boat.
A lad by the name of Nutter jumped out of the boat and offered his
place to Hynson, and a man by the name of Powers did the same thing.
Hynson refusing both offers, these men declared that then others might
take their places, as they were resolved to abide in the wreck with
him. Hynson and Powers were drowned. Nutter was saved. When the plunge
was made into the sea, Sailing-Master Clemson seized a studding-sail
boom, in company with five of the seamen. Being a swimmer, and
perceiving that the boom was not sufficiently buoyant to support them
all, he left it and struck out alone. He perished--the five men were
saved."

Just about this time the first of the gunboats reached the squadron,
and the young men of the steerage were intensely amused at the
smallness of the vessel. A midshipman from the flagship visited the
"Reefer." He went alongside of her in the barge, and, not knowing any
better, stepped over her port-quarter. Lieutenant Sterrett, in
command, said in his least gentle voice: "Sir, there is a gangway to
this vessel!" Before long even the youngsters learned to respect these
little steamers. Commodore Conner now made an expedition to capture
Alvarado, but just as he was about ready to begin a bombardment his
pilots predicted a "norther," and he hoisted the signal, "Return to
the anchorage off Vera Cruz." This was popularly regarded as a
_fiasco_, but doubtless the Commodore was entirely right, as Alvarado
might be taken at any time, and subsequently was taken in a manner
which has been a joke in the navy ever since. Of this something will
presently be said. Tampico, a town of 7,000 inhabitants, 210 miles
north of Vera Cruz, was next proceeded against. The bar at the mouth
of the Tampico River is considered the most dangerous on the coast,
and the larger vessels did not try to cross it. But the smaller
steamers and gunboats of the "mosquito fleet" went in, and the town
was surrendered without firing a shot. It was then occupied by the
army. The next movement was against Frontera, at the mouth of the
Tabasco River, and Tabasco, some seventy miles up that little stream.
Frontera was taken by surprise, and Commodore Perry, now second in
command to Commodore Conner, moved up the stream with vessels of too
heavy draught. He came near losing the "Cumberland" in the mud, and,
as it was, she was so disabled that when she was pulled from her perch
on a bar she had to be sent home for repairs. Perry, however, defeate