Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / June 11, 1909, edition 1 / Page 1
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VOI>. X. NO. 38 'THE GUARDIAN ANGEL OF THE BLOCKADE-RUNNERS" COL. WILLIAM LAMB, WHOSE DEATH OCCURED RECENTLY IN NORFOLK Recalls the heroic Story of Fort Fisher—Strong Po sition Held Till Near the End of the War-Built the Famous "Mound" for the Protection of Blockaders. This is to tell some incidents in the career of the late Colonel Wil liam Lamb, who died recently at his home in Norfolk, Va. The Confederacy called him the ' hero oLFort lusher," the men who sup plied the Confederacy with arms and ammunition and carried away its which furnished the sinews of war, knew him as the "guardian angel of the blockade runners." ■ ...• . Many a man held a more impor tant command than did Colonel Lamb, but none, perhaps, was more vigilant than he in the performance of his duty. Fort Fisher guarded New Inlet, through which the blockade-runners passed into Cape Fear river on their wav to Wilming ton, the most advantageous port for their business, because of its prox imity to Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy. It was Lamb's business to protect the blockade runners as they slipped in and out on dark nights, and this work he did right well. The fort was strong so strong that the blockading squadron formed semi-circle out of range of its guns, and onlv when a runner broke through the cordon and was discovered did the ships close in. It was on these occasions that Lamb came to the rescue, sending shot and shell into the Federals, but always aiming in such a way that he would not hit the ship he way trying to save, The adventurous Thomas H. Tay lor recalls in his book, "Running the Blockade," his first at'empt to reach Cape Fear river in the Ban shee. The ship was within sound ings and was under the fire of six or seven gunboats, "when at once there was a flash from the shore, followed by a sound that came like music to our ears —that of a shell whirring over our heads. It was Fort Fisher, wide awake and warn ing the gunboats to keep their dis tance. With a parting broadside they steamed «ulkily out of range, and in half an hour we were safely over the bar. A boat put off from the fort and then—well, it was the days of champagne 'not whiskies and sodas—and one did run a blockade every day. * * "It was now that I made the ac quaintance—soon Jo ripen into warm friendship—of Colondl Wil liam Lamb, the commandant of Fort Fisher—a man of whose cour tesy, courage and capacity all the Knglish who knew him spoke in the highest terms. Originally a Viiginia lawyer, and afterwards the editor of a newspaper, he vol unteered at" the outbreak of the war, and rising rapidly to grade of colonel, was given the command of Fort Fishtr, a post which he filled with high distinction till its fall in 1865. "With the blockade-runners he was immensely popular; always on the alert, and ever ready to reach a helping hand, he seemed to think no exertion too great to assist their operations, .and many a smart ves sel did iiis skill and activity snatch from the very jawslSf the block aders. He came to be regarded by the runners as their guardiaV angel and it was no small support in'the last trying moments of a run to know who was in Fort Fisher. "So much did we value his ser , vices, and so grateful were we for them, that at my suggestion my firm subsequently presented him THE ENTERPRISE- WILLIAMSTON, N. C„ FRIDAY, JUNE 11. igog. with a battery of six Whitworth guns, of wjiich he was very proud, and good use he made of them in keeping the blackaders at a respect ful distance. They were guns with a great range, which mauy a crui ser found to its cost when ventur ing too close in chase down the coast. Lamb would gallop them dawn the sandhills, by aid of mules, and open fire upon the enemy before he was of his danger." "It was Colonel who built the 'mound' which every blockade-run ning captain looktd for as he ap proached the land. Captain Wil kinson. pert aps the most famous of that coterie of adventurous skippers describes this artificial Eminence in his "Narrative a Blockade- R:.n ner." - v ' Two guns were mounted upon it," he says, "and it eventually be came a site for a light, and very serviceable to blockade runners. • Joined by a long, low isthmus of sand, with the higher mainland, its regular conical shape enabled the blockade-runners easily to identify it from the offing; and in clear weather it showed plain and distinct against the sky at uight. the military men used to laugh slyly at the Colonel for undertaking its erection, predicting that it would not stand; but the re sult showed the contrary; and what ever difference of opjuion may have •xisted with regard to its value as ft military position, there can but be one as to its utility to the block ade-runners, for it was not a land mark aloue along this monotonous coast, but one of the range lights for crossing New Inlet bar was placed upon it. * *'.