New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-07-22
RUNNING A BLOCKADE

All will ssrabi.hss msass.
charged accordingly. 958
7 RUNNING A BLOCKADE sl
Re- woii65 BY VIM n THoMEs. 'ssa e.
Tie Republics Of Chill and Peru were, some
time in 1885, engaged in bitter war. The
former power had % few slo0ps of-war, and one
or two races, and with them kept up close
blockade of the few seaports Peru can boast Of,
until the natives of the latter country became
seriously distressed for some of the common
necessaries Of life. Fruit and cattle they had
| in abundance, 80 there was no danger Of starv-
4 ing; but there was not q pound of coffee or
sugar in the cities Of Callao and Lima, the two
principal places in Peru. .4f.4 .,,
/ Owing to the blockade, there was no prospect
of obtaining supply; and, as a Peruvian would
4 sooner go without eating than without his coffee
and sugar, the Government began to think they
should be obliged to sue for peace with Chill, as
the populace gave signs ofinsurreetion, and the
officials too well knew the tickle character Of the
people whom they ruled to oppose their wishes
any great length Of time. e's sTt5ltaS fezFa
/ The ship Grace was lying in the harbor OF
Valparaiso, loaded with -four, sugar and coffee,
/ and o few Yankee notions, which the owners
expected would pay large per centage on their
| cost. The Grace was one of the fastest vessels
out of Boston, and was commanded by a smart,
| go-ahead man, who was determined to make his
fortune as soon as possible, and had always been
noted for his good luck. He had few thousand
dollars interested in the cargo, and hoped to
reap large harvest by its sale. In this. how
ever, be found he was to be disappointed; as,
\ while the ports of Peru were closely hlockaded,
those Of Chill were open for vessels Of all nations
| to come and 60 without hinderance. In conse-
quence, the markets at Valparaiso were giutted
with merchandise, and prices Of staple articles
falling every day '.1z iiiE Ei4alces 81 EtF.
The captain, whose name was Clark, came on
4 board the day after our arrival Q was but 8
/ youngster then, and was making my first voyage
| to sea as cabin -boy) with dreadful solemn
! looking face He took his seat at the supper
table, and remained in deep thought for few
minutes, and then looking mp, spoke to his mate,
| who, in the most unconcerned manner possible,
was picking away at the fresh beef which had
/ been obtained from the shore, with relish that
a long diet on salt junk only could give and if
ne noticed the gloomy brow of his captain, he
was determined to satisfy his appetite before he
asked any questions, -t..f..--..
& It's ievilish unfortunate" said Capt Clark.
livery, said the mate, hismouth full of meat.
sb but l told lem to send off another quarter in
| themorning, as this one would only lastsa day"
4 ssWhat are you talking about cried the
captain, impatiently.
9 Why, the beefa we could only get one hind
quarter this noon.' replied themate, whose name
Il was DroOKSs Sbouus aDle- Douleu lcllOWs Will y
voice like the roar of a lion, and the strength Of
an elephant in his huge, brawny arms.
& D--n the beef! am thinking about the
cargo" E5& ss s3Aasa gtaa lf3 -tie.
-ss oh supposed you meant the beef. But
what's the matter-is there no market ''fvs-1s.
/ ssThere's more provisions on shore now than
| they will consume in a twelvemonth," said the
Ioaptain. SIS 5as.L zlszs.ia
- What shall you do, sir. Discharge cargo,
or try and find another market:' demanded
theimate, relinquishing his attacks on the beef
tplatter, when he found there was nothing left
but bones for him to gnaw.saa rrf5a q l5i
i 81 don't know what to do. My consignees
say 1 shall lose and that l don't wish to do.
| We're it not for this confounded petty war, I'd
run down to Callao and find market"
-fssWhy not do so now, sir 2" demanded the
mate, nibb1ing bit of ship bread for the want
of some thing better. 5a5 sta.5,; q
10 The port is blockaded by three Chilian ves-
sells of war % ~
.sWhat of that sir 20 a5 *55 asIf
L,, q Why, we couldn't get in there, and if we
made the attempt We should be taken,p cried
thecaptain, pettishly. a@s o.qs 5s..oA lfs4s Il
aa s don't believe there's blasted craft in the
Chi1ian navy that can sail with the Grace, give
them any wind they wish. If we should get
! overhauled, why, we'll plead Ignorance of the
war; said the mate, with some animation.
q Egadi I've half mind to try it. There's
market for every thing we've on board. We
could more than double our money" said the
captain, walking the cabin floor, and musing as
he spoke a tyg 4 = ga ~ H
aas9 There's but little risk, and a. good deal o
. money to be made by the operation" replied
Brooks.
8 I'll do it, if lose my ship. Say nothing
but o-night wen get under weigh and droi
quietly out of the harbor. must go on shore
and get the ships papers from the Consul. See
that all is ready, but do not create suspicion
Of our intentions in that custom house oficer'i
presence, who looks as though he might take {
hint without the aid of a kick T. and Clark wen
= over the side, and was rowed on shore.
Before dark the mate had made his prepara
: tions, yet did every thing in SO quiet a mannel
: that no notice was attracted. Soon after darl
thecaptain came alongside with theships papers
! and, although the American Consul had strongl,
urged him to abandon the enterprise, as one 0
great hazard, Clark refused to listen, and merel,
! requested secresy as to his destination. Thi
! was readily promised, and fearful that the new
.. would reach the Chilian Governments ears, VI
!. weighed anchor that night at about l2 o'clock
' and with fresh Southern wind left the harbor
. After the ship was safe outside, a boat wa
J, sent to the nearest land with the custom -hous
!. officer, who had been stupefed by liberal dose
Y of brandy at an early hour in the evening, ant
had snored during the process of getting the shil
I uDuer We1gn. lie looked around Win some sur
lprise when we aroused him, and it took a libera
supply of cold water about his head to bring hin
|. to his senses and prevent relapse. As soon Al
. the boat returned it was hosted up, and setting
all sail, with studding, sails, allow ard aloft, w
plowed our way through the smooth sea, and by
q daylight had lost sight of the high mountains
. which overlook Valparaiso. -E
On the tenth day after leaving port we com
: menced sharp look out for cruisers, and as W,
: drew near Callao our vigilance was uneeasing
6 there being two men at the mast head to Civ
. notice if any thing appeared during the night
e On the morning of the eleventh day we saw tn
T. coast of Peru for the first time, but OF too grea
a distance to distinguish whether there were an,
u vessels under the land watching our approach
V As the wind was high, we boldly steere1 for tn
y port, expecting to run in under cover of tn
darkness, if we were not brought to by one
g the blockading force. At sundown we were still
! some twenty miles from Gallao. We took ou
I bearings. and as the breeze ffeshened, eongrat
y ulated ourselves that the blockade had bee
e removed, or had been disposed of in some wa,
: by the Peruyians. Still, CLARK and Brooks di
0 not relax their vigilance, but swept the horizon
with their night glasses and kept every soul Of
deck to work the ship. 352is 4N2
a 1t was near nine o'clock, There was no moon
d and for d wonder, but few stars were visible
: when suddenly, directly in our course, d roeke
), flew into the air, and shed blue, faint ligh