Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1877 — Was Farragat Lashed to the Rigging? [ARTICLE]

Was Farragat Lashed to the Rigging?

A writer in Scribner for February* who was an eye-witness of the battle in Mobile Bay, takes the negative of the above question. We quote a part of the account: When the fleet had crossed the bar and was inside of Sand Island, and had approached to within about one mile and a quarter of Fort Morgan, Admiral Farragut coollv and deliberately ascended the starboard main rigging and halted just beneath the top. Passing his arm up through the “lubber’s holo,” he seized the foot of the pilot, Martin Freeman by name, who was standing in the maintop giving orders to the helmsman. The signal quartermaster, in obedience to the orders of Capt. Drayton, took up a ham-mock-lashing to secure the Admiral to the shrouds, so that in case he should be killed, his body would not fall overboard or on the deck; but, by Freeman’s advice, the Admiral would not allow it to be passed around him. The quartermaster returned with his lashing to the deck; and Farragut, the brave, passed the long line of torpedoes and the Confederate forts and fleet unscathed—while still clinging to the foot of his trusty old pilot, Martin Freeman. This is the truth which the historian should receive and record, if he chooses to make note of what wps but au incident in that terrible action. Many survivors of that day will vouch for the above account. As for Martin Freeman, he still lives in the immediate vicinity of the bay where the battle was fought—being the principal keeper of Horn Island Light-House, in Mississippi Sound. Should any one chance to question this writer’s assertion in regard to the above matter, ho is respectfully referred to Mr. Freeman, who was probably better acquainted, at the time, with the movements of Admiral Farragut than any other individual in the fleet—Capt. Fercival Drayton, perhaps, excepted—and he is known as the heroic and loyal son of South Carolina, and fleet-captaia of the West Gulf Squadron. The philosophy of Admiral Farragut’s chosen position is easily explained. During the noise of the battle, he naturally desired to bo so statioaod that when no human voice could be heard aloft, should it be necessary for him to communicate with the pilot, by tightly griping thp foot of that person the signal would be noticed; and, as a fact, Mr. Freeman did respond, and, by bending down, lent his ear to the “lubbers’ hole” for such orders as the Admiral wished to givo him. Thebe have been many reasons given for the present business depression existing in a large portion of the world, but the latest is founded on the Suez Canal. This idea was first promulgated by the London Beonomiet. According to that paper, the opening of this canal has diverted from employment about 2,000,000 sailing tonnage and established steam tonnage, shortened the time for bperati’ona In India produce In Europe to the extent of five-sixths, obviated the necessity of accumulating and carrying large stocks in Europe—or, to sum up, it has rendered unnecessary a large and costly amountel the old machinery of an important branch of the world’s trade—warehouses, sailing vessels, capital, six months’ bills, and the merchant himself with his large retinue of employes—and has paused immense losses, mischief and confusion.