Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-11-29
III BOOMING CANNON
RECiTALS OF CAMP AND BATTLE
INCIDENTS.
Survivors of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, For
aging Experiences and Battles.

uchtS VI "urShSSr AM LlICy TOT.
aging Experiences and Battles.
The value of coaling stations In war
time is something that the American
navy has not often had a chance to
learn from actual experience. During
the Civil War, however, there were
times when the commanders OF Fed
eral cruisers discovered what it means
to be dependent upon casual purchases
for the fuel that Is the very life Of q
modern steam fleet
Among the naval traditions which
have not risen to the dignity Of written
history there is one that %receunts an
adventure OF the U. s. s. Vanderbilt,
one of the old side-wheel steamers i'm
pressed into the government service and
sent out in pursuit of the Confederate
commerce-destroyers. After a long
cruise in the South Atlantic, she made
the tiny island Of st. Helena. Here
she had to stop, for her bunkers were
just about empty. Fortunately, a
wharf was In sight from the deck as
she dropped anchor, loaded with the de-
sired coal. .ss
1t was a welcome sight to the wor-
ried commander. He breathed easier,
n thought, no doubt, that he had
come upon n windfall. Coal heaps
could not be found, In, those days, at
every landing place in o~ut-of-the-way
seas. 1t seemed almost as If the sup
ply had been held specially for the use
OF the Yankee tars. This supposition,
moreover, turned out the exact truth,
in n sense that gave the Vanderbilts
captain something Of a surprise.
A boat was Immediately lowered
away and rode straight to he wharf
where the coal was stored. An officer
stepped ashore. He found a sandy
headed Scotsman sitting near the heap
Of fuel, and reading an old newspaper.
The man said that his coal was for
sale, and the officer asked the price.
He was not in a mood to sit down and
spend time dickering, but the owners
answer staggered him.
Thirty dollars a ton, SIR"
AS the price of gold in Federal pa
per money was then about two dollars
and eighty-fve cents, the quotation
iSstli llldL Ilt COul WOulu COSG OlClc
Sam, in his g%reenback currency, more
than eighty dollars a ton. The officer
spent some time trying to beat down
the seller, but it was no use. The
Scotsman was firm. The bargain was
broken off, the dealer-perfectly friend
ly, though diminishing that while
be hoped that the North would win,
he had been holding that coal there a
long time, waiting for an American YES
sci, and, as the owner of the only sup
ply on hand, he intended to take what
be considered a fair profit.
The commander of the Vanderbilt de
nounced the price as outrageous. "UI
anchor!" was the order and, firing uI
with part of the few tons of coal thai
remained, the ship put out from the
harbor. The Scot was still on his
wharf, reading his newspaper, as be
fore. If weighing anchor was tried
as a bluff, it had not stirred him. A
few hours proved that he had no need
to fear losing his prize.
Contrary weather blew up, and the
Vanderbilt was soon flung back into tht
port b had so recently left, now will
h last bushel of fuel gone. She wal
at the mercy Of the financier of the Goa
heap, but he did not raise his price
nor did he lower 1t. The Vanderbilt
took a round thousand tons Mt THIRTY
dollars, gold, per ton.
If a sandy-haired Scot returned tt
his native town soon after, a made mar
for ther rest of his life, and a source OF
n to -home-keepers who had never
been out intotthe world, we knew that
the lucky individual won his gains less
unfairly than some larger CAPITALISTS
Moreover, he had incidentally given the
United States government a practica,
and valuable lessen.
Grant in Days Of Suffering.
My last interview with the genera.
was during his illness which termi
mated in his death, says Gen. O. o
Howard in the Century.
On Wednesday. March %, 1885, I re
ceived a note from Col. u. D. Grant
saying that his father, then In New
York City, would be glad to see me a
any time when he could see any one
About the middle OF the day Is gener
ally his best time-between 70 and {
p. NJ"
The next day, Thursday, at 1 30, my
brother and l appeared at the generals
house on Goth street. A servant showed
us into a little reception room to tht
right Of the main hall. In a moment
Col. Grant appeared and gave us {
warm welcome. My brother though,
it not best for him to see the general
and Col. Grant led the way for me
At the foot Of the stairs he said
Father wished me to apprise you Of
his inability to talk SO, ewing to hi,
trouble, you must do the talking
The colonel left me at the door o.
his fathers room. 1t was In front OF
the south side. The general was alone
though through the open doors I couIt
see members of the family and friend.
on the same floor within call. He wa.
reclining In his farorite chair, his fee
resting Upon the extension and hi
head against the high part.
How do you do, general?" he said
as he turned his face toward me AM
extended his right hand. I took hi!
hand. and, needing Col. Grants warn
ing, began to talk. 1 tried to expires.
my thanks for the interview and m,