Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-07

" 1 those."
 "Of course"
 gro my mind they are the most dan gerous obstacles to our attempt. They'll rake the life out of us in that narrow channel"
 "Yes, they will, if they are well han died, as they are sure to be. We'll, we'll have to grin and bear it as best we can. Once get our broadsides to bear on the gunboats we'll make short work of them"
 And the Tennessee, sir?''
 "We can't make any different plans as to her. Old Buck is a fighter, you know. He isn't going to wait for our passage; he's going to be in the thing from the beginning, if know him.
 "Quite so, sir. May ask what you propose to do with him ?''
 ''Why, fight him, of coursev' ex- claimed the admiral Mob him! Throw every ship upon him that can get blow in."
 "The wooden ships, sirY' Certainly; ram him with those and hammer him to pieces with the heavy guns of the monitors and our own broadsides."
 "It will be wood against iron, sir,'' remarked the captain thoughtfully. "Yes, know that, except for the monitors"
 '"The day of the wooden ship is about over. suppose in the end iron will vvin," observed Drayton.
 "Yes, I suppose so, but not in my da orru u vnof io1 the admiral confidently. 1I feel per fectly certain we can attend to the Tennessee all right. We'll just work at her until we sink her by sheer weight of numbers"
 Provided she doesn't sink some of us before that"
 i've counted upon that, Drayton. I expect to lose some of my ships, prob ably some under the guns of the fort and possibly some from the Tennes- see, but we shall have enough left to complete the work. never fear. That's q risk that every flag officer must run. And lost ship counts for little beside battle gained" said the admiral phil osophically. Notwithstanding, fer ventIy pray all may pass safely"
 And, as to the fire of Fort Gaines, admiral?"
 saToo far off for any damage to us"
 sAnd the torpedoesY'
 "We'll face them too. If we can pass through the open channel near the fort, we may escape from them"
 And if not?"
 T don't care that" snapping his fin- gers. flor them! By the way, I think we'd better have Peyton in here for a final look at this chart. Will you'
 Certainly, sir" said Drayton, antic- ipating the request and stepping to the door of the cabin. Orderly he called out, pass the word for Lieutenant Peyton to report to the admiral in his cabin
 Tn few minutes a young officer de- scended from the deck, opened the door of the cabin, stepped within and saIuted.
 Good afternoon, Mr. Peyton,' said the admiral genially. "Sit down, sir. But, first, will you tell the orderly to senu Freeman heref"
 s'Ah, Freeman continued the old sailor as the pilot of the fleet came in- to the cabin, "come around here, both of you, where you can see this chart. These are the jotHngs you made on the old government chart, believe, Freeman P
 "Yes, sir,' answered the pilot re- spectfully.
 "You think they are right, do you?'
 "As near as my memory serves, sir. It has been some time since I was In Mobile bay, admiral"
 .Tt won't be long before you will be in once more, fancy, Freeman" in- terrupted the admiral.
 "Yes sir; hope not" answered the pilot smiling broadly and pointing to the chart again. There was the chan nel gentlemen, but shoals change, and these waters are treacherous. Still that's the best information I can give you from memory"
 'sNo one can do better than his best,' said the admiral. "Now, MT. Peyton, wish you would take look at these shoal lines and give us your opinion on them. You were born here, recollect, and perhaps you may be able to give us some additional in- formation which will be helpful. don't mind telling you, gentlemen, that, God willing, I am going in in the morning.
 The young officer could not repress a sudden movement which the observ- ant admiral instantly detected.
 My boy,'' he said, T feel for you. know something of how you must feel. When I came up the Mississippi to New Orleans, my own sister and many of my relatives were in the city. I dreaded the idea that I might be obliged to fire upon them at any moment. I met your father in the Mexican war. know he will give us hard fight"
 'Yes, sir," said the young man proudly, The is as brave as hon.''
 'I have no doubt of it." returned the admiral kindly, land 1t is hard to think that you must fire upon his fort, but it is a thing that great many men have had to do. myself am southern man, born in Tennessee I