The National tribune., 1901-05-02

told the chptiA he would have to go
back and send n boat to tow us up, so he
started and tie other officers went with
him.
Next morning the sailors found fault
because there. was no meat. although
the fleet. So steak was furnished us for
breakfast. . sac
As a little episode of our experience L
will state that WE had Dutchman on
board who was always interfering with
our affairs. We did not like him at all.
and decided TO give him Il wholesome les
son. That morning he put on some life
2reservers under his frock. to be ready,
! evidently, for an emergency One of the
sailors came to me and asked me if they
might play trick on 'Dutchy." L told
him | would be pleased to see the fun
go on, but they must do him no serious
harm. So it was arranged that two or
and all gathered around for the sport
| "Dutchy" came up and the boys got
around him in the fight and pushed him
against the rail-. The two fighters
clinched and pressed up against Dutchy
and forced him overheard. The tide was
running three miles an hour at the time
Two of the men got into boat, while
''Dutchy'' was screeching loudly for help
Now and then they would stop and look
at him in a tantaiizing way. L remarked,
Better shoot him and put him ont of his
misery" He shouted louder and louder
and finally was taken on the boat and
brought aboard. This treatment had
salutary effect.
About 10 o'clock next morning n steam
boat came to take rs to the flagship. Inc
Captain came and asked me If L would
call ''Dutchy's" mishap an accident, so he
would not be blamed, and then he called
me into the other boat and We punished
4 few bottles of wine, buried the hatchet,
so to speak, and steamed for the nag
ship. l repaired the valve-stem on the
flagship, and once more had our boat
patched up.
Next day Lieut.. Gushing came along
side our boat, the Martin, with little
launch about 80 feet long. She had ro-
tary engine, smokestack horizontal over
the stern, so as not to come In contact
with the trees. We spent several days
in practicing with the torpedo, in order
to feel sure of making no mistake while
with Lieut.. Gushing. L made arrange
ments with that officer and one man on
the Gushing to exchange for that night
My Captain was willing, for he was to
take another boat. So, on Oct. -, 1851
q think that was the date) we started,
with only five men. We were followed
by boat containing about 16 or IL men.
| think this boat went up as far as the
SOUIHHtlu lD get u VI Li'h Nho rh'''
watch on that vessel. She was a large
ferry boat, which the ram sank, | think,
in April. L am unable to recall dates
very well.
They had put the SouthfeId across the
river, and a boom of logs from the boat
to the shore. History tells of Jumping
a boom of logs. 1t is false statement.
No boat with five men aboard, an engine,
boiler. coal supply, torpedo, and pole
90 feet long at the end of her bow could
do it. This is the simple way we over
came the difficulty Two men were placed
on the logs, their united weight being
sufficient to sink the obstruction so that
our boat steamed over.
If a boat 30 feet long should go full
speed into a log IL inches in diameter it
would smash her in and knock every man
overheard.
We had to go very slowly. 1t was so
dark we could not Keep in the deep water
without sounding once in awhile. we
could hear the bark of a dog, but he was
not barking at us, for we could not be
seen five feet away.
When we got near the ram we met an
other boom, perhaps 10 or II feet away,
but could not see any lights on the ram.
We backed slowly, Lieut.. Gushing low
cred the torpedo-pole under the boom.
We ran the boat slowly until we got
the torpedo under the bottom of the ram.
Lieut.. Gushing then pulled the string, and
the explosion followed.
We all jumped overheard. The fort at
once commencing a fire on us.
swan for the opposite shore, and kept
sounding to see if | was near the land.
soon touched bottom, waded ashore. got
in the bushes, and waited for the morn
ing light Ii was so dark | could move
no farther. | could see the lights. and
hear the noise occasiOncd by the stirring
Il III rob
els on my side of the river.
As soon as it began to show signs OF
light | worked my way through the
bushes [ could have got out i'll open
ground but was afraid Of being seen.
Working my way down the river as fast
as | could. the bushes came to an end
after | had Travelled about Il mile. About
a hundred feet to the next lot of bushes
| saw Il boat, or dugout, coming across
the river. which L supposed was an en-
envy. The man was looking for us, and
had gun in his hand. He came within
80 feet of me and walked past.
| made dash for his dugout, pushed
off, and padded for the middle of the
river. | got way below the Southheld, as
the river was running about four miles
an hour. felt safe, but had a few shots
fred ut me, which did not. by any means,
keep me from padding on.
| soon saw the flagship, and stood up
and waved my paddle to attract attention.
[ soon saw a boat coming, and they took
me in, and let the dugout drift down the
river. / was asked where the others
were | told them | had not seen them,
but there was a hole through the bottom
OF the ram, without any mistake.
All this was very exciting, but we had
an excitement OF a different character
when the hot coffee, which was one of
the great 'stand-bys' in the army and
| navy, was served on board, after our hard
and hazardous experience.
We started as soon as possible. My
| Captain then took his other boat, and an
officer from Roanoke Island came to take
his. My new Captains name was Gran
dali. He was a kind-hearted man, and
no coward, but his health was poor. lie
was in his glory when We bOmbarded
| Plymouth.
| After sinking the ram Albemarle we
| started up the Roanoke River. About
seven steamers, great and small, got
| aground on the way up, so our progress
was necessarily slow. The fort opened a
fire on us, to which we responded. This
firing was kept up throughout the night.
[ succeeded in taking the whistle from the
ram, although | got "peppered" a little
while in the operation. After the close
of the war this whistle was placed by me
on exhibition in Boston, and afterwards
ut the Arsenal at Springfield, and also at
several entertainments in East Boston.
After our bombardment of Plymouth
we found only two persons who had the
courage to remain in the town, one being