d passed as a first assistant
engineer, and was ordered to duty on the gunboat Essex, the
flag-ship of Commodore Porter, who was in command of the
Mississippi river flotilla. This was jumping out of the frying-pan
into the fire. He knew nothing practically of the engine, thinking
then, as he told his friend, that 'the pumping engine must be for
the purpose of moving the vessel sidewise.' But luck was on his
side. While lying in port, or before going to duty, he got a few
talks with Commodore Porter, and succeeded in getting to the rank
of Chief Engineer in the navy, and assigned to duty on the staff of
the Commodore. If those who read this will take the trouble to read
the report of the Secretary of the Navy to Congress in 1864, they
will find that that official transmitted to Congress that part of
Commodore Porter's report which embraces a report of Chief Engineer
Hasseltino on the construction of iron-clad gunboats, and
recommended the adoption of the report.

"INSPECTING GOVERNMENT IRON-CLADS.

"After the close of the ill-fated Red river campaign, Hasseltino
was ordered to St. Louis to inspect and superintend the
construction of the iron-clads which were being built by McCord &
Co. But just before leaving his vessel he had a quarrel with a
fellow-officer, whom he challenged; but when the challenge was
declined he opened on the other party with a battery of Derringers,
fortunately missing the object of his aim.

"In 1865, he went to some European port and brought a blockade
runner, the name of which I have forgotten. In the early part of
1866, he was mustered out of service and went to New Orleans,
intending to go into business. In the July riots he was shot
through the shoulder; and, thinking the climate unhealthy, went to
St. Louis. Here he fell in with a representative of the government
of Chili, and went to South America.

"In an attack on Callao--for Peru and Chili were at war--he fell
into the hands of the Peruvians, and with his usual luck was
sentenced to be shot. By bribing the guards, he succeeded in
escaping and making his way on board of an English vessel, and was
landed at Panama. Crossing the Isthmus to Aspinwall, he found a
vessel ready to leave for New Orleans; and, though without money,
managed to secure a passage to that place.

"Without money