The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-02-22


home, instead Of on a blockade run
ner, which might be destroyed at any
moment.
Close beside the Captain stood the
intrepid mother. The "Lynx' pass
ed Qua between two vessels, getting
ready to chase her. One steamer
ahead kcrt firing and thereby lighting
up The bay with signals. Then shot
from one struck near the "Lyny,',
another burst over her deck. sending
fragments into her machinery, which
caused the steamer to hiss with cs
Gaping steam: while she made great
circles as if she intended to surrender
to the fleet. This was not the case.
nor was she making for Fort Fisher.
her Captain was searching for shoal
water in which to beach her. Then
at last she struck, and Immediately
all was confusion aboard the damaged
and leaking ship.
The baby was bundled up in blsn-
ket, held by some Of tho crew by the
four corners and tossed into tho wait
ing arms Of the men who had reached
the shore. The Captain signalled
Mrs. DE Rossett to follow him, urging
her meanwhile not to lose courage and
promising that he would carry her
safely to the shore. Into the water
ne plunged, followed by the coura-
gcous woman. Bidding her place
her hands on his shouldcrs he grasped
her firmly in his arms and dashed
through the water, on through the
aurf. and soon mother and child wcro
united again. n conveyance was at
once secured for them and they, with
the rest of the party, after a tedious
twenty mile drive over the low sandy
road, reached Wilmington in safety.
But this did not suffice, Soon af
ter Mrs. Dc Rossctt, nothing daunted.
again left Wilmington aboard the
blockade runner, Tallahassee, with
Commander Mailitt. She left, in the
teeth of the storm, for Nassau, and
succeeded in reaching hor destin alton
with her child in safety.
With. the tender nursing of . loving
wife, the husband recovered and Mr..
De Rossett at once took his family to
England. Lord Lytton was then the
lion of the hour.
Having heard Of the heroism of tho
young American wife, now in his own
country, he sought an introduction.
In her he found the daughter of an old
friend of his, whom he once knew in
Charleston, around which a pretty
romance centres.
Years before the war between the
States, Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton had
been british minister to the United
States. Ho had known the Scotch
family of Ancrum, who had settled in
Charleston. (The tourist of today
may sec the ruins of Ancrum Castle,
at Edinburgh.') BY invitation he
visited them in their South Carolina
home, spending several weeks in
Charleston as their guest, and he be-
came very much enamored of one of
the young ladies, AMI it is said wrote
in her honor the p.' 'stty old ballad be.
ginning:
when stars arc in the quiet skies,
Then most I pine for thee;
Bend on me then thy tender eyes
AS stars look on the sea-
The lady wrote the music aud the
reflection of the stars in tie water,
seen from she famous old Battery,
together with the beauty of Miss An
crum, and the fascination of tho
moonlight nights Of that soft South.
ern climate, inspired the poet and
peer TO write the song that is sung
everywhere by those who have never
heard the story fits authorship.
Alasl Miss Auorum did not return
his tender passion, but gave her heart
to smother. Sir Bulwer Lytton iafs
:h:s country and was sent as minister
to Constsn:inople. Il was strange
ohsnce Of fortune that after lapse Of
years he should meet the daughter Of |
his carly American sweetheart.
Thus IL was that he introduced Mr. |
and Mrs. De Rossett to the most ex. |
elusive circles in Great Britain and
them to Knebworth Castle,
his most beautiful country neat. The
baby was baptized there, and he stood |
godfather for the little ono. The De
Rossetts took house in Kensington |
and lived there until peace was re-
stored. Lord Lytton taught the little