♦ * * These lights were only set after signals had been exchanged be tween the blockade-runner and tlie shore station, and were\ removed immediately after the vessel had entered the river." It is related that Colonel Lamb's wite, a native of Rhode Island, lie came loyal to the South after the war began, left two of their children with their grandparents in the North, and took the third, a baby, to Fort Fisher, having been allowed to pass through the Federal lines by special permission of the Secre tary of War. The soldiers built her » cottage on the Atlantic beach, a mile North of the fort, and this little home was sometimes exposed to the shells fired at belated block ade runners. In the "Southern Historical Papers," written by the Colonel he says: "It was a quaint abdde, con structed in most primitive s*yle, with rooms around one big chimney, in which North Carolina pine knots supplied beat and light on winter nights. This cottage became historic, and was famed for fugal but'tempting meals which its charming hostess would prepare for bis distinguished guest: "Besides the many rllustTiojus 'Confederate army and navy officers who weje delighted to find this bit of sunshiny civilization on the wild sandy beach, ensconced among the sand dunes and straggling pines and blackjack, maay celebrated English .Naval > officers enjoyid its hospitality under assumed names— Roberts, afterward the renowned Hobart Pasha, who commanded the Turkish navy; Murray, now Admiral Murray - Aynsley, long aince retired, after having been rapidy promoted for gallantry rfnd meritorions services in the British navy; the brave but unfortunate Hugh Burgoyne, who went down in the British iron-clad, Cap tain, in the Bay of Biscay, and the chivalrous Hewett, who won the Victoria Cross in the Crimea and was knighted for his services as ambassador to King John of Aby ssinia. and who after commanding the Queen's yatch, died lamented as Admiral Hewett. "Besides these there were many genial and gallant merchant cap tains, among them Halpiu. who afterward commanded the Great Kastern while laying ocean cables, and famous war correspondents— the Hon. Francis C. Lawley, M. P., correspondent of the London Times, and Frank Vizetelly, of the London lllustruted News , afterward murdered in the Sudan. Nor must the plucky Tom Taylor be fdrgot ten, supercargo of the nanshee and Night Hawk, who, by his coolness and daring escaped with a boat 4 £ crew irom the hands of the Fede rals after capture off the fort, and who was endeared' to the children as the Santa Claus' of the war. "At first the little Confederate was satisfied with pork and pota toes, corn bread and rye coffee, with sorghum sweetening; but after the blockade-runners made her acquaintance the * impoverished storeroom was soon filled to over flowing, notwithstanding her heavy requisitions of it for the post hos pital, the sick soldiers and sailors always being a subject of her ten derest solicitude, and often the hard-worked and porely-fed col ored the little lady of the cottage for a tempting treat.'' Fort Fisher was att acted by Por ter's fleet 011 December 24, Forty three vessels threw projec tiles of every discription into the sand dunes, but Lamb's little gar rison, assisted by a naval detach ment, held the enemy at bay, and he withdrew on DecerttUef 28, only to W-appear unexpectedly on Jan uary li, 1865. A combined assault by a large naval and military fori e, ten times the size of that com manded by Lamb, was successful after three days; Fort Fisher fell, and Wimington was lost to the Confederacy. Several incoming blockade-run ners, unaware of the success of the attack, actually a'uehored under the fort's guns before they discov ered that no Confederates were there to answer the familiar signals. Some were fortunate enough to '/et away, but others fell into the hands of the Federals. The blockade running game was up, and the stream of supplies to the Confed eracy was ended, though Lamb had done best to keep Cape Fe.ir river open. —N. Y. Post. HASSELL ITEMS Miss Ora Rawls spent last werk here. Mr. Van Grey went to Rober sonville Sunday. Miss Alina Fleming spent Mon day in Tarboro: Mr. W. D. Hymin who