The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-03-12

that evening. Cole left Sandusky for
Detroit on Saturday, with all arrange
ments perfected. He had previously
determined to capture the Philo Par
sons, vessel plying in the lake trade
for service in transporting our troops.
The plan was to go aboard Of her at
Detroit aud the men who were to
assist in her capture were to get on at
the various points at which she touch
ed on the Canadian shore.
Cole went on board the Parsons at 4
p. M, of tbs 18th, and spent most Of
his time with Capt. Atwood, her COM
mander. He had made his acquain- :
tance some time before, and frequent
ly came over on his vessel. She left
her wharf on the morning Of the 18th,
and touched at her various stopping
places on the Canada side of the De-
troit River. At Windsor and at NAL
den Coles men got on board. He was
In the pilot house with Capt. Atwood
when the boat touched at both places,
30 that he could note the men as they
came on board, and be where they
could see him. At Maiden, Atwood,
observing the unusual number Of
secdy-looking men getting aboard,
said: How many skedaddlers are
coming on this morning2 Those fell
lows are all we'll of. They ran out Of
the United States to escape the draft,
and are now returning. They lcok
hard. but all Of them have means, and
are men Of position
eyes, poor fellows" Cole replied,
"they have had 9 hard time.
j. Yates Besle, Coles second officer,
was in readiness for the work. When
they left Maiden Cole gave signal to
assign the men to'theirpositious. He
did 80. A fine engineer, we'll armed,
was placed near the engine, and one
of the men we'll equipped for the work
appointed to every important place on
the boat. Cole himself preferred to
deal with the captain. When Beale
had everything in readiness Cole gave
the signal and clapped his re-
volver to Captain Atwood's head,
and said: Captain, you are my pris-
oner."
whats the matter, Cole7' he ask
ed in great astonishment.
"You are my prisoner. I take pos
session Of this ship in the name of the
Confederate States government. Go
below
The arrest Of the Captain was fol-
lowed by the capture of the men by
other soldiers. They were sent below
and the hatches put down. The pas
sengers were assured that they should
not be molested. The stars and bars
were run up with the announcement:
"This flag is guarantee Of protection
to women and children" This assur-
anoe was sacredly kept, although it cost
some effort. The regular Confederate
soldiers were perfect gentlemen, but
some Of those hired from Philadelphia,
New York and other cities, were not.
1t was necessary to put some Of them
overheard to make good the promise
given when the Confederate flag was
hoisted.
About 1870 the Parsons caught the
Island Queen unloading freight at Put
Inlay Island. She carried large
number Of passengers, among them 300
unarmed soldiers going to Cleveland to
get mustered ont. The Parsons ran
alongside Of h :, made fast and cap
tured her. The two steamers then
went to Fighting Island, where the
passengers were put ashore. There
was no possible means of escape, and
therefore no danger that they would
give warning. The steamers then
ran toward the Michigan, which lay in
sight.
Cole left the Parsons in small
boat, and rowed directly to the Michi-
gan. His plan was TO capture the
ship by strategy. Before going to De-
troit he had arranged to give the off,
GERS an entertainment on board that
evening at o'clock, and had cent the
wine and other requisites to the vessel
before he left Sandusky. Therefore
his coming on board that day excited
no suspicion. The men selected to
make the capture we're to come out
from the shore in small boats, osten-
sibly fishing, and surround the Miohi-
gan. When Cole went aboard they
were to draw nearer the ship. At a
given signal from him they were to
board her, put down the matches, and