The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-02-08

l
the command of Captain John L. Broome
They landed at the foot of Canal stree,
and formed in line and took up the march
for the customhouse. All was quiet fo,
a time Tut soon part of the crowd
mostly boys) began to cheer for JEFF
Davis. Arriving at the customhouse the
marines were drawn up in line with load.
ed muskets, thanked by the howitzers.
The people here made no demonstration
but looked on in sullen silence. CAPTAIN
Bell, Lieut.. Kautz and a boatswain's
mate carrying our ensign entered the
customhouse building, where they were
received by the postmaster, who greeted
them with great joy, informing them
that he was Union man and had ALWAYS
been; that he was not appointed by Jeff
Davis, but by Buchanan, and had been
permitted to hold over. The postmaster
showed them to the roof of the building,
where they found flag staff and hal
lizards. The boatswain's mate bent on the
flag and Lieut.. Kautz reported to Captain
Bell, "All ready, SIR and the Captain
gave the order, "Hoist away!" The
Lieut.. and the boatswaln's mate ran the
flag up to the truck amid great silence.
A guard with Lieutenant of marines
was left to guard the flag at the custom
house and the rest of the party moved
on to the city hall. At this time, says Mr..
Baker, secretary to the mayor, in his
account of the affair, the crowd had be-
come very angry. many exhibiting their
arms, but fortunately there was no out
break and the crowd was increasing as
the small body of the Union men ap-
preached the city hall and State flag.
There the marines were again drawn up
in line and the howitzers were placed in
position to rake the streets, which were
filled with thousands of people,"
That immense assemblage had the will
to annihilate the small party of sailors
and marines, but they had begun to
think, and the impression that resistance
to the authority of the United States
WOulO AfOAS lACA w. all oklQ ludl VI Tie
Squadron that lay in front of the city,
still no one knew and all expected that
there was few desperate men who were
ready to fire the train that would lead to
the magazine. The forces being station
ed at the howitzers, so placed to COM
mand the streets, as before mentioned
an open space was left in front of the
hall, across which Captain Bell, Lieut..
Kautz and the brave boatswain's mate
went to the mayors Office.
1t is to be regretted that the name of
this gallant boatswain's mate does not
appear on record. He had requested to
be permitted to perform this hazardous
duty. He knew the danger of going on
the roof of that building and thus be-
coming the target for perhaps hundred
rifles from the tops Of the surrounding
buildings, for he heard Mayor Monroe
when he told Captain Bell that he had
great fear of their thus being fired
on, and asked the captain not to blame
him, as he had used his utmost efforts to
prevent it; and yet this brave petty
officer persisted in performing that ex-
tremely hazardous duty; for he knew
that there were others who stood ready
to perform it. I have searched all the
records but fail to find his name, and are
forced to believe that it is another case
where the officers Of the Navy had dis
graced themselves and that there was
another case of a forgotten hero, as was
the case of Quartermaster Bill Conway
of Camden
10 make the appearance more terrible,
Captain B Il, after taking his station on
the second story. of the building, after
Lieut.. Kautz and the boatswains mate
had climbed the ladder to the roof, and
the boatswain's mate had pushed one
side the hatch that covered the passage
way to the roof. Captain Bell, in loud
and distinct commanding voice, ordered
the charge drawn from the howitzer that
faced down St. Charles street; and he
gave the guns crew the order for re-
loading, so that all in the immediate
vicinity could hear and understand. The
order was as follows: "Serve vent and
sponge! Load with cartridge! Load
with grape and canister! Prime!" At
this command the gunner inserted prim-
er in the vent and Selling the lockstring
with his right hand and stepping back
till the lockstring was taut, threw up his
left hand, signifying that he was ready
to fire at the command. At this critical
moment Mayor Monroe placed himself
deliberately in front of the muzzle of the
gun, and with folded arms looked the
gunner straight in the eye; thus furnish
ing one of the most thrilling tableaux
witnessed since the crucifxion of Christ.
Then Captain Bell from his elevated
position gave to Lieut.. Kautz and the
boatswain's mate on the roof of the
building, the command to haul down the
flag, which was done in awed silence. and
the flag was handed to Captain Bell. The
hush was broken by some in the crowd
shouting ''Three cheers for Mayor Mon