has been sick, is improving. Messrs. Jim Kawls and Alex. Powell were here Sunday. Mr. H. H. Burroughs spent Sunday and Monday here. Robert Salsbury spent Sunday afternoon in Robereonville. Mrs. John. Rawls went to Oakley Sunday and.returned Tuesday. Mr. W. L. Sherrod", of Hamil ton, was here Friday afternoon. Miss Lucy Powell is spending sometime in the home of Mr. J. H. Rawls. . - Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Salsbury returned Monday from an extended trip to Washington, D. C., and Lynchburg, Va., where they visited their daughter, Mrs. William A. Ayers. ROBERSONVILLE NEWS ITEMS Mr. Robert SalsbMry was h e re Sunday. W. H; Everett attended a pic nic near Bethel. Mr. Van Grey of Hassells was in town Sunday. Mr. J. A. Mizell went to Wil liamston Tuesday. Miss Blanche Daniel is visiting in town this week. Miss Isabel Morton went to Bt thel Wednesday. Miss Nora Fowden of Williams ton was in town Wednesday. Mr«., Kliza Cox spent several days in Greenville last week. Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Perkins are visiting Mrs. L. T. Roberson. Miss Irene McNab left Thurs day for her home in Baltimore. Dr. J. T. Undetwood spent Sun day with Mr. W. W. Silsbury. Miss Lillie Jenkins of Tarboro is visiting Miss Lizzie Roberson. ' l'rof J. D. Kveiett went to Rocky Mount Wednesday on btisi- Miss Caddie' Purvis, of Dunn, has been visiting friends bere this week. Mr. B. F. Bullock of Rocky Mount was seen 011 our streets Sunday. Ouite a number went from here to Hethal to attend a picnic Wed nesday. Mrs J. G. Godard, of Dunn, is spending the week with Mrs. 11. H, Pope. Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Dunning and J. Paul Simpson were in town Wednesday Mfsdames G. M. Roberson and R. |. Nelson spent Monday in Williamston. Mr. J. B. Edmondson went to Washington Monday tft his eyes treated. Mesdames McNatighton and Frav ley spent last Tuesday wjth Mrs. ! R. J. Nelson. Miss Bettie Roberson entertained Tuesday night in honor of Miss Hilda Knight. • . Mr. Jackson and family of lias sells moved here Saturday to reside permanently. Wiley Rogerson & Co., are mak ing great improvement by install ing new machinery. Potatoes are coming to town. R. L- Smith & Co., bought the first, paying $3.5° or them. The friends of Mr. Tom Brftton regret to learn of his illness, and wish him a speedy recovery. Miss Annie Mooring, after spend ing some time with Miss Minnie Bryant at Gold Point, is at home again. The ice cream supper given by Misses Blanche and Nina Rober son Friday night was very enjoy able to all present. Messrs. .Harris, Price and Wom bles organized a Jr. O. U. A. M. Council Friday night with a mem bership of fourty-eight. Miss Louise Rives returned from Greenville last Saturday accom panied by her two sisters, Misses Delha and Annie Rives. Mr. Leon Rooks, who has been ill for some time at the home of Mrs. Tompson, died last week. He leaves a wife and child to mourn his loss. They have the sympathy of the community. The son of Mr. and Mrs. John Whitfield, of Apex, was killed by a train Saturday. He was only nine years old. The remains we«e brought here that day, and were buried Sunday in the family ceme tery at the home Mr. J. J. R. Whitfield. si.oo a Year in Advance GOVERNOR REFUSED TO COMMUTE SENTENCE ROBERT ROBERTSON PAID PENALTY ON GALLOWS TODAY Attorneys Made a hard Fight For Negroe's Life--Sen tenced to hang November 12, 1908--Case Carried to Supreme Court--Decision of Lower Court Affirmed. * Robert Roberson, the negro who murdered Charles Whichard at Robersonville in August 1908, paid the penalty of his crime in the jail yard here 10-day. lively pre eauiton to render the execution private as provided by law had been made by Sheiiff J. C. Craw ford. The number of guards al lowed, with attending physicians and ministers, were in theinclosure. yuite a number of men and boys filled with' morbid curiosity stood around the court house yard. At 11:46, the condemned man, I atttended by the Sheriff, his depu ties and his spiritual adviser, walked out of the jail and ascended the scaffold with firm steps and a song of praise 011 his lips. His face bore every mark of resignation The black cap and noose were adjusted by Deputy J. H. Page, and the condemned man was asked if he had any word to say. He replied: "None, except Lord have mercy upon me. Gentlemen, good by, I am i?oing my eternal home of rest." He piayed audibly and announced that he was ready. At 11.51. Sheriff Crawford cut the rope aiul the trap fell. Not a mus cle moved in the suspended body. After an interval of nine and a half minutes