Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-30

lass and killed him. but had his head
split open and Il shot in his side. wish
could relate the deeds of individual
prowess and Eallantry. but in such Il
melee as that one has all he can do to
Keep on his feet and look out for him
self.
We found the fires banked and not
steam enough to turn the wheels over.
at this juncture Fort Stevens opened
fire upon our vessel. regardless of their
own people. One shell struck par, of
her lever beam, went through a hen
coop near where the marines We're
drawn up, and passed through her side
Upon further conSultatio we decided
to burn her. and gave the order to man
the boats, taking special care of our
own. ana the enemy'S wounded and our
dead and all prisoners we could get
hold Of
thought it very strange that the
captain of the vessel could not be found.
nut upon inquiry among his men we
learned that he had been wounded in
the leg and had jumped overheard. He
was drowned
Poor Palmer Saunders was carefully
paced IN blanket, and laid in the
DOW or my boat. where he could be
better supported than aft. He was
breathing. but entirely unconscious. OF
course some of the men missed their
boats. as no body stood upon the order
of his going in the face of the firing
from those forts.
After seeing all the boats under my
charge get away. we showed of and
pulled OFF from the ship The duty of
setting fire to the Underwater had been
assigned to Lieutenant Hoge. OF
wheeling talented young officer Of
line attachments and undaunted cour-
age. When we had gotten half mile
from the ship Wood pulled up toward
our boats and asked IL 1 had ordered the
snip set afire. l said: Yes" but il
looked as if it had not been done sue
cesstully. Just the Hoge came along In
his boat. and said that he had set fire
20 her
Wood ordered him to go on board
and make sure OF it. and he wen:
promptly. Here was trying duty to per-
form. The forts were firing every few
minutes in our direction. wildly, of
course. as big guns cannot be aimed
wen at night. but you never can tell
where they are going to strike
In about ten minutes we saw Il flame
leap out OF window forward of the
wheelhouse. whore the engineers sup
pies were kept. and fIoGc pulling away.
IN Il very Few minutes the whole OK
panse OF water WIS lighted IN. and
You may be sure we struck out with a
VIM 10 rendezvous at Swift Creek about
SiX miles M the river, on the opposite
side from New Bern. where General
bearing had small cavalry camp. As
we were pulling M we could hear nov
/ ana then the boom OF the guns OF the
| Underwater as they were discharged
by heat from the burning snip. ana just
before reaching orr landing place We
! heard the awful explosion OF the sturdy
vessel, when the fire reached her maya
zine.
Atter daybreall we reached the place
on the bank Of the creek where there
was clearing. ana landed our cargo
OF dead ana wounded and prisoners.
as We were taking Saunders ont Of
thc boat he oreathcd his last, ana SO
passed into the prcsence at God the
soul OF that young hero.
As coon az the surgeon had made the
wounded ae comfortahls as POSSIBLE
under che circumstances the prisoners
were drawn up In line 10 make list
OF them, AS | passed down The line. 4
strapping big fellow, without any
trousers on and barcfooted. said: MY
Lord, is that you?" looked him over