The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-10-29
How a Blockade Runner was Caught
IrnoIe snm,sLookOna.

! nassau is IuuS uSSCIlDcu Ny JIG "AiSCA
sThe harbor was crammed with craft OF all
sorts and Sizes the bay was full OF shipping
the little streets were crowded, and there was
continual stir and turmoil on the quay, all
too small for the press oftrattlc that daiiy
poured in. All this animation, all tins actlV-
ity, had been caused by the Federal BLOCKADE
Of the Southern coast; and cheerlul faces VI
the burghers attested the fact that Nassau was
the emnorium for contraband of war and
smuggled cotton, and that much money was
being spent in the island by those employed
| in this gainful but perilous commerce. But
wherever went, in tavern, grocery, store or
! counting-house, there was but one all-engros-
sing topic, one common subject Of interest
1.-THE blockade Such and such schooner had
been taken; such a brig had been burned,
cargo and all, to keep her out OF Yankee
hands such drogher had come in with cot
ton; such steamer had got safe to Charles
ton, with so many stand of arms on board
The Black-eyed Susan had been sunk by the
United States guEboat Sloper-no, she had
only received four round shot in her hull, and
| had escaped among the Sankey's. Who had
insured the DAYLIGHT? They would lose
snartly, for the vessel had been condemned,
whereas the PIy-by-Night had gotinto Charles
ton securely, and her freight Of Blakely guns
was worth twenty-three thousand dollars nett
profit.
"All this gambling and venturing, this stalk
| ing of fortunes on the speed OF vessel or the
wariness of captain, was thrilllngl y excl
| ting to the brokers, merchants and other
SPECTATORS who swarrned in the Nassau board
| ing houses. and who had only a pecunlary
interest in the game. And perceived that
the risks nearly balanced the favorable chan
ces that if many escaped, many
were taken; and the loss of the ship
was phiIosophically borne by her owners
HE ENGAGES PASSAGE.
At last he found a steamer about to sail
When do YOU start ? he asked the captain.
"The commanders voice sunk to whs-
per as he told me at sunset every landsman
must come on board, taking boat at some Sc
cluded jetty, to avoid prying eyes; and using
all reasonable caution, since Nassau termed
with Northern spies. Half an hour after sun
ldown he was to hoist signal, which was to
be replied to; and then the pilot would come
off, and the steamer would stand out to sea.
''After dark" muttered Pritchard, with al
oath, ''we may hope to get past that Yankee
/ thief that hangs about the island. The Gov
ernor babe her keep at the distance OF one
marine league, but she's always sneaking In
t now for coal, now for bread, now because
her engines out of order; and the Uniteo
States Consul communicates with her every
day. / tell you, shipmate, there isn't one OF
us that isn't logged up and down by rascal'
3 in Federal hire.
See there that mulatto hound has been atte
me these four days." pointing to dark com
plexioned fellow in the dress Of steve dOre
who on seeing himself Observed as ne stoot
g under the geranium hedge, lay down Will
e well-feigned nonchalance, and lit his pipe.
t 81 found good deal of quiet hustle anC
e suppressed excitement on board the Bonny
; Bell. The fires were bunked up; the swar
E thy faces and red shirts of the engineer and
t his gang were visible at the hatch of thei
e cyclopean den, getting breath of the COO
breeze before starting. Some brass guns thai
had been hidden under fruit baskets, hen-coops
and tarpaulins, were visible enough now; anC
beside them lay little heaps of round shot
., The crew hustled to and fro, and the Captain
), was so busy that he could hardly return {
e brief word and nod to my greeting. The
I sky grew darker, and surrounding objects dim
mer, every instant.
THE PASSENGERS.
r Before long the passengers arrive. Severa
So uthern gentleman, a few ladies and chill
dren, all making their way back from Europe
to their homes in Carolina or Virginia by thiI
? dangerous route, and all in peril of harsh i'm
! prisonment at least, in the event of capture
Z By the uncertain light | could see that most
j of them were pale and nervous; but they talked
d i'll an under tone among themselves, and did
i not appear anxious to enter into conversation
with strangers
I sect up steam J" ...
. ''By the time the hoarse roar of the esca
ping vapor grew loud and menacing Their
was fresh hustle on deck, and | heard tn
. captain give orders to stand by for slipping
; from the mornings and to hoist the signal, a
; we only waited for the pilot,
''1here they are slick and right-three ret
lights and green one, murmured a tall Vir
b gilman at my elbow; and looking up, saw
e Instantly they were answered by a similar
! signal from some window on shore
. THE PILOT.
''We'll soon see the pilot, now" said Pitch
ard, rubbing his hands in CHEEKY manner
''the signals made and repeated In ten MINI
utes our man will be with us. Hilloa boa
ahoy what do you want ?"
''Bonnybell ahoy!" was the rejoinder, i'll {
shrill, harsh voice, cautiously lowered for the
occasion; pilot wants to come on board"
'There was stir, and a start of surprise
among those on deck, and as a rope was
thro wn to the boatman, Captain Pritcharc
bent over the side, exclaiming:
. You're uncommon quick, my hearty. L
you've come from the shore since the lights
were hoisted, you must be own cousin to the
Flying Dutchman. Are you sure you're oul
pilot ??
lin the pilot engaged by Colonel Jeremy
Carter, of Spotsylvania,i if that Il do" answer
ed a very tall, bony, black haired man, as he
actively assembled the side. ''Zack Fosters
my name, and l know every inch about
Charleston, where l was raised.
"While the Captain, treasured by the
mention of Colonel Carriers name-gave has
4 ty orders to cast off the cable and go ahead
|, in common with the rest of the passengers,
f and the unoccupied portion of the crew, look
+. ed with much interest at the new conner The
: latter was about 40 years of age long and
+ lean of figure with a hardy, sun-browned
! face There was no mistaking the resolute
/ air and daring of the man his mouth was
j as firm as iron, though little dry humor
{ seemed to Turk about his lips and i hardly
liked the expression of his half shut eyes,
+ winch had a lazy cunning i'll their dark
|, glance Still, though dressed in black suit
Of shore going clothes, and swallow tailed
coat of Anticipated cut, there was something
about Mr.. lack Foster, that bespoke the thor
oughbred seaman He took no share in the
proceedings, for his duty did not begin until
we were clear of Nassau roadstead; but yet
he seemed impatient for the start, gnawing
viciously at his quid, and drumming on the
: tatfrail with a finger that seemed as hard and
brown as bronze
THE BooNYBELL SLIPS sEAwARD.
at was an anxious time when the Bonny-
bell under full head of stealn went dart
ling out of the bay, her look-outs straining
their eyes to pierce the mist and give warn