the man was pro ! nounced dead by the attending | physicians, Drs. Rhodes, York, j Williams and Uoyd. At 12:06, the body was taken down, placed in a | casket and given to his people, ; who carried it to Robersonville for ! interment. The Times of Raleigh, June 9th, A hard fight has been made for life of Robert Roberson, who killetj, his employer, Mr. Whitchard, in the town of Robersonville, Martin County, in the summer of 1908. The negro escaped, and for several days was hunted from swamp to swamp and was finally captured. |He was tried at the September term of Martin County court, and convicted of uyirder in the first degree. An appeal was taken to the Supreme Court, wlr'cli affirmed the decision of the lower court. A I reprieve was granted and a final ! effort made to get a commutation l of sentence to life imprisonment. ) This the governor refused to do. j Concerning his refusal, the gover nor says: "While the trial judge, solicitor, one of the jurors, and the supreme court judge who wrote the opinion in prisoner's case 011 appeal, recom mend commutation to life impris onment, no fact is disclosed show j ing, nor do either of those offici als express the opinion that the verdict was wrong, and 110 de velopment since the trial has oc curred in mitigation of his offence. Seventy-one citizens sign a peti tion recommending commutation,in which they state that some doubt has been raised in the minds as to whether he was guilty of murder in first degree. "Ninety-eight citizens of Rober sonville, in which the crime was committed, including the mayor, five town commissioners the police man. the superintendent of the graded school, and the attorney aided the solicitor in the prosecu tion, protest against changing the sentence of the court. "He had a fair trial, was ably de fended, and twelve good men on oath and from evidence, found him guilty of murder in the first degree beyond a reasonable doubt The verdict is amply sustained by the testimony. Tflere i* no claim of unbalanced mind, the prisoner armed himself, went to the win dow of the butcher shop of de ceased to demand #1.50, over which they had had a dispute, having stated that if lie did not get his money there would be trouble. He made his demand, 'was -refused, and tlven, in accord with his prev iously formed purpose, in case of refusal, as the jury must have found, he opened fire on deceased, shooting three times and then run ning. Declining to interfere with the execution of the sentence pro nounced by the law in this case is a painful discharge of duty." EVERETTS ITEMS Mr. Kd. James of Robersoville spent Friday in town. • Rev. Mr. Vernon filled his regu lar appointment here Sunday. Dr. John W. Williams spent a few days in Washington, last week. Miss Lucy Riddick is spending this week with Miss Fonnie Wool ard. Rev. Mr. Belk of Wilson, spent Saturday with Mr. (>. P. Mc- Naugliton. Mrs. Sam Fraley left Friday for Elizabeth City to spend some time with relatives. Friends were glad to see the smiling face of C. 1» Kiddick in, town this week. Miss Fonnie Woolard of Hear 'Grassapeiil SblUlOUy and Sunday with Mrs J. S. I'eele. Mr. J. T. Barnhill is on the sick list this week- His friends wish for him a speedy "recovery. The young men of liveretts and Robersonville gnve a pic-inc and fish-fry to the visiting voting ladies last Friday. Mr. T. C. Jones, the clever salesman for Michell, Ambech Co., and little daugeter were in town Wednesday. Mr. H. 11. Burroughs, who has finished a business course at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., is at home for a few days. Farmers are bringing in loads of Irish potatoes this week. Crops are good and prices high. Kvery bodv goes home sniiliug. Mr. Henry Taylor of Roanoke Rapids, who has been spending a few days at "Hotel James", left Monday for Washington. Misses Daisy and Lillie Wynne of Williamston were* the quests of Mrs. S. F. Kverett on Washington street, Friday and Saturday. Hon. J. A. -Whitley who has been spending a few days in Rocky- Mount, returned home Saturday accompanied by his little Altermise Boyd. Could Not Bi Better. No on" has ever made a salve, ointment, lotion or balm to com pare with Bucklen's Arnica Salve. Its the oue perfect healer of Cuts, Corns, Burns, Bruises Sores, Scalds, Bpils, Ulcers, Eczema, Salt Rheum. For Sore eyes, Cold Sores, Chapped Hands its supreme. Infallible far Piles. Only 25c at all Druggist.
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
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June 11, 1909, edition 1
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