The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-19

me to take Mr.. u. II. Brown (enginecr)
and one fireman. with me.
&c. W. READ.
Second Lieutenant, C. 8. M
Reader. II you only knew, the sur
roundings at Fortress Monroe and
Hampton Roads you would hold your
breath In horror at such proposition,
No, reader, he was perfectly sane. Els
plans were daring and cxtra 1azar-
dous. but were feasible.
Remember, this ship .or brig was
bound for Baltimore with a cargo Of
coffee, and before the curtain rings
down on this narrative you Will be
made aware that Reid aab only one "
the many daring spirits of the Con-
Tolerate states navy. and you will be
made aware OF the capture OF at least
four OF the Yankee gunboats by small
boats OF the Confederate States navy.
Captain Maf1tt granted Reads re-
quest, the two ships p1,ted. and we
proceeded to follow tho Florida.
The Florida then proceeded to Ber-
muda. and in that port thu Confederate
nag received tho only salute ever Give n
by an official OF a foreign Eovernme emit,
the occasion being. think. Queen VIC
toria's birthday. Maffitt sent word to
ask the governor II he would return
salute fired by the Florida. This Is
the governors reply:
Bermuda. July, 10, 1869.
Sir: I shall DO happy TO return any
salute that Commander Maffitt may be
DESTROYS OF ordering In compliment TO
o'clock tomorrow forenoon would.
either OF them. be convenient hours
In fact. any hour would suit, II am
Informed a short time previously.
WILLIAM MUNRO.
Lieut.. j. N. Mafflt.
Commanding G. S. S. Florida
But am little ahead OF my story.
After leaving Pcrnambuco, on May
18th Alafiit captured and burned the
ship Crown Point, from New York for
San francisco, with a very valuable
cargo.
The Florida then proceeded to the
Rocas to meet tho Lapwing. remained
fifteen days, and not finding tho yes
sci supposed she had been captured.
While there lost tho assistant surgeon,
DR.. ]. d. Grafton and seaman, John
Sadler. by the capsizing OF boat.
June eth captured and burned the
ship Southern Cross; cargo OF log
wood. from west coast OF Mexico to
New York. June 14th captured the
ship Red Gauntlet, Boston to Hong
AASA&SSb StAA 5Sa4OA tSSs ENSOLaS
struments. etc. Kept her In company
for some days to coal. then burned her.
= 9Th captured and burned ship B. +.
Hoxie, cargo OF logwood and $1050Q0
In silver bars. 2 7th captured and bond
ed for. $40, 900 the whaling schooner
W. II. Hill. OF Providence. Mass, and
placed our prisoners aboard of her.
July 18th captured the packet ship Sum
rise, New y ork to Liverpool, with
ks,.I S.7o,s I. q n
F.. On July Sth at IL NJ sighted Fed
eral side-wheel man Of war She had
four tunnels, and was presumed to be
the United States ship Ericsson. She
had a large crew on board, and was
evident lys on a cruise for Confederate
vessels, We Gent, to quarters, furled
sails, and yendeavored to get up q good
head Of steam, but the Indifferent quail
iity Il tho coal we had received from
tho Red Gauntlet frustrated all our
efforts. AS soon as the / Fed eral steam
or got within range OF our guns we
opened upon her with our starboard
broadside. and evidently struck her,
as she at ONE changed her course
from us without firing q gun.
Her superior speed and the setting
inGof dense fog enabled hersto escape,
We We're now within fifty miles Of
Nav ~ orl. Their cruisers lined tho
whole coast, and having but small
quantity Of good coal i Z was with res
iluctnnce that changed my course.
At lSSo'elock p. NJ. captured and burned
the brig Nv. b, Nash. from New Pork,
and an, hour 4 Ia ter the whaling chooner
Rienzi, from PROVING town With q
cargo Of oil. ss8i
Reader consider tho dash, or if you
choose to term II effrontery, off, our
naval boys. Tile enemy looking for
them in tho West indies. and they
large city. Oh! II If we had ships 10
match those % f our foes, a IS no Z
hard Gproblen to solve as to VIVA t flag
would now he waving over Dixie. 5s8,
July 18th Paymaster r Lynch died Of