The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1902-01-17

our batteries, which were pouring
volley after volley into the ships, and
they as rapidly replying More than
Il hundred guns ia succession were
sending fourth storm Of iron hail.
The mise WIS terrific. The heavens
seemed filled with shooting stars, the
burning shells tracing the course of
the shells, which. exploding in every
possible direction. filled the air with
fragments nf falling iron.
One Of the batteries In charge OF
Major Parker was firing red.h0t shot.
General Maxey directed ME to take a
position on the edge Of the bluff. be.
low the mouth Ut the gun firing the
hot shot and report to Major Parker
the effect Of his firing. l could easily
trace with my eyes the course of the
hall as it sped across .he water and
the impact as II struck and penetra.
ted the vessel. Immediately after
was heard the roaring gush and noise
of escaping steam, and repnrted to
Major Parker the apparent effect OF
his last shot and as l stood by his
side we could see quite a c0mmotion
on the deck of the ship. soon followed
by the lowering Of the boats and men
plunglng into the water and swim.
ming ashnre Snnn the jet OF fire chat
followed the last shot ran up the
shrouds, caught the rigging and was
soon nne great sheet OF FIRE.
"Shnut after shout went up from
our men and more rapidly still, II
possible the guns were worked, pour.
ing shot after shot into the enemy.
The burning ship, left to herself
swung slowly around and floated with
the current past our lower batteries
down the river.
admiral Farragut succeeded Ia
passing tie batteries with two nf hi.
Ships-the Hartford and the Alba
trosS. The Mnnongahela and Rich
mond were driven back. One Of these
two ships-it Is not known which, the
night being dark-drifted right under
our guns and was being fired int
from battery on a jutting angle OF
the Qualifications and also by the
rihemen on the bluff Immediately
above, when the commanding officer,
it was supposed called out: For
Gods sake, quit firing; we have sur.
rendered. As it was not possible to
take possession, when daylight came
the vessel was nowhere to he seen.
suppose it was justifahle under the
circumstances to make of. The
Hartford and the AlhatrnSs. having
steamed out Of range above the bat.
teries and the other two having drift.
ed out of range below. the firing
ceased and all attention was given tn
the burning vessel. the whole of the
upper works Of which were one sheet
Of flame. As the fire extended into
the hull and the guns and shells be-
came heated, they one by one ex-
pluded like signal guns fired over the
doomed ship as she floated away on
her last cruise. Some ten miles be-
low the fire reached her magazine,
when one terrific explosion took place.
Earth, sky and water were apparently
covered with burning fragments OF
what a few hours before was the
noble Mississippi.
"She had a crew Of about 300.
Some escaped by boats, one Of whom
by his own testimony, was Admiral
Dewey. flor which / thank GOd) a
number swan ashore and some per.
ished IN the attempt. 10 Is presum'
able that the badly wounded and the
dead were consumed in the flames OF
the burning vessel. The next morn
ing our cavalry on the other side 0
the river captured about $50 OF those
who escaped.
i General Banks, in his report o
ADMIRAL Farragut's purpose OF pass
ing his feet past the batteries Of Por
Hudson says: Naval history scarce
| Iy presents Il more brilliant act tha
the passing Of these formidable bal
riprs. .d
General Banks did nOtat the tim
ne made that declaration seem tn b
familiar with past naval pluck, das
and gallantry-Decatur, In the hal
nor OF Tripoli and near the Nader
!. Islands, Perry's success near Put'iF
Bay, Captain Hull, Captain McDo
p nuugh, Nelson at Trafalgar and lot
q Ut others. .si,fgi.S. .
q admiral Farragnt, with five o
A the best vessels In the United STATE
u navy, equipped with every applianc
OF war, manned with well.traine
$ sailors and fed with subsistence tina
. could be obtained from all open port
\ IT the world. steamed up the Missis
. sippi river with all tile pOmp AM
. circumstance OF glorious war;, ant
: made an attack upon a poorly con
I'll structcd fortincation manned by hal
II starved trnnps that were armed Will
/ ,ld-time fint.lOck muskets. squire
rifles and shotvuns, Misunderstanding
l I..astir0n, smmtl,bore cannon, mount
ed In the embrasures Of tho breast