The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-02-24
DEARLY BOUGHT COAL.
Fuel Needed by Cruiser That Pur-
sued Confederate alabama"
Bought at $50 Ton.

Zone of the peculiar businesses thai
grew up as result of the civil war was
the establishment Of private coaling
stations in all sorts Of out-of-the-way
places" remarked E. Mckee, late OF
the United States navy, according to the
Chicago Chronicle. "You see, the gov
eminent could not tell on what part of
the earth's surface its war vessels might
have to cruise in their chase for priva-
teers and other craft menacing its op-
erations, and, Of course, could not make
arrangements for coal.
LAS consequence the captains were
| authorized to secure the best bargains
they could at such ports as they might
touch when supply was needed.
Thrifty ones in the most unfrequented
waters prepared for possible visit from
United States war steamer with low
coal bunkers, and when the fish entered
their net they charged up for the time
they had to wait. They were not pa
triots, but were on earth strictly for the
root of all evil"
Mr.. Mckee was marine on the Van
derbilt during her 25,000-mile chase
after the confederate cruiser Alabama.
The Vanderbilt left the port of New
York in 1862 and took Capt. John A.
Winslow, of Fayal, in the West Indies,
where he took command Of the Kear-
sarge. At that time the ocean was dotted
with the ships of Uncle Sam in quest OF
the Alabama. She found them, but they
couldn't find her.
AT nearly every port we stopped we
would get more or less misleading infor-
nation and would hopefully follow every
clew," said Mr.. Mckee. while in the
south Atlantic We heard from what ap-
peared to be most authentic source
that the Alabama was at the Cape of
Good Hope.
LAS We approached St. Helena, Ma
poleons island, the coal bunkers got
low and We stopped there and opened
negotiations with Scotchman for a new
supply. He serenely demanded $50 q
ton in gold, without going to the trouble
of removing his pipe while stating his
outrageous terms. The exchange was
$2.S5, making the total price Uncle Sam
was asked to pay $50 a ton, and We were
using 400 tons a day running at moder-
ate speed.
after run of ten hours the ships |
officers held consultation. The almost |
of reaching the cape with
out coal was only too clear, and if a |
storm should come up the ship would |
be helpless. 1t was hard thing to do, |
but there didn't seem to be any alterna-
tive. The ship was reversed and put
back to St. Helena. 'Scotchy' was occu-
plying the identical position we had left
him in on black gold mine.
This time he was a tritie interested
because he knew We were going to trade
with him. He gave us his philosophy
his way: He had been sitting on that
coal pile for IS months, waiting for a
ship to come that had to have it. He
from the height of the Wander
Dilt above the water that she came in
light and that her officers would not dare
risk storm while she stood up so high.
Dur return didn't surprise him bit and
he soon got his men to work and loaded
|, 900 tons in the hold, for which the fed
eral government paid 100000
'He said somebody had to pay for his
;obacco and patience, and we happened
20 be the victims. He admired the
United States and sometimes felt SYM
sympathy wouldn't buy
whisky and things as money would"