Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-30
with his boats and your speaker to
board her abaft with his

with his boats and your speaker to
board her abaft with his.
The night was very dark and gloomy.
and we could not see n light anywhere
except an occasional glimmer about the
town. but We knew pretty nearly where
the vessel was, and with our glasses in
the evening understood her build and
structure. The stroke OF the muffled
oars was almost noiseless and sudden
ly the dark hull of the ship doomed up.
and. it seemed almost at the same mo-
ment there came from her the shout:
Boat, ahoy!" Then we heard the loud
and cheering cry from Wood: Give
way, boys" which was caught up and
echoed along both lines of boats Then
rang out and sharp from the shin the
rattle. calling the men to quarters for
action, and now the fight was on. No
need for orders now to these disciplined
men. L suppose the distance was about
one hundred yards. and, while our men
were straining at their oars. we heard
the sharp click of rifles. and the only
reply we could make was by the ma :
rines three or four being in each boa II
who delivered their fire with great cool :
ness.
1t seems to me now that of all the
uncomfortable things a fighting man
might have to do. that of pulling an
oar with his back to his foe must be
the most trying and disheartening, but
not man weakened In less time than
is required to tell of this we were into
her. Our boat struck the vessel Just
aDaft the wheelhouSc, where the guards
make platform, an admirable place
for getting on hoard. The ships arm
DRY. where all the small arms were
kept. was in room Just there under
the hurricane deck. and they did not
stop to reload. but loaded guns were
handed to the men. as fast as they
could fire. 1t seemed like Il sheet OF
10 nF
Our boat struck bow on. and our bow
oarsman. James Wilson of Norfolk.
(after the war with the Baker Wreck
ing Coz caught her with his grapnel.
ana she swung side on with the tide.
As we jumped aboard Engineer Gill
of Portsmouth. among the first. was
shot through the head. and as he fell
dead our men gave n yell, and rushed
upon the deck. with the crews of the
two other boats close behind Now tho
iiehtlnS was furious. and at close quar-
tiers. Our men We're eager, and ak dne
would fall another. came on. Not n, .
faltered or fell back. The cracking OF
iire arms and the rattle of cutlasses
made deafcning din. The enemy gave
way SLOWLY. and soon began to get
away py taxing to the ward room and
engine room matches.
They fell back under tho hurr;c,n
deck before the steady attack Of orr
men. and at that time heard tho
cheers and rush of our comrades from
forward and knew we had them.
lney came along from forward with
cutlasses and muskets they had found
clubbing and slashing. In n short lime
! heard the cry; I'VE surrender"
TheN could not stand the force ana
moral effect OF an attack like that. ana.
remember. ihey were not Spaniards we
were fighting.
Wood gave the order to cease. firing.
ana after a brief consultation with
younr speaker. we ordered the two tirr-
men we had with us to go down into
,ne engine and fire room 10 see II they.
hex UP thu river. where We rniyhs nut
hef II shave. and, as she Wac she
largest vessel 1t New Bern We would
have temporary command of the river
J, was IN the hsnt on the forward deck
that the intrepid young Palmer Sam
ders gave up his life for his country. He
attacked stalwart sailor with his cut