The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-10
OF THE FAMOUS CRUISERS I'm OLD NAWY

vessel that was raging with yollow
fever On the NTH day aftor leaving
Green Cay, only one ilrornan ana four
deck hands of the crew wcer able to
work. The sick and well had been
separated: the former wore on the
quarterback where Matntt, In adIi-
tion to his duties us commander, la
bored day and night as nurse and
doctor.
Maffitt headed his ship for the port
of Cardenas. Cuba The Federal block
AIDE was ON the lookout. but. for
tunately for the "Elorida,'' the fleet
was drawn by blockade runner that
scudded past. ahead Of the cruiser.
And then Mamtt ran In. But, though
lie was welcomed, he found no relief
Tor yellow fener was epidemic OH shore
and medical supplies were gone. 1t
seemed that the ship was to be lost
before she had captured Il prize. An
officer was dispatched 10 Havana for
aid and recruits for the crew, while
the suffering scamen grew worse and
some died. But the worse was to
come. The commander. the only man
left TO nurse the others. suddenly be-
came Ill He sent for his clcrk
I've written directions IN regard to
the sick. and certain orders in rclu-
ton 10 the vessel: also some private
letters which you will please take
chargc Of" weakly said Mamtt.
The clerk looked ustonlshed. and
asked:
What do YOU mean, sir? why do
you say th!s?"
II have all the symptoms Of yellow
fever; and. as 1 am much broken
down, may not survive the attack" re-
piled the commander
Stricken Captain Refused to Die.
Among the papers tho clerk found
minute directions how to care for the
sick. and clear directions for the fn-
turc operations OF the ship. Mniiltt
went to his berth. There indeed was
now nothing hut woe on board the
FLORIDA"
a few days later the officer returned
from Havana with twelve volunteers
and surgeon. y conference of doe
tors was called. AS they lowered over
the captain they shook their heads.
''lic cannot live" was the verdict.
For three days Maiiitt had not spok-
en-; but the words OF the doctors open
cd the captains eyes, and he drawled:
You are all mistakcn---l have got
TOO much to do. and have no time to
dic!-
The vessel was sailed TO Havana: bu,
the neutrality laws were so strict that
MafIitt, still sick. but navigating his
ship. decided 10 run for home.
In the afternoon Of September al,
Fort Morgan at the entrance to Mobile
was sighted. Three Federal vessels
patrolcd the harbor. MaHitt was
brough, 10 the deck still too weak
to stand alone. The British nag was
raised in place OF the Confederate on
sign.
Diow Up Ship Hnthcr Thnn he Cnp-
Preparations had been made TO blow
up the ship II captured. but the true
Identity of the Florida was not dis
covered until the vessels were abreast.
y storm OF broadsidcs suddenly rocked
the steamer In her course. Matitt did
not have sufficient mon to man the
suns. The Florida cienvcd way
through the blockade and dashed into
the Confederate port.
During the spring and summer OF
1863 the Florida captured fourteen
prizes. one OF which. the Clarence. was
commissioned as a cruiser of the Con-
fcdcracy. in command OF Lieutenant
Read. and passed through many add
ventures between Chesapeake BAY
ana Portland. Me.
Inst Days Of the Historic Old Florida.
Several months later the Florida
arrived in the coast OF Brazil after a
succcssr cruise abroad She anchored
in Bahia harbor. Across tho bay was
the Federal warship Wachusett Both
commanders glowcrcd ut each other,
but were restrained from Instant CON
nict by the neutrality laws of the ma
lions.
Tho commander OF the Wachusctt
{ last could not restrain his emotion.
One day before the sun had risen the
Federal vessel raised anchor and at
tempted to give the appearance of
changing. anchorage. and. as though
by accident, rammcd the Florida.
AS the Wachusctt backed OFF tho
commander was chaErined TO find that
the cruiser was not sinking. His an
ger got the best of his, discretion, and
he fred broadsidc of small arms and
heavy guns into the Florida. The
cruiser surrendered and was taken to
Hampton Roads before the Brazilian
government could act Here the Flor
ida suffered her fate when a transport
careened against her and sank the
famous cruiser
Bntticship Georgia T0-Dny-and Then.
There was another old cruiser sail
ing the seas fifty years ago that bore
the proud name OF the Georgia. but
she was much unlike the costly bat