Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-20
THE MIR ACLE OF MOBILE BAY 17.1a$s

This story Is not fiction 1t Is an
amazing account OF an episode in con-
nection with the naval battle In Mo-
bile bay. on August . 1864. when the
monitor Tdcumseh was sunk la action.
Tho names In the story, az told by Roar
Admiral Goodrich, are real, and with
the historic facts set forth are In the
records OF the great Ciyil war,
-HE story was told TO mo by my
friend and shipmate Gardner
Cottrell, who died many years
ago iE early manhood. a splen-
did, handsome officer, full OF energy
and animated by the Hottest profos-
slonal ideals. Such men are hard 20
replace, but the memory OF their gal
lantry and their patriotism remains
TO stimulate those who follow them.
At the time OF which he spoke Cottrcli
was an acting master in the navy.
serving on board the new monitor Te-
cumseh, the most formidable vessel In
the squadron which Farragut took into
Mobile bay that bright summer % uIoin-
ing In 1854 To deal another OF MS crush
ing blows Tor the preservation OF the
Union.
otNfTdA N'ttt sllltA the Mhl llaN Gnu
cd, COttTsll and /, with some OF our
messmstes. had gathered ON the hurit-
cane deck Of the good ship Frolic IN
Gibraltar harbor to smoke our after
dinner cigars and to enjoy the Cuui cve-
ming breeze that came softly through
the historic straits. a few miios distant
from our anchorage fhe lights of the
old walled town were beginning To ap-
pear. In the west the rosy hues Of the
setting sun threw a soft veil of l,lor
over the Spanish hills back Of Algeclrus
over the tranquil waters OF the great
bay and over the Apes Hlls ana Thu
Moroccan mountains looming grandly
above the African shore line. The!
came back 20 Us reflected from the sails
Of scores Of peaceful merchant ves-
sells passing into and out Of the Medi-
teiranean by It's only gateway (for Suez
was yet an unplerccd isthmus). aud
they brought out In gilded relief the
towering and impressive silhouette Of
the famous rock, Great Britains only
foothold ol the continent OF Europe.
Tine time and the scene alike favored
rcminisCence. One word led TO another.
the chambers Of memory were opened,
and without realizing what he was do
ing Cottroll sldod into his narrative.
A. we'll as I can recall II after the
lepso Of four decades, this is what he
said
! wonder II any or YOU can forget
his sensations on the eve Of battle To-
day has been exactly like that proceed
ing the Mobile hght something in the
air has brought II all back TO me. and
have been living over again the eN-
perences of that thrilling event Tho
extraordinary nature of one OF it's hap
penings 7 have never understood. for
It borders on the miraculous II was.
OF course. a coincidence pure and sim
pie. and yet II remains fresh in my
thoughts 20 this moment. marvellous
and inscrutable as ever what was ltr
Well, I'll tell you II you care to listen.
READY TO GO ON.
"As you ali remember. Farragut had
moved his vessels from the Mississippi
river 10 the eastward in the summer Of
1864 and had stationed them on Mobile
bar For weeks they swung to their
anchors. maintaining a strict blockade
OF the port, now rolling slowly and
steadily from side 10 side I'm the low
ground swell OF the gulf now steaming
ahead 10 keep from dragging when n
nurther blew heavily of shore or n
short lived southeastern threatened to
set them adrift 10 pile up on the hos
tile beach. 10 wns n drcary existence,
enlivoned only by the occasional ad-
vent OF mail boat from New York or
Hampton Roads or the welcome visit
OF supply steamer bringing fresh
provisions to vary the monotony Of
salt beef, soup and bully and hard
tack
There was little Intercourse between
the various ships. for It was war time
and every one had 20 be ready for the