The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-06-19


in particular, of which we had fine view
from the harbor, is known as Mount
| Church, and occupies the summit of il
bold bluff seyeral thousand feet above the
| level of the sea-. from which its two tall,
white towers stand out in bold relief
| against this almost ciOudiess sky. The
! church is reached by 4 road that ZigZagss
up the bluff Il distance of nearly four
mileS-a by no means easy pedestrian ex-
cursion, and is generally performed OF
horseback. hut the return trip 10 town is
usually made upon sieds, at the inv gorat-
ing rate of some 20 miles an hour. To Il
native of the Northern States this would
be refreshingly suggestive of the boyisii
paStiHle of coastiBg; and some idea Of the
steerness of the Gecivity may he gathered
by the rate of speed ut which, as | have
stated, the Madeira slcds glide down the
| rocky. pathway, which is paved with
smooth. round stone.
Among the other public cdficcs, / may
mention the Blind Asylum, where some
exquisite artificial flowers are manufac-
| tured from feathers, by the young ladies,
its inmates, and also baskets OF every
shape and dcscriI ton, pretty ornamental
things in their WAY, which are disposed
of to the ships visiting the port, for the
benefit of the Institution.
The fortress commanding the harbor
has been hewn out of the natural rock,
and is Il most formidable structure. sort
of pocket edition of Gibraltar, in fact
and, thoroughly armed and garIisoncd,
would be an ugly place to carry by as
sault.
After remaining at anchor for two days
we began to feel some uucasncss in he
gard to the Sea King, as sufficient time
had elapsed to enable her to make the
run, but we We're not fated to be kept
| long in suspense. On the evening of the
! third day The absentee made her appear
ancc and commenced signalling, but as il
was contrary to .Ilies TO leave the harbor
after dark. we pe-force remained where
we were until morning, when, having re-
ceivcd permission from the authorities on
shore, we stood out to meet her.
Although there WIS Il fresh breeze blow
| i'm at the time, we had "A full head Of
/ steam on, and as we Dearcd her. we sig
nailed her u round the Desertas. Il barren,
rocky island lying ncar Madeira, and pro-
ceeded on towards the place OF rcndeZ-
vouS, the Sea King following in our wake.
In about three hours we succeeded in
rounding the island. and had the good
| fortune 10 find an excellent place for dis
charging oar armament and amn.+initiOn
| from the Laurel To her cons0It Every
| thing was suspicious for the work before
us. Scarce Il breath Of air coquettcd with
/ the idle sails, and the ocean around Us
was as smooth as millpond. But mo-
mcnts we've precious; the power against
| which we were about to commence hnstili-
/ ties WIS active and vigilant; its ironcla,l
/ .lOating f0rt:esSeS plOwed the sea in every
| direction, and some such unwelc0me y!si-
| tor might disturb Us at our work mt any
moment; consequently all felt the ncccs-
| sity Of rapidly G.Schar2ing the important
duty that dcyolycd upon us.
| Tackles were nj once. got aloft on both
YES els, and we commenced operations BY
fir transferring from the Laurel to the
s. King the heavy guns. This WAS the
M difficult part of our labor; indeed the
rest WIS comparatively easy. Both Off
GERS and men worked together and as
have seldom seen men work before, and
number Of Portuguese fishermen, in
habitants of the island Of Dcscrtas. rem
dered us assistance, for which they re-
ceiycd Cur gratitude as well as more
substantial remuneration.
i At the expiration OF 3G hours of wild
excitement and unremittnc toll, the trans.
fer was effected, and the munitions of
war; clothing, and stores with which the
Laurel had been laden, We're piled in utteI
confusion OH the decks and in the hold OF
the Sea King, which was to bear tina,
name 10 more.
The officers and men of both vessels
were then summoned to the quarter decL
Of the litter, where they were informed
. some Of them for the first time, that sh.
| was 10 resign her peaceful character as
well as her name, and to be transformed
into 4 Confederate cruiser
Capt. James |. Waddell then appeared
dressed in the uniform Of the Confedcrat,
States Navy, and delivered a brief bu
impressive address, statit that the oh
ject of the proposed cruise was TO prey
, upon the commerce Of the Government
with which we were at war, and conclud
] ed by announcing that all who chose tc
join the ship in her new character. would
receive fl3 bounty, and be entitled tc
, from Il 10 Fl per month wages, accord
ing TO their capabilities.
. Capt. Waddelrs address was received
with but little enthusiasm from the ma
jority of those who listened to him, al
, though. undoubtedly, the greater par,
symrathized with our cause. But out OF
so. % only cast in their lots with the new
cruiser. which then hosted the Confed
crate flag, and was formally commission