Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-11-20

| III sae An Interesting Narrative.
A writer in an English magazine gives the
following vivid account Of the trip Of a block
ade-runner in which he was passenger from
Nassau towards Charleston, and the slrswd
trick BY which she was captured !
"The commanders voice sunk 4. whis.
per Al he told me that At sunset every lands.
man must come on board. taking boat at
some secluded jetty, 10 avoid prying eyes ;
and using all reasonable cautiVn, sincc Mas.
sau teemed with Northern spies. Half an
hour after sundown he was to hoist signal.
which was TO be replied to, and then the pilot
would come of and the steamer would stand
| out to sea.
+" After dark muttered Pritchard, with
an oath, We may hope to get past that Yam.
kee thief that hangs about the Island. The
Governor bade her keep at tho distance Of
one marine league, but she's always sneakins
in-now for coal. now for bread, now because
her engines out Of order; and the United
States Consul communicates with her every
day. l tell you, shipmate, there isn't one Of
us that isn't dogsed up and down BY rascals
in Federal hire. See there that mulato
hound has been after me these four days
pointing to q dark complexioned fellow in
the dress o: = stevcdorc, who, on seeing
himself observed, ~ he stood under the ger.
anium-hedge, lay down with we'll .feigned
nonch''.ncs' and lit his pipe.
~ found good deal Of quiet hustle and
suppressed excitement on board the Bonny
bell. The fires were bunked up the swarthy
faces and red shirts Of the engineer and his
gang were visible at the hatch Of their Cy-
clopean. den, getting . breath. of tho cool
breeze before starting. Some brass guns
that had been hidden under fruit baskets,
hencoops, and tarpaulins, were visible enough
now and beside, them lay piled little heaps
OF round shot. The crew busted to and fro,
and the captain was so busy that he could
not return brief word and a nod to nv
greeting. The sky grew darker, and sur.
rounding objects DINNER every instant. .a,
| Before long the passengers arrived sew
eral Southern gentlemen, a few ladies and
children, oil making their way back from Eu-
rope to their homes in Carolina or Virginia
by this dangerous route, and all in danger of
harsh imprisonment at least ia tho event of
capture. By the uncertain light could see
that most of them were pale and nervous !;
but they talked in IN undcrtone among them.
selves, and did not appear anxious to enter
into conversation with strangers. ...
- Get up steam a.,
BY the time the hoarse roar OF the escap.
ing vapor grew loud and menacing there was
fresh 5ustle on deck, and heard the cap
tain giving orders to f.and by for the slip.
ping from the moorings, and to hoist the sig
nal, as we only waited for the pilot.
"'There they are, slick and right-three
red lights and green one murmured
tall Virgnian at my elbov; and locking up
| saw the colored lamps glimmer from the
masthead. Instantly they were answered
by similar signal from some window on
shore. 7 #f# r& q
90 Well soon see the pilot now,' said
Pritchard, rubbing his hands in CHEEKY
manner; the signals made and repeated
In ten minutes our man will be with us.
Hilloa boat ahoy ! what dye want?,
~ Bonnybell ahoy was TIE rejoindcr, in
shrill harsh voice, cautiously lowered for
tho occasion pilot wants to come on board
90 There was stir and a start Of surprise
among those on deck, and as rope was
thrown to the boatmen, Captain Pritchard
bent over the side, exclaiming: .s
~ You're uncommon quick, my hearties.
|: you've come from shore since the lights
were hoisted, you must be own cousin to the
Flying Dutchman. Are you sure you're our
pilot p # 49, - h ~
"'rm the pilot engaged by Col. Jeremy
Carter Of Spotsylvania, il that II do, answer,
ed very tall, bony, black. haired man, as he
actively ascended the side. 'Zack Fosters
my name, and know every inch about
Charleston, where was raised.'
81 T" While the captain-reassured by the
mention of Col. Cartcr's nams--gave hasty
orders to cast Of the cable and 20 ahead, /,
in common with the rest of the passengers,
and the unoccupicd portion of the crew,
looked with much interest at the new conner.
The latter was about forty years Of age, long
and loan Of figure, with hardy sunbrowned
face. There was no mistaking the resolute
air and daring OF the man his mouth was
as firm rs iron, though little dry huihor
seemed to lurk about his lips; and ] hardly
liked the expression Of his half shut eyes,
whicha had q lazy cunning in their dark
glance. Still, though dressed In black suit
OF shore-going clothes, and q swallow tailed
coat Of antiqnated. cut, there was something
about the look. Of Mr.. lack Foster that be-
spoke the thoroughbred 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 bis quid, and
drumming on the taRrHil with finger that
seemed as hard and brown Is bronze
:" 1t was m axious time when the Bonny-
bell, under full head of steam, went dart.
ing out Of the bay; her lookouts straining
their eyes to pierce the mist, and givo warn.
ing to the helmsman Of vessels ahead; while
Pritchard walked to and fro, to fidgety and
eager to endure conversation, listening every
instant Tor some sound that was to indicate
that the Federal cruiser had taken the alarm.
But on we went without check or hindrance
and we all drew our breath more freely as
the lights OF the town began one By onc to
vanish as II the sea had swallowed them,
and the dark headands faded away into Oh.
scurity. The Alaercan gunboat was neither
seen nor felt, circumstance which did not
the less regret because perceived, not only
by the display of the cannon alluded to, but
by the Yesolute demcanor Of several OF the
crew, who stood grouped about couple Of
uncovered arm chests, that our piemy foe
would not have found an entirely unresisting
prize.
One slight circumstance, hardly a. tl,o't
worth mentioning. did occur before we had
run half I mile to seawasd. There came
long, faint hail, from 50 great distance as 10
be hardly distinguishabls even BY sailors s
practiced oar, but which was announced to
b. addressed to u.s.
g" Some boat, with message, perhaps for
. passenger. Tho lubbers, deserve ropes
ending for being 70 late. Can lie to safely,
do you think : said Pritcha.d to the pilot ir-
and giving the word "Slacken
speed!' What the pilot answered I know
not. only caught shc concluding phrase
"Yankee tricks; 80 cap, you'd best look
sharp about you.' s !
So Pritchard thought He gave the word
to 60 on at full speed. and we heard no more
THE run was speedy and pleasant, over