The Washington herald., 1914-10-29

Fifty years ago today Lieut.. William B.
Gushing. L. S. n, who on the night Of
October IS had destroyed the Confederate
ram Albemarle with q torpedo in the
Roanoke River at Plymouth. ". c.,
reached a Federal ship in Albemarle
Sound after an extraordinary escape.
In the attack on the ram described In
this series October 81 Cushing's launch
was shattered by the enemy's fire and
half swamped by the column Of water
thrown up by the torpedo. None Of her
crew OF fifteen men was seriously wound
ed. and on finding that escape In tho
boat was impossible Gushing. refusing to
surrender. gave the order, Each for
himself
He then removed his shoes and coat
and jumped into the river. The night
being dark and rainy. he hoped to swim
beyond the circle of light thrown upon
the water by a bonnre that had been
lighted by the enemy. and gain the bank
below the Confederate pickets.
Others had the same hope. One Of
those was Acting Ensign Thomas B. Gay.
This officer seized a life preserver, and
was striking out with Il when he en-
countered Acting Ensign William L. Ho-
worth. who was clinging to one Of the
logs of the boom surrounding the ram.
Believing that Howorth needed the life
ulblt IMAM HhllSGAAE Nag save
IL to him. Gay then swan TO the aban-
doned boat, cooly climbed aboard, and
before the enemy could reach him. de-
stroyed the two boxes OF ammunition
and the Carbines with which the party
had been equipped. He then jumped over
board again. and was found, chilled and
clinging to a log. by a boat from the
ram Howorth was also picked up.
Eleven Of the brave fifteen who bad man.
ned the launch were found by the enemy.
They were well treated. and were sent
prisoners inland. going first TO Salisbury.
y. c. next to Danville, Va, and finally
to Richmond. where. in February. 1865,
they were released on parole.
Sees Two Comrades Drown.
As Cushing, swimming for his life
for bullets still psttered in the water
about his abandoned boat as he struck
out-neared the far bank OF the Roanoke,
he saw a man near him, swimming in
the same direction.
1t was one of his party, Samuel Hig-
gins, a fireman. Gushing saw he was in
distress, and headed for him. but be-
fore he could reach him the man gave
a great gurgling yell and sank.
The enemys searching party was now
nearing Gushing. and he could hear them
speak his name. Abandoning hope of
ldnOlnS mere ne SlTuCh out OONn SlTG6h.
He was a strong swimmer. but the water
was cold. and he soon found that he was
engaged in a struggle with death.
He had gone some distance when he
saw another swimmer near him. Cushing
swan up to him, and found that II was
Acting Masters Mate John A. woodman.
The man was near gone. Gushing, though
his own strength was fast failing. put his
right arm under the man and swan with
him. His aid was in vain. In a little
time Woodman's strength was gone, and
throwing up his arms he sank like q
stone.
Determined that he would not risk fall
ing into the enemy's hands by landing,
and resolved to defy death vet further.
Cushing kept on down the dark river.
He lost all sense OF tune and distance.
His hands and feet moved, as II me-
chanically, but there was little strength
in his strides. His chief aim was to keep