The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-21

THAT was in october. 1868, I reck
on. when we came in by daylight
BY daylight"
That's what. Tn the broad day
light about ten O'Clock in the morn
ing and a fair day"
The way this happened showed the
dash and nerve that was evidently
the secret of the ships success. 1t
was a piece of audacity that stunned
the Union fleet into an inaction that
lasted a little too long. The entry to
Wilmington was effected literally
under the noses of the entire block
aiding squadron. AS he told about it,
Captain Maglenn's surviving delight
in the feat was evident.
There was yellow fever, it seemed,
In Halifax, and to avoid quarantine
the Advance was plying between St
Georges, Bermuda and Wilmington,
the intention being, of course, to come
in as usual by night and the objective
Frying Pan Shoals. Through some
mistake in navigation. however, the
vessel brought up off Cape Lookout
near Morehead, about midnight and
for a time was in imminent danger
of going ashore on the reefs. 1t was
only by repeated soundings that she
worked her way out of. danger and,
when she was clear again, it was
after one in the morning.
Captain Crossan came to me, 3"
said Captain Mayhem, and says:
9 We've got to get in tonight"
I'VE can't do it," said l.
'You know what that means?"
said he.
Get caught or go ashore says 1.
wen try ii" says he.
SO down the coast went the Adj
n1o ~ ,orf,, ac
working as they had never worked
before. The night waned and dawn
came. Skirting the banks, the crew
saw plainly the objects on shore. The
light grew brighter. Morning came,
a clear morning, and the little Adj
Vance, loaded down with her precious
freight, little Weazle of the dark, was
caught full under the eye of the sun,
Fort Fisher in the distance behind its
projecting point of land, the Yankee
fleet strung out in a broad semi
circle in the open bay. And the lit
tie Advance. the smoke pouring from
her tunnels raced like a hare of the
ocean for the protecting guns of the
Southern fort. And now the fleet,
awakened. weighed anchor and closed
in On they came headed for the
point of land the little ship must
turn for safety, the. guns roaring as
lneN crowded 10 the point, ana lllO
the teeth came the little Advance,
headed like an arrow for the point
also, a question of nerve and grit and
speed, At first the shot skipped
along the water in the sunlight, fall
ing short but ever nearer. Then
they commenced to go by and over
her. One went whistling through her
rigging. A single hit would have
sent her to the bottom On she came
and on came the fleet, both crowGing
for the point under the fort. 1t look
ed bad for little Advance and herI
life-giving cargo for the battlefelds
about Petersburg. But suddenly
there was a diversion. From Fort
Fisher there came a cloud Of white
smoke, a deeper note to the cannon
ade. 1t was one of the forts long
range Whitworth guns, brought by
this same Advance on a former trip.
The first shot took effect Watching
from the deck the crew of the Adj
Vance saw one of its pursuers stop,
turn and draw off. Again the big
guns of the fort rang out. The eager
Union fleet paused and ceased to
crowd for the point. on came the
the shot skipping in front
and in her wake, whistling and plung-
ing above and beyond her. The