six in the
morning
It was hauled in , and the Bellevite was replaced in her former position . The tremendous report of the great gun in the small hours of the morning had startled all the people in the vicinity , though it was not till they left their beds that the news was conveyed to them . A party in the town just below the scene of the disaster to the Vampire had been collected , and they had taken a steamer to explore the river in search of the bold actors in the affair , as soon as the facts were known in the vicinity . The steamer had been running up and down the river since six in the morning . When the Bellevite passed up the river , she was promptly recognized by the investigating party on board of the Alert , which followed the steamer up to her anchorage . She came alongside some time after the crew had fished up the cable ; but Captain Passford warned her to keep off as soon as he discovered her intention to come alongside . She was a small steamer , and had at least twenty men on her deck , so that the captain thought it necessary to learn her object before she came any nearer .