"More Glorious News from Mobile The Surviors of the Tecumseh"
(Editors note: see the page on Josiah Conley for background information on this article)
THE SURVIVORS OF THE TECUMSEH
We are indebted to Mr. Josiah Conley, who was captain's clerk on the ram Tecumseh, for the following correct list of the survivors from the destruction of that vessel. There were one or two errors in all that have been published heretofore:
Acting Master Chas. F. Langly;
Acting Master Gardner Cottrell;
Acting 1st Ass't Engineer Charles Pennington
Acting 3d Ass't Engineer Frederick Scott
--- Collins, Pilot;
Captain's Clerk, Josiah Conley.
LIST OF MEN.
Samuel S. Shinn, Gunner's Mate;
James Gould, Quarter Gunner;
Francis Cozzens, Seaman;
William O'Brien, Seaman;
Richard Collins, Ordinary Seaman;
Peter Parker, Landsman.
HOW CAPT. CRAVEN WAS KILLED.
Mr. Conley also informs us how the gallant Capt. Craven, the commander of the ram Tecumseh, came to his death. After escaping from the vessel as she went down, he swam about for a short time, when just as a boat was approaching him, and it was almost certain that he would be saved, a ball from the gun of a rebel sharpshooter struck him, and after a short struggle he sank to rise no more. None but traitors would be guilty of so dastardly an act as firing on drowning men.
NOT BORN TO BE DROWNED
It seems settled that Mr. Collins, pilot of the ram Tecumseh, was not born to be drowned, or he would certainly have seen his last day on the 5th of August. At the time the torpedo destroyed the ram, he was standing upon her turret, and was thrown by the violence of the concussion into the water. Here he was seized by a comrade, and released himself (and was thereby saved from drowning,) only by the most desperate efforts.
Mr. Collins then secured a piece of floating timber, which supported his weight very easily. He was just beginning to feel safe and at ease, when a cannon ball from Fort Morgan struck the piece of wood, splintering and knocking it from his grasp. He was somewhat stunned, but still managed to keep himself afloat, until a boat from the Metacomet came up and saved him. He is now "as good as new."
