The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-24

cannon shot in attempting to Pass Fort
Washington. while on her way to AQui
Creek in the Confederate service. Moth
Ing definite, however, was known for
some time of the particulars.
She carried on this trip, among others,
five passengers costumed in female at
tire, who. in engaging passage, had rep
resented themselves as school teachers.
These women were of a large stalWart
type with mein more suggestive of the
sterner sex than that to which they
We're supposed to belong. In the hurry
OF departure they escaped more than
casual comment, and made themselves
invisible as soon as possible Up to the
moment Of departure. From that time
they became very much In evidence. At
the instant when the boat left the wharf
they made their appearance. Separating.
they were observed making their ways
10 different parts OF the boat Their
manly strides and resolute manner might
nave been attributed to habituaI self
relance' but had more the appearance
OF that masculine quality Of decision de-
manded in the execution OF a design.
one of these individuals found the wav
TO the plIothouse. and opened a CONVERSE
ton with the catpair who was tbe,.
guiding the boat through the narrow
river channel. To his surprise this per
son suggested an ability to act rs DiIot
and insisted upon taking the wheel for
that purpose. Thoroughly astonished at
such request the captain turned around
In order to observe the person who ven
tured 1t. A transformation had taken
place. The officer of the ship found him.
self confronted by man who undoubted-
Iy proposed that the suggestion offered
by the school teacher should be followed.
and he seconded his persistence with 4
revolver. The movement Of the captain
to summon assistance was quietly pre-
vented. The persuasion, In the way II
was offered, was unanswerabie ard ef-
fective. The wheel and the vessel
changed hands without further dis
turbarce. The four companions in this
piratical adventure. having dispenseJ
With their disguise of school teachers,
had with similar persuasion suppressed
any hostility from the engineer The
complement Of the ships manifest were
likewise convinced that resistance was
futile
These five men formed part of the crew
Of a sailboat which had been quietly fol-
lowing after the George Post. This was
the sloOp used for the capture of run
aways. now disguised as an innocent
pleasure craft.
The engine of the George Post was
stopped and the sloop, when signalled
came alongside. The cannon was raised
to the deck or the steamboat, and then
mounted forward. The George Post was
now a vessel Of war in the service OF
the state Of Virginia. This seizure was.
of course. denounced by the government
as an act OF piracy.
The course Of the steamer was Low d.
rected toward Alexandria. Here she was
unloaded and her freight contiscated.
She was hurriedly prepared for the needs
OF the Confederate authorities. This done
she was directed to proceed at once to
Aqua Creek. where cars had been sent to
Richmond to obtain men and ammuni-
ton The steamboat started for this
destination and in Passing Fort Washing
tor she was fired upon. Although struck.
she was not disabled. ard succeeded in
making Aqua Greek. In the meanwhile
a federal revenue cutter had been sent
after her and soon after she left Aqua
Creek on her return journey, fell In with
her.
With all steam on the George Pest en-
deavored to evade the union boat and es-
cape, but the cutter gave pursuit. firing
a small gun. which 1t carried, and al
though a fieeter boat, the Post vas un-
able to dodge the fire of the enemy.
1t was q stern chase, and the chased