Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-24

federacy. In the face of this danger the
men defied the south again: There was
the island at that time. Here the popula-
ton fastened when the officer had re-
turned to his vessel. The stars and
Stripes in the shape of an old rag that
had graced the halyards of many little
coasting schooner was brought forth,
short pole was erected quickly at the top
of the lighthouse, and not long afterward
the Confederate officer was met with
vision of the flag Of the Union haunting
before his astonished eyes in answer to
his demand.
He took the only proper course under
those conditions and opened fire on the is
land. The Flagstaff was knocked from Its
position. the lighthouse shot to pieces and
the town shelled. Then the gunboat sail
ed away and left the Chink-a- Thinkers to
scene of flames and desOlation.
The islanders Strengthened matters out
after weeks of labor. The lighthouse they
never rebuilt. but one of their first cares
was to erect on the spot where its re-
mains lay scattered tall Flagstaff. and
at it's head place another Stars and
Stripes to take the place of the old one
now all bullet riddled.
Il
BY the time Chink-a-Tink had been
rendered inhabitable once more its sup
! plies ran low. Sea food was plentiful. but
the various staples, such as sugar, flour,
salt and the other luXuries that have be-
come practical necessities with civilized
people, were at very low ebb. Life on
the island was becoming most thank
less and comfortless affair.
Luckily two coasting schooners belong
ing to Steelman and his brother were
available for use. One of these was
sparingly provisioned by the "cap'n,' and
under command of his brother set sail
for Philadelphia to obtain. ifs possible,
the help of that city. Weeks passed and
no word Of the vessel reached the island.
Men, women and children watched the
horizon day after day, and little groups
gathered here and there to discuss the
probabilities Of capture by a Confederate
vessel Only Steelman guessed the true
cause of the delay. Meanwhile the
stomachs on Chink-a-Tink Jared very
badly.
Stee,man went quietly to work to fit
out his other vessel for a trip in search
of his brother, and when there was
finally no hope that the lost vessel would
return IN time to be of any use. he gather
ed a small crew, took the town records
schooner Sails were run up and the
second expedition set sail from Chink-a-
Tink.
Arrived in Philadelphia. Steelman went
ashore ana IOF SOHie udyS spent Oil las
time endeavoring to get an audience with
the mayor. Finally. through the good
offices of an influential friend. he was
granted the desired interview.
He told the official his simple tale of
the LOYALTY of Chink- a-Tink of the Con-
federate gunboat. and finally of the
scarcity OF food. but he was met only
with incredulity on the part of the mayor.
who even went so far as to warn him
that unless he made haste to leave the
vicinity of Philadelphis his person would
be liable to imprisonment and his vessel
to seizure as contraband of war;
X \
This latter development led Steelman
to believe that a similar fate had be-
fallen his brother. In fact. he had sus-
pected as much before he left his island
home. and taken care to fortify himself,
therefore. with the town records as proof
OF the loyalty of his townsmen. He ques
toned the official. and learned for GER
tainty that his brother had indeed been
taken prisoner of war and the vessel
seized.
Fired by this injustice. he renewed his
entreaties for aid. and begged the mayor
to send a gunboat down to Chink-a-
Tink TO investigate. He offered himself as
hostage and finally bethinking himself of
the. town records. which he had re-
served to play as his last card he brought
them forth. and in the end succeeded in
convincing the mayor So efrecfually that
that gentleman wrote release for Steel
mans brother. handed over the supposed
contraband vessel. stocked up both ships
with supplies and sent them back home
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