The National tribune., 1899-06-22

gether much of the time, planning to es
cape. The National fleet of five or 81,
vessels had been lying off the bar for sew
eral days. We believed if we could secure
a skiff we could reach the fleet. Wreckage
was constantly drifting ashore, as Morris
Island had six or eight miles of beach
which was washed by the outgoing and in.
coming tides. If we could find a service
able boat, we hoped to avoid the harbor
guards, and reach our friends.
We will now return TO Sumter, and see
how the bombardment is affecting the
she proudly lifts her head 60 feet above
the waves which play at her feet.
SECOND DAYS BOMBARDMENT.
The ball opened the next morning, April
13, promptly at o'clock. All the rebel
batteries were engaged, but Maj. Ander-
sons garrison did not reply for an hour or
more. But when he did commence he
fired very rapidly for awhile, and then
there would be lull for a half hour, and
then the fire would begin again. In this
manner the firing was kept up until about
2:30 O'Clock in the afternoon, when the
barracks in Sumter were seen to be on fire.
Fort Moultrie had been firing 32-pounder
hot shot all day. About 3 o'clock the flag
staff at Sumter was cut by a hot shot and
fell. but in a few minutes a man was seen
with sleeves rolled up, all black from the
burnt powder, mailing the short stub of
the staff with flag attached to the parapet of
the fort.
The firing ceased at all points where this
brave act could he witnessed, and thou
sands of hats were thrown in the air, and
the shouts from thousands of throats could
| be heard. At many of the forts and bat
teries it was thought the yelling was the
announcement of Mai. Andersons sur
render, and cessation of hostilities occurred
i there also. However, the brave men in the
beleaguered garrison kept up a steady and
sullen fire, and in a few moments all the
dogs of war were belching forth destruction
Oh every hand.
dense over Fort Sumter than ever, having
much the appearance of a boiling caldron,
as the white and black smolle-for there
seems TO be two distinct kinds-issues in
great volumes from the great craterlike
top Suddenly the guns Of Sumter have
become silent again. What is the matter?
Has it become too hot TO load the guns?
Perhaps they are all engaged in fighting
the fire; but puff Of wind drives back the
smoke from the edge of the parapet, and
reveals white flag waving beside the Ma
tional colorS.
HE SurrenderS.' cried half dozen
voices in unison.
NO" said some one; "the Stars and
Stripes are there"
But, see, he shows the white feather"
said others
The guns of Fort Moultrie. the floating
battery. and Others except Fort Johnson
at this junction ceased firing. The signal
of surrender could not be seen at Fort
johnson by reason of the great cloud of
smoke.
Everybodyis is excited. We who are watch
ing from our position at the Star of the
west hattery move involuntarily along
down the beach towards the Point with
every eye strained upon Sumter. There
comes a boat with six strong men at the
oars. Ii must be Gen. Beauregard coming
from Castle Pinckney, his Headquarters.
1t comes closer. No, it is not him. We
are soon at the waters edge, where the boat
touches the land. 1t is Maj. Robert Rip
ley. He is met as he steps from the boat
by Gen. Gregg and Lieut.. Wigfall who
shake hands warmly.
Bobby is spunky: he won't pull down
his fiag," says Maj. Ripley.
yes, he's got the sand" replies Gen.
Gregg, stepping to one side with the Major
and Lieutenant After a hurried conversa-
ton they returned TO the boat, into which
Lieut.: Wigfall stepped, and the boat was
pulled swiftly towards the blackened walls
| of Sumter.
The gateway leading into the strong
hold Of Maj. Anderson had been sealed up
with brick and mortar to secure him against
night attack, and therefore the only
| access to the interior Of the fort was by way
of porthole, out of which protruded the
mouths of large cannon, from whose braZen
throats there had but a few moments before
been belching death and destruction.
With great anxiety we watched the ad-
vance of the frail-looking craft containing
the Lieutenant and six men. They finally
brought up at an open port. where the
Lieutenant crawled into the fort, leaving
the men with the boat hanging on TO the
rocks for his return, while the shot and shell
from Fort johnson were still falling in
dangerous proximity. The first man met
with by the Lieutenant in the burning fort
was Maj Anderson. who, with sleeves
rolled up and powder-begrimed, demanded
to know why in - they continued TO fire
| upon him. When informed by the Lieu
tenant that he had not taken down his