But now before his eyes appeared a welcome sight, the dark
hull of a Union gunboat.
"Ship ahoy!" came a loud hail from the exhausted man.
"Who goes there?" answered the lookout on the gunboat.
"A friend. Take me up."
The gunboat was quickly in motion. This might be a
Confederate ruse, possibly a torpedo might have been sent to
blow them up; they were in dangerous waters. Boats were
quickly lowered, and rowed towards the small object on the
stream.
"Who are you?" came the cry, as they drew near.
"Lieutenant Cushing, or what is left of me."
"Cushing!" was the excited answer. "And the Albemarle?"
"Will never trouble a Union fleet again. She rests in her
grave on the muddy bottom of the Roanoke."
Loud cheers followed this stirring announcement. The sailors
bent to their oars, and quickly had the gallant lieutenant
on board. Their cheers were heightened tenfold when the crew
of the Valley City heard what had been done. In truth, the
exploit of Lieutenant Cushing was one that for coolness,
daring, and success in the face of seemingly insuperable
obstacles has rarely been equalled in history, and the
destruction of the Albemarle ranks with the most notable
events in the history of war.
ALASKA, A TREASURE HOUSE OF GOLD, FURS, AND FISHES
In 1867, when the far-seeing Secretary Seward purchased
Alaska from the Russian government for $7,200,000, there was
an outcry of disapproval equal to that made when Louisiana
territory was purchased from France in 1803.
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