The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-02-08
THE VOLUNTEER NAVY.
The Bark Midnight Goes to Sea. The
Impressive Burial of S ipmate.

On the morning OF NOV. 9tl Nap.aii
Latham received orders to proceed with
the bark Midnight under his command
to Fort Pickins, west coast of Florida,
and on arrival there to report to Com
modore McKeen, commanding the Gulf
blockading squadron. for such duty as
should be assigned him by that officer.
We got under way from near the Bat
terv. New York harbor, at 1880 a. H..
Nov. 9. 1861. The wind was fresh
from southeasterly quarter and we
had to make several tacks before reach
ing Sandy Hook. and while working
down the bay we were the OBJECT OF
much attention, for at the time there
was DO more beautiful vessel ever built,
and the bark had become noted for the
quick voyages she had made between
New York and ports in South America
She was about 500 tons burden and was
built tor the express purpose OF making
the quickest trilA from Montevldeo to
New York, which, she did with cargo
of dried hides, which by the way is
tie most buoyant and liveliest cargo
with which a vessel can be freighted
Size made that trip in wonderfully quick
tine. and was nearly as much talked
about among maIatime people 'as Was
the Yacht NandeTer, or Bobby Water
mans clipper snip the DreaGnaught.
Her name was then the Dawn, but
when Size was bought by the govern
ment. it having already two other YES
sells named Dawn, changed one OF them
to Daylight, and this one to Midnight
When we filled away that morning
she was in perfect condition and trim,
and to the person with a nautical eye
she was delightful object to look
upon. She moved through the water
like a thing of life, worked as easily as
a pilot boat, and with the still whole
sail breeze we had that morning few
steamboats, could have kept pace with
her and she was the admiration OF all
who saw her that day. Cheer upon
cheer came from every craft we met Or
passed Oh Jul way anu VIZ INV
Staten Island were lined with cheering
people. We had to tack ship close into
the pier at Fort Hamilton, and as We
shot into the wind Ike fash and went
around on the other tack like top we
were saluted by salvo OF guns from
the fort and cheers from the sololers
that were very fiattering indeed, and
never to be forgotten. Just before
reaching the Hook we passed near an
English frigate at anchor III the lower
BAY. and as we approached them gong
like a racehorse they manned the rig
ulug and cheered ship and dipped
the British flag to US as we passed. We
returned the salute in like manner, but
so rapid was our pace that We were
nearly out of hearing before they were
done cheering ship,
AS we passed out by Sandy Hook the
wind yeered little to the westward, SO
that We were enabled to lay our course
down the Jersey shore. Full and by
with taut boWlne we were heading
south and making about ten knots an
hour. The wind was off the land, the
water smooth, and the sail continued
to be delightful.
Nothing of interest transpired until
We had been four days at sea. About
six bells in the first watch, which is
eleven o'clock p. H., when about a hun
dred miles southeast from Cape Hat
teras. while crossing the Gulf Stream
We ran into quite a heavy southeast
gale of wind, and the captain put the
ship under close reefed topsails. 1t
was my watch below and the watch on
deck was able to perform that duty, so
that the starboard watch to which |
belonged was not called. But it was Il
wild night and hearing considerable
connection going on above my head L
went on deck, sought out the executive
officer and asked to be stationed where
l could be of the most service. He
thanked me and told me that in reeting
the main topsall man had fallen from
the main topsail yard, and it was
thought he had been instantly killed,
He asked me to take charge of the
body, have it conveyed to the cockpit,
call the surgeon, and see what could be
done for him. did so, but found when
We reached the cockpit that the man
was dead. Coming on deck at the time
| did proved to be a good thing for me.
The next morning, it being the first
heavy wind we had encountered, the
captain made inquiry of Mr.. Dean, the
executive officer, as to how the young
officers had conducted themselves. He
was informed by Mr.. Dean that he did
not see or hear from the masters mates
whose watch it was, and whose duty it
was to be on deck, but presumed that
they were both forward with the mas
ter But Mr.. johnson, whose watch |
below it was, had come ondeck looking !
for job These little putfs that Mr. |
Dean was continually giving me to the
captain caused that officer to watch /
and to question metqulte thoroughly. /
| was getting an examination and did |