The Savannah morning news., 1904-04-10

thought that the pilots could be used
to better advantage in this branch
of the service.
He was sent to Charleston with ten
or twelve other pilots on their way to
LIVERPOOL to become a member
of the crew of the Alabama,
which was then being built in
England. After several unsuccessful
attempts to sail, Capt. Fitzgerald was
finally detailed as a second officer on
q Confederate brig, which was loading
a cargo of cotton and naval stores at
Georgetown, S. c., to be taken to Liver
pool. Before the brig could get to sea
with it's cargo it was attacked by
Federal gunboats and the Confederate
crew. rather than allow the enemy get
possession of the vessel and cargo, set
fire to the brig. The crew escaped, and
Capt. Fitzgerald went back to Charles
ton and sailed for Nassau on the pilot
boat Palmetto, and entered the block
ade service. He made his first trip
on the steamer Katie, and later served
on the Fannie, Princess Royal, Mar
garet and Josie. The Princess Royal
was destroyed by Federal gunboats on
Rattlesnake shoal off Charleston, but
Capt Fitzgerald with the balance of
the crew escaped.
His melt service was on the steamer
Pet, plying between Wilmington and
Nassau. He was then placed on the
Confederate schooner Argyle, which
went to Nassau with a cargo of am
munition and guns, where the cargo
was transferred to the Confederate
cruiser Florida. Capt, Fitzgerald as
sisted in mounting the guns on the
cruiser. He was then sent to Havana
and joined the blockade steamer Old
Dominion. While this vessel was en-
tering Wilmington harbor it was fired
on by Federal gunboats and one shell
entered the saloon of the steamer and
killed the signal officer and wounded
TWO Confederate army officers, who
We're returning from Bermuda.
When the Old Dominion reached Will
mlngton, Capt. Fitzgerald was trans
ferred to the steamer Petersburg, run
nlng between Galveston and Havana.
Three months before Gen. Lees sur
render he was discharged at Calves
ton, as all of the Atlantic and Gulf
ports had surrendered. He went over
INTO Mexico and remained until after
the surrender of Gen. Lee, when he
returned to Savannah. He made the
trip from Mexico here mostly on foot.
upon reaching Savannah he again
entered the pilotage as a 16-foot branch
pllot' ana shortly afterward promoted
10 the full grade. He has been in con-
unuous service since that time. Since
the war Capt. Fitzgerald has served
on the John R. Wilder, John Stoddard.
Sprlte and is now serving on the J.
h. Estlll. When he entered the pilot
age as an apprentice Capt. John H.
craig was the only pilot now living
VINO was then in the service as a full
branch pilot.
capt. Fitzgerald says that the most
tnrllnng experience he ever had dur
ing ms long service in the pilotage was
on december during the latter sixties.
mneh ne was engaged as pilot on the
SSIeaIner Huntsville, from Savannah to
tSe" YORK. On northbound trip off
IIe coast of new Jersey the steamer.
wIlich was loaded with cotton. rosili
an anu turpentine, caught fire and within
zen minutes the entire steamer was in
pIaze' The crew escaped in the life
U u9aIs' They We're at sea eight hours
X vnen Iney were picked up by the New
o G pilot boat Washington.
capt. Fitzgerald was married in 1859
t We MISS Mary Fitzgerald. Several
lars a atter her death he married Miss
"a ailiiIe Gator, in 1884. BY the first nm
oLi,s ne mas two children and four
6SnIiaren by the last. Capt Fitzgerald
eeciares that he feels as active TO-DAY
S es Wnen he first entered the service
iilty-nVe years ago.