The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-04-26

what we didn't have aboard amt
worth mentioning. 1t was a likely
cargo, said the skipper, and l
would have agreed with him if it
hadn't bin for a hoss we had on
deck. | had been feeling that he
would make trouble and told the
skipper 50 before they hois,cd the
animal aboard
! don t want to carry him, says
the skipper, but he's present from
my owners for the commander in
chief, Gen. Lee, and I've got to obey
orders. Johnny, he says. you feed
and take care Of him and I'll see that
you get bonus for the job.
All right" replied, not wanting
70 let any opportunity go By, but
ain agoing to be responsible if he
kicks up
They said that the hoss was al
Arab charger, and worth twice his
weight in cotton, 80 1 treated him as
kind as | knew, though l WASH It cut
out for stable boy. We had him in
a padded stall abaft the 70 c sle, and
there was plenty Of straw for him to
stand on. He got hay and oats three
times day, and hs wasn't seasick a
bit, though st first he didn't know
how to climb up on the deck when the
roll came. If any hoss got good care, !,
that one did, but"
Here Capt. Barrett broke to ask if
horses were grateful animals, and
told him that | thought some Of them
were much more grateful than o good
many human beings. If I read his
expression correctly, he did not accept
my view, but he continued without
offering any comment.
WELL" he said. "the Plover got to
within IS miles of Wilmington, about
3 O'Clock one afternoon and the skip.
per said he'd wait until nightfall be-
fore trying to run through the feder.
als. l amt likely to forget that
evening. 1t was about when we got
under way, and by 8 we had logged q
good 25 miles. We coulda': have
struck better night for the run in.
1t was dark as q tar bucket overhead, j.,
and there was just enough slap to the
sea to mufflc the sound of the paddle
wheels.
"You couldn't have seen the Plo-
yer if you'd been within 20 feet Of
her. We didn't having light burn
ing-not even cigar. The engine
room hatchways was covered with tar.
paulins, the sidelights was doused
and we had curtain around the bin.
nacle."
1t WAS evident at the moment that
Capt. Barrett was living the run Of
the Plover over again, for he instinc-
lively drew the fire from his pipe and
orouched low at the side of the bank
lie might have imagined himself
doubled up behind the bulwarks for
all l knew and l did not disturb his
reverie. After muttering to himself
awhile, he went on:
"We crept along nicely for another
hour, and then I heard the skipper
call for a cast of lead. The Plover
come to dead halt, while I crept in
to the forechains to sound. 1t was
pretty dangerous work, stopping her.
for she had full head of steam, and
might have blown off; that would have
given the whole game a way But she
didn't do it, and the skipper said we
was too far to the south after he look
ed at the sand that came up on the
lead. So he changed her course two
points and ran along fast for 30 miu-
utes or SO. Then l cast again, and
this time the skipper says: Well
head for shore.
l was on the bridge straining my
eyes and it wasn't long before seen
a glimmer Of light on the starboard
bow. That's one Of EN- l said.
Over went the wheel, and tho Plover's
head pointed away, but shed no
sooner turned when the first officer
seen q long black steamer lying abeam
on the port side, and he passed the
word to the skinner. We knew ripbt
then that we was in the middle of the
federal feet. but the skipper was &
cool hand. He didn't get worried.
Hard port, ae whispered:
STEADY and steady it was. The
Plover swung rs handsome as n yacht,
and we was just thinking that we
wouldn't be eeen, when a pleasant puff
Of wind come along. It seemed cool