but plenty of blanks. A drawing took place while I was in the
city, and a number of us went to see it. The drawing was in a building
like a theatre. Prizes ranging from two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars down to one hundred dollars were in the wheel. The numbers of
the tickets were in another. A remarkable audience was in the seats;
rich and poor, black and white, and of all nationalities. Great
excitement prevailed until the numbers of all the great prizes were
called out. Then the crowd began to leave. Such low prizes as twenty
thousand and ten thousand dollars interested no one.

We remained one week in Havana and then sailed for Key West, eighty
miles distant; we were only a few hours at sea, and then our anchor was
dropped in Key West harbour. That place had changed wonderfully since my
last visit. From an indolent little fishing village and the home of the
"wreckers" it had become a lively little town. The army and navy were
well represented, and there was hustle and hurry everywhere. Wine and
beer were the only liquors allowed on the island, and the beer cost
fifty cents a bottle, so there must have been quite a profit for
somebody. Our stores had been placed on board, then the coal was
received, and when the bunkers were nearly filled it was discovered that
some of the lower deck beams were getting out of place. An order was
given to have the Nereus examined, and a report was given of her
condition. The news of the surrender of Lee was received, and quite a
celebration of the event took place. Next came the news of the
assassination of President Lincoln.

The Nereus was condemned as "unfit for service," and orders were given
for us to return to New York. About the 10th of May the Nereus arrived
at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and her career as a man-of-war was ended. The
paymaster received notice from the Fourth Auditor at Washington that my
resignation had been accepted on the 17th day of April, and he said that
he would have my account made out at once. I informed the gentleman that
he would do no such thing, and that when I should receive notice through
Captain Howell that my resignation had been accepted I should be
released from service, and not before then. Captain Howell decided that
I was right. The acceptance had been sent to Cape Haitien, and I was in
New York. The Nereus was put out of commission and the crew discharged.
All the officers, except myself, were "detached" and granted two months'
leave of