Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-01
DARING EXPLOITS OF 2
CHARLES w. AUSTIN X

crew. and the six men were in control
| Quickly slipping anchor chains the YES
sci was headed toward the harbor. she
was lying to the westward OF the channel
and must necessarily cross the mouth.
Scarcely had she started when she was
| hailed.
Transport Fox bound for Key West"
came the response from the deck OF the
vessel as she glided past.
Again she was hailed, but the same re-
ply took her safely on toward the goal.
once I'm the channel she was quickly put
about, and the. next morning found her
tied UP at the Mobile wharves. Thous-
ands OF muskets and hull full of ammu-
milton were turned over to the Confeder-
acy with the ship. Captain Austin be-
came the lion of the hour and was present
ed with an elegant gold watch by the citi-
gems Of the town.
This Surpasses Fiction.
It was after the capture of New Or
leans that Captain Austin fell into the
clutches of the enemy and was lodged
, there is prison. But jail walls could new
er hold him. Within few days he was
assisted to his liberty and secreted In the
home Of a sympathizer. For ten days ne
remained in hiding before means or
escape from the city was devised. Finally
one dark night a friend from the outside
came to the house and led Captain Austin
with his companion to the water front.
Swimming out in the muddy water, the
two men climbed over the side OF coal
schooner and hid themselves In the hold.
The vessel was going out light bound Tor
Havana, a haven of safety for the pris-
oners.
At the Amounted time a shutting Of
feet on deck told the men below that the
ship was under way. Until far out at
sea they remained in the hold, stiied
with the odor Of bilge and the dust of coal.
Their friend from the outside had shipped
as mate. When darkness came he opened
the hatch and the men were released.
Stealthily creeping to the cabin occu-
pied by the master. they opened the door
and walked in. The captain was Ger
man and all OF his Teutonic wrath blazed
up at the sight OF the dustbegrimed stow
aways He demanded their story. very
frankly they admitted that they were
escaping prisoners of war and wanted to
90 10 Havana. With a great Prussian
oath the master rushed toward the door
with the intention of giving the order to
bout ship. Coolly producing revolver
Captain Austin pointed the muzEle In the
Germans face.
'stay where you are" came the hoarse
command.
Obedience seemed necessary. The stow
Always agreed to pay their passage II al
lowed the freedom Of the vessel as pas
sengers TO Cuba. In the face Of the cir
cumstances the demand was complied with
and the ship sailed on it's course.
But it was not for long. Morning dawn
ed, and with the light a ship OF war bear
ing the stars and stripes appeared In the
distance. The captain rushed to the rail
and made an attempt to signal the YES
sell Suddenly he felt himself held In
grasp of steel. He was forced hastily back
into his cabin, the door was locked on
him, and Captain Austin took command.
A week later the schooner was tied up at
the Havana wharves and Captain Austin
was still in charge. Turned over to the
Cuban authorities. his further immunity
from captivity was avoided by virtue OF
previous meeting with the captain gen.
eral of the island. How this was brought
about is another story
A Terrible Journey.
The details of the capture of the block
ade runner commanded by Captain Austin
in the year 1862 Is forgotten history but
the fact remains that he in company with
his second in command, was confined IN
a dungeon in Fort Taylor at Key West.
From their cell window looked out over
the waves of the Gulf of Mexico that beat
fully 80 feet below. For weeks they Ian
guished in captivity. until finally help ar
rived One day rope was hastily thrust
through the grating, followed by jug
| containing a surplus supply OF water ana
a package of bread.
Below the window OF the prison a ship
| hoated at anchor, and at her stern was
| tied a small boat used as a tender. The
location of the ship was marked.
That night was dark. Securing the rope
within the cell, Captain Austin, with the
water Jug tied around his neck, climbed
/ from the high aperture. and swung out.
Hand over hand he went down to free
dom. Owing to the necessary haste his
companion was just above him, bearing
| the bread.
When fully 20 feet above the water Cap
tain Austin found himself at the end OF
the rope. It was too late to go back UP.
| Letting go, he went crashing feet down.
ward into the waves below. His COM
panion was fairly on top of him when they
went under Fortunately, the noise was
not noted, but the water in the uncorked
| lug was lost as was also the bread. With
bridges figuratively burned behind them,
and terrible suffering ahead, they struck
| out according to previous agreement, for
| the ship. Securing the yawl, Captain
Austin climbed aboard the vessel The
watch was mapping. Working fast and
quietly, he unscrewed the compass from
its place and dropped back with 1T into
| the small boat. 1t would have been sui
cidal to have attempted to secure provis-
| ions TO replace those lost, and so the two
sailed away destitute, shaping their course
for Havana.
Day dawned, and still the two men
/ rowed on, assisted by a makeshift sail.
| The heat OF the summer sun blazing over
/ a tropic sea was intense. They were out
/ of sight OF land, with water, water ev-
erywhere, and not drop to drink" Still
| they kept on. Hunger gnawed at their
/ vitals, but safety was in front, not be-
/hind. With the coming OF night their suf-
| fering had increased to a point that SEEM
ed maddening.
| Another and another day passed. Still
there was nothing but the burning sun
and the salt sea. Havana was ahead OF
| them. Loaves OF bread and punches OF
fruit appeared piled up in luxurious plenty
/ on the seat beside them, only to vanish
| under touch. Clear. cool springs rippled
/ from the bottom of the boat, but the wa
ter was not for their parched and swollen
throats. Land appeared just ahead, only
| to fade away, as with renewed efforts,
| they rowed toward IL. With sailor In
stinct they kept to their course. Another
| night found the two men raving, stark,