The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-02
IN THE NICK OF TIME.
AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR HITLER
TO NOT PUBLISHED.

story O.. the First Expedition to Fort Fish
er-Thc Sailing Master Of the Ella
Knight Tried to Deliver His Charge to
the Enemy.
On the first expedi Hon to Fort Fisher
a captured blockade runner called the
Ella knight was used as a government
transport The cargo Of this vessel was
Light Battery Z, Third United States
artillery, and the Sixteenth New York
Independent Light battery. About l6O
horses, IL fieldpieces, IL caissons and
10 timber chests made valuable cargo.
The sailing masters name was Ad-
ans, but as we sailed under sealed or
ders, to be opened off Cape Henry light
house, the ranking military officer
aboard, who held these orders, became
ranking or commanding officer OF the
ship. This officer was First Lieutenant
J. R. Myrick of Light Battery E, Third
United States artillery.
Adams, Baltimore man having some
influence, was appointed sailing master
in the United States transport fleet. He
was genuine Confederate at heart and
had in his mind way to help the Con-
federacy, which was to await his OPP
portunity and run the first good cargo
in his charge into the Confederates'
hands.
AS a signal the flagship fred gun
over the waters of Hampton Roads, and
the transport fleet of the first expedition,
without outside lights, sailed out into
the darkness of night-into the broad
Atlantic.
The Ella Knight was not the last to
reach Cape Henry lighthouse. but when
she did the sealed orders were opened
and Adams was advised of the ships
destination-Fort Fisher.
Soon after turning southwark from
Cape Henry the wind began to blow
strongly from the south. The sea be-
came extremely rough, the decks were
wet and slippery and the horses stalls
gave way. The horses began to slide
| back and forth on deck, so heavy were
| the lunges and rolls of the ship. AT the
same time the guns began to roll ON the
upper deck. Ropes were procured and
the guns dashed through the wheels to
prevent rolling on deck and knocking
hole through the Transports sides. Then
ropes were stretched lengthwise and
through the center of the deck, and sew
eral times crosswise to help support the
horses, but many were killed and many
disabled.
Some time past midnight Adams
quietly turned the ship to the north and
scudded with the wind. Then at the END
of a few hours he turned the ship south
again. His orders were to keep within
sight of the transport feet, but wher
daylight came no transport feet was IL
sight. He gave as his excuse that the
ships engines were weak and that h
could not make the speed required o
him. We knew that the Ella Knigh
was fast ship, and from that time OF
we knew that Adams was man VIII
would stand Watching
BY the middle of the day the storm
had passed over and Adams took reck
oning of Cape Hatteras, North Caro-
lima. Then we continued our journe
} without much of interest until nearl
daylight the next morning.
All was quiet aboard the transport
As she rode through the darkness Their
was a report of cannon, and the nez
instant a shell burst over the deck
> the Ella knight. From the short inter
, val between the report Of the gun an
! the shells explosion the battery Officer
knew that we must be near the shore
Besides, the sound Of the breakers froi
: the heavy ocean swells could be hear
lashing the sandy beach.
1 Each commissioned officer quickl
reached for his side arms, and they wei
soon on deck. J. r. Myrick (now majt
Fifth United States artillery was Il
, FIRST to reach the pilothouse. Adam
! was at the wheel. tnh n'l
|, Myrick asked him, "Where are wei
Adams replied, 81 reckon we are pre-
, " nigh Fort Fisher-that was the o.
ders, wam't itf"iy
, Quick as . flash Myriok's revolv'
swung under Adams ear, and he orde
Cd him to turn to sea Adams tufn'
4 asathly white a. he remarked:
Eve ere n the inside channel Il