
there The press of the country teem-
ed with Communications of his gallant
ry. On returning to Washington. the
secretary of the navy. John Y. Mason,
gave him command of the Tau2v, a
revenue cutter, transferred to the navy.
and sent him to the Mediterranean in
pursuit of some Mexican privateers
who had burned an American bark and
committed other depredatiOns on our
shipping. The pirates, as they were
regarded, We're captured by Spanish
man-of-war and taken to Barcelona
This Alvarado episode was a counter
part of the conduct of Colonel George
Croghan, who was left with a force of
100 men at Fort Sandusky, with in
structions to surrender the fort if at
tackled by a superior force. The Brit
ish and Indians several hundred strong,
attacked the fort, but Captain Croghan
remained and defended it. and after
two days assault they retired, leaving
2 much larger number of British and
Indians killed than there were men in
the fort He was tried for disobedience
of orders and suspended, but the coun-
try sustained him. He was lionized.
and congress voted him a sword and
vote of thanks.
Colonel Croghan was military store
keeper at Allegheny City during the
administration OF General Jackson. The
colonel was cOnvivial in his habits and
the citizens waited on the president,
requesting his removal. General jack
son asked them if he was honest, and
they replied that he was. but his hab-
its untitled him at times. General jack
son declined to remove him, and said:
BY the eternal, gentlemen, George
Croghan has done enough for his cOun-
try to stay drunk the rest of his life"
Poor Charley Hunters life was en-
FILTERED by the result of a duel he
fought when a midshipman, in which
he killed his adversary, a young man
of his own age, named Miller. The
shadow of that sad event ciouded his
whole life l saw him a few months
before his death, in wretched health.
He died at the New York hospital,
where he received every attention and
where his old, devoted friend, Edwin
Forrest, gave up an important profess
sional engagement to attend his death
bed.-WashingtOn Star.