October 25, 1861 – The Iron-Clad Steamer at Savannah

A correspondent of the Montgomery Advertiser gives the following interesting particulars of the iron-clad steamer, whose arrival at Savannah with arms and stores for the Confederate Government, has been briefly noticed in the papers. These particulars were obtained from a gentleman who was himself on board of the steamer:

She had the rig of a full rigged brig, and coming into port under sail, with a light head of steam, and her smoke stack down, her appearance, at a short distance, indicating nothing more than an ordinary brig. She has no sign of a port-hole from the outside, and the only indication on the decks that she is designed for a war vessel is the presence of four ring bolts firmly fixed in the decks. She is designed to carry four guns on deck, and, although there are no gun carriages to be seen, yet there are four ten-inch rifled cannon slung in such a way that they could be brought into action, had there been occasion, on very short notice. Her bulwarks, instead of being solid, as usual, were constructed of fancy wire netting. She had on board 18 of the above guns, the Enfield rifles as before mentioned, and large quantities of munitions of war.

He said that they kept the hatchets closed and allowed no one to go between decks; therefore, we can get no description of her arrangements internally at present. She presents a beautiful appearance externally, and when she is fully fitted for action she will, no doubt, prove an ugly customer for the enemy to cope with.

Thus we are progressing, and gaining strength, step by step, to punish the

“Slaves for pillage fighting,
Obdurate vassals fell exploit enacting.
In moody death, and ravishments delighting:
No children’s tears, nor mothers’ groans respecting”

The Athens Post, Athens, TN

Unlaid Ghost of Tar Delays Ship

Illustration of the ghost appearing, with a spectral cat on each shoulder.

Mates Won’t Sail on the Annie Smith With Steve Jackson’s Wraith Roaming Decks.

SAILOR WAS MURDERED

And Worse Still, Two Black Cats perched on the Spirit’s Form, So the Commander of the Barkentine Was Unable to Put to Sea.

New, York.—It was not exactly the fault of Capt. Frederick Foote that the Annie Smith, as trim a little barkentine as you can see in any port, did not sail the other day for Brazilian ports. Nor was it the fault of Edwin Moore, the mate negro that of Steve Jackson, a negro seaman, lately deceased. The blame really belonged to the ghost of the said Steve Jackson.

The Annie Smith, with her general cargo stowed away, her clearance papers signed, her sails ready to he set, was unable to cast off, because Captain Foote could find no mate to sail in her.

And if you speak to Captain Foote and your conscience and your constitution can weather oaths that will make your hair stand on end, you will learn that when Steve Jackson slipped his cable with a knife stuck in between his ribs, he carelessly allowed his ghost to roam at random on the Annie Smith.