Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-02-12

such traps were not as efficient in those
days as they are to-day, and as the
small boats for the most part equipped
with howitzers only, made their sor-
ties during the night, when the dark.
ness made it difficult to detect such
distractions, those heavy chains were
quite sufficient to tie up the daring
little fleet and pile it in confusion,
while the heavier guns of the fort did
the rest
Platt slowly and cautiously worked
his way back to the Pawnee with full
information Of the situation for Adj.
miral Balch
What are we going to do about
it?' the admiral asked. 1--WE must get
up that river"
There's only one Ching to do, adj
miral," replied Platt; I'VE must cut
the chains"
Yes, and be blown into eternity
doing it" blurted out the admiral.
Well" said Platt, give me a cou-
pie OF men and a nervy officer to help
out, and Wen run up the river with
muffied oars and we'll cut those chains
or know the reason why"
A NERvE-RACKING EXPERIENCE.
Admiral, then ensign Joe Coghlan,
was the officer" said bluff old Com
mander Platt in telling of the expert
ence. "Ah, he was one of the nerviestr
bravest, most loyal men | ever knew.
Yes, he was young" continued the
gray haired veteran, but he had the
priceless courage of youth and the rare
discretion of age
Slowly we worked our way from
the head of Port Royal sound, three
miles up that tortuous river Tulli-
finney. There were times, my boy,
when we had to hold our very breath,
so close were we to the shore We
could hear the tread of the sentries,
even hear them as they breathed heav-
lily or sighed-for those were the days
when signs were common, my friend.
I'VE reached the spot where the
chains lay buried in the water. 1t
makes my blood creep even now to
think of the danger we were in. One
shot from one of those nasty guns in
that port would have sent us all to
Davy Jones, and it would not have
required more than one little indis-
Greet action or unnecessary noise to
have started that shot on it's way.
Dear old Joe was as cool as Il
cucumber. He seemed to know just
what was to be done without the tell
ing. Quietly and coolly we set to
work and before the gray light of
dawn crept into the skies the chains
lay harmless in the river bed. Back
again to our ship we worked our way,
and when we reached her Joe turnoG
to me and gave just a heavy sigh.
"'There was a lot of hell in that
job Platt,' said he, if the Johnnies had
only found it out
"And there was. Admiral Balch re-
ported that result of the investigation
to Admiral Dahlgren. We were COM.
plimented. But / know that the salts
faction Of having helped saw that
bunch of chains under water brought
more Joy to dear old Joe's heart than
all the compliments Of the universe.
HE was that kind of man. And
there we're many Of them in those old
days, too-men who did not stop to
count the glory Of deed, but only
to get the results they were after to
win out in the great battle before
them.
part of the little fleet steamed up
the river the next day. The Pluto,
notwithstanding the destruction Of the
chain, was blown to pieces. But the
Pawnee, following, with one shot from
her nine-inch gun soon put the fort out
of commission. We landed and did the
rest.
IT lost sight Of Joe for years." con-
tinued Commander Platt. "But one day
while sitting in a certain hotel in
Washington, [ noticed a gentleman
walking up and down, apparently
closely observing me. Finally he came
over to where I sat.
"'Platt, old fellow, isn't that your
he exclaimed.
Eyes, it was I, and he was dear old
Joe Coghlan, returned from the battle
of Manila bay covered with glory, but
the same old Joe.
1.-THE nation lost hero when he died
He was one of the brayest men that
ever lived and his bravery was all the
more valuable to his country because
it was tempered with cool head and
cautious bearing at ali times.'-Utica
Star.
Specimens of Irish Wit.
An Albany, N. Y letter to the Veter
ans Advocate gives the following speci-
mems of Irish wit rs furnished by Gen.
Palmer, who said There was an
Irish corporal in my company. One