Antelope Floods While Pumps Try To Keep Up
On 31 August 1864, the paperwork on her purchase was finally completed. By 4 September, the tinclad—commanded by Acting Master John Ross—was at Pass a l’Outre where she had relieved the sidewheeler Meteor. While she was there, she began taking on considerable water; and her leaks steadily increased. An inspection of the inside of her hull revealed that ". . . the leak was not confined to any one place, but extended to all parts of the bottom sides." After she had been on station for a full week, Ross reported ". . . the condition of the vessel and that I was obliged to keep up 60 pounds of steam to work the steam pumps, as we could not keep her free by the hand pumps."
The ship was relieved as soon as possible and ordered back to New Orleans, Louisiana, for repairs. On the evening of 22 September, during her trip upriver, Antelope came upon Suffolk—abandoned and in a sinking condition—and towed that Army transport to shoal water where she would be safe on the flats. Antelope then resumed her ascent of the river.
Read more about this topic: USS Antelope (1861)
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“the rusty
Pump pumps over your sweating face the clear
Water, cold, so cold! you cup your hands
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