The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1906-12-06
FEARLESS GUSHING.
Old Confederate Relates His Bravery.
AN EYE WITNESS AT PLYMOUTH.

AN EYE WlIN Edo - FL MVV Lbs
Rocky Mount Record.
An old Confederate sailor who was
present when the ram Albsmarle was
blown up at Plymouth, N. c., stood on
the string piece of Norfolk wharf
recently. A lew yards away the tor
pedo boat Cushing was beating the
placid water of the harbor into VIC
lently twisting forth as she tore swiftly
out to sea. "There" said the old
mariner, "goes boat with the name
Of the bravest man the Yanks eyer
hal in their navy and one of the brav-
est men that ever lived. On the night
On which w. B. Cushing blew up the
Albemarle, l could plainly see his
face and atclons by the light of bon
fire built on shore. He went about his
work oblivious of everything, using de-
liberation when necessary and haste
where he could.
"Although hundred rifles were
trained on him and he could see the
big Brookes Rifle in the bow OF tho
Albemarle trained directly on him he
never flnched. How he escaped ami
hilation is more than I can under
stand. The one chance in million
saved him."
Cushing was only twenty-one at tie
time of this brilliant exploit. He was
made lieutenant commander and re-
celved $4,000 as hi. share OF prize
money tor destroying the A'bemarls.
The story of the destruction OF the Al
bemarle l.. too we'll known to be re-
peated here. Alter Its destruction
was verified the word rang with Cush-
ing's fame. Not only was his achieve
ment remarkable for the splendid
bravery displayed but because a whole
fleet OF Federal ships had In vain tried
to make an impression on the ram,
invulnerable sides. And had it not
been destroyed in short time the
land and water operation OF the Fed
eral government would have been jeo
pardized.
J. NJ. Batten, M. D., who was a sur
geon in the United States navy tells
in his book of Cushing's behavior In
connection with the destruction of the
AlbemarIe. Dr. Batten wss a passen
ger on the steamer Valley City OF the
Federal fleet ON October 23rd, 1864
Cushing was also aboard, having JUS
arrived with a torpedo launch which
he had constructed at the New Yort
navy yard. The next morning DR.
Batten found Gushing had disappeared
On October 2Sth, the day alter the
Valley City got under way and pro
ceeded to the mouth of the Roanoke
As che was passing in DR.. Batten say.
voice hailed the ship from the shore
and the Valley City sent off a boa
which, much to his surprise, on II
raturn brought eff Lieutenant Cush
ing with all OF his clothing gone ex
cept pair Of stockings, pantaloons ant
coarse flannel shirt. He was wet
cold, tired, hungry and prostrated. H,
had been absent five days and most o
that time had been without food. Hi
crew had consisted of twelve volun
teers of whom two were drowned, on,
escaped and the rest were captured.
On Cushing's return t., the fleet b,
WAS received with a national salute {
twen'y-one guns. This is one of th
occasions in which lieutenant not il
! command has been given a salute will
| guns. 1t is the only occasion on which
| lieutenant has been saluted with tn
National salute which is reserved 70
rulers of countries.
| The Gushing at present forms par
OF the reserve torpedo squadron which
! had its base at Norfolk under com
maud of Lieutenant l. E. ellis. Sh
will probably be kept in Norfolk dul
] ing the life of the jamestown Expo
sition to be held on the shores q
Hampton Roads, near Norfolk Il
! 1907. and visitors can see the famou
J boat.
In the Spanish-American war sh
, acted as dispatch boat and member {
! the Cuban blockading fleet. She wa
: built at the yards of the Herreshoffs q
Bristol, Rhode Island. She is 139 fec
9 inches in length on the water lin
: OF IA feet, inches beam, and draws
, feet 10 inches of water. Her full Ioa
, displacement is 142 tons. She is
} twin screw vessel driven by Thorncro
) engines capable OF generating l.72
horse power. The vessel is arme
Z with three 11-inch Whitehead -torped
} tubes and three one-pounder rapid fir
) guns. The Gushing was the first to-
{ pedo boat built for the United State
Z navy and was given the name Cusf
} ing in response to popular feeling ths
) the finest torpedo craft then know
3 should be given the name of the ma
Z who gained wide fame by use of a to
, pedo. She was completed June