The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-22

Mafitt, had circumnavigated the globe
n spread conservation among the
merchant marine of the stars and
stripes without the loss OF a man. She
was a beautiful vessel and had been
handled with consummate skill and
daring There was something pathetic
in the object OF our meeting. which
had been secretly prearranged, for a
boat was Immediately lowered, intu
which were placed sundry parcels of
opium for the hospital service of the
southern armyi probably from the hold
or one OF her prizes; and this SYM
pathetic Offering from these homeless
fellows on the high sea, to their sick
n wounded comrades in the field
hospitals, for the mitigation of their
suferings, appealed strongly to our
hearts.
! We tarried briefly, dipping in a part
ing salute to each other respective
ensigns, probably the first and the last
time that the conqured banner was
used to exchange courtesies with the
same flag at sea. The corvette pro-
ceeded under her new commander,
Captain Charles NJ. Morris, cruising
near and far until she reached Bahia
in Brazil, in which neutrai yorl
she was attacked while disarmed and
captured at night by the Wachusett.
and later, it is said, was conveniently
cast away near the last resting place
OF her famous Commander Maffitt.N
Our third n last day at sea began
auSplclOuSly, but we were drawing to-
wards the coast much farther north
than Il usual landfall. At about half
past three in the afternoon we were
startled by the lookout in the crows
nest, with a lusty Sail hO," Where
away" called the officer of the watch.
On the port quarter, sir, heading to-
wards u.s. We were in a bad posi-
ton, to the northward of Cape Look
out but the stranger had not yet per-
celVed US. In our eagerness for more
steam, however, the telltale smoke was
vomited from our tunnels, and in a
short time it was evident that we
were being overhauled by a faster yes
sci under crowded canvas and full
steam. The rising wind favored him. |
because We had but two sails, fore
and aft, which served to steady us in
a seaway. but this added little to our
speed. AS the stranger drew rapidly
nearer, pushing us towards a lee ashore
she opened fire with her rifed cannon |
and for the first time in my life I heard
the scream of a hostile shell, as it
passed between our funnel and plunged
into the sea a half a mile beyond. The
sensation was most unpleasant; had
we been able to return the fire, the
excitement of battle must have been
exhilarating, but to be hunted like a
rabbit INT pelted with Parrot shells
and 11-inch prOjectiles was enough to
reduce my backbone to such Taxation
that my trembling knees refused to !
bear it. The cruisers aim was deadly,
for the 11-inch shells came tumbling
end over end with such fearful accu-
racy that many of them passed only
a few feet from my head, others sent |
the salt spray flying into our faces;
and yet there were, up to 6 o'clock, no
casualties of any Importance. The
admirable conduct of our naval pas
sengers o inspired me with cour- |
is the influence of veterans
beside raw trOOpS-and, strangely |
enough, as the firing of single batteries |
was changed to broadsides, my des- |
pairful feelings gave way to hope and
confidence. Our pursuer was now fair
ly abeam and sailing the same course. |
Why she did not destroy us utterly
at such short range must have ap- |
peared to them incomprehensible, be- |
cause WI easily distinguished without
glasses the movements of their gun |
ners n the working of their crew at
quarters; and our pursuer must have
been surprised at the audacity Of our |
passengers, who TRANQUILITY measured
with their watches the intervals be-
tween the firing of his projectiles and
their passage overhead. They also
used their sextants continuously dur
ing he chase, and it was doubtless |
owing to their superior knowledge and
that u commander held on
his course in the face of imminent de-
structiOn, for be it remembered, we
were loaded to the hatch combings
with gun powder for Lees army. AS
the SUN sank lower on the horizon, so
sank u hopes of escape, for every
moment seemed to be drawing us
nearer to the end. Even our passen-
gers became disheartened and said at
that it was a useless risk to all !
the lives on board. They accordingly
proceeded to their cabins and destroy
ed their official papers, and threw over
board some valuable side arms and
and l, by the captains orders,
took the confederate mail bag and
government dispatches to the furnace
and saw them go up in smoke. Or
ders were now given to lower the
boats to the rail, for what purpose /
do not know, when a strange thing
happened.
There was a loud explosion in the
fire room not made by the
bursting of a shell, but accompanied
by a cloud of steam. Immediately the
and firemen swarmed up the
iron ladders t the deck, terror-strick-
en- and bewildered. They had been