Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-08-19

The statistics of the various blockade running
steam vessels and their fate and fortunes fully
set forth, would exhibit some curious facts Soma
Of those facts, Of which We have been informed,
shall low be mentioned they will to most read
ers, bring with them them own explanation. Seven
or eight new steamers have been built 81 English
dcckyards, expressly to run the blockade; they
were ordered, and afterwards equipped and manned,
and The officers found for them by an English firm
styled Alexander Collie & Co. On arriving at Der.
muda they were transferred to a respectable Con-
federatc hrm, acLlng behalf of the Confederate
government: so that on arrival at Wilmington-if
they had ever arrived there-they were to have
been under the Confederate flag, aud owned by Con-
federate owners; and were destined thereafter as
regular blockade runners, half on government &C
count and half on account of the Confederate firm.
These vessels have all been lost they were all,
save one lost on their very 6rst Voyage between
Bermuda and Wilmington and our readers may
remember their Ill, fated names, the Venus, the
Ceres, the Vestd, the Juno, &c. One of these the
He6e, was lost, not on her first voyage but on her
second.
Now, at the very same time, there was running
most lucky and prosperous line Of blockade break
ing ships, belonging " that English 6rm of Collie
Co. The very house which was employ cd to or
der aud equip vessels to run the blockade on &C
count Of our government was also most extensive
ly engaged in running the blockade on its own-ac.
count In other words, our government expected
Mr.. Alexander Collie to furnish them faithfully and
bona ftte With the means Of competing with him.
self and driving him out of the mos. lucrative trade
he ever had in his life. Accordingly their ships
were all driven Ashore, . total loss. But of Mr..
Coliie'S own vessels the HansG has made nine
round voyages, paying for herself twenty times
the Edith and the Annte have made each
three round voyages, and are now prosperously
running: the FLtc0n has made two round voyages
and the Ftan1ngo has just come in successfully on
her first trip. One Of Colie's, however was lost ::
she is the Don; had made si1 prosperous round
voyages and then was run down at sea by the YAM
KEGS, aud is now one of the bloekadng squadron
itself ... I'D. -..-.s,, d, -. -...
I The contrast thus presented IS striking enough,
but this is not ALL the captains and officers found
by Collie Co. for the Confederate vessels were all
mos. particularly capable iand experienced men
they always ran their ships safely through the
blockaGing sguadron-for il they had lost them to
the Y Yankees they never could have got command
Of q vessel again; it always the coast or iu
the very mouth Of Cape Fear river that those ships
were run aground. and then usually burned up
both ship and cargo. Suspicious could not but
dTise after while, even 10 the most simple hearts
add When the VestH about seven months ago, aftel
successfully making her way through blockadinl
fleet in pursuit. and after she was safe ont OF thei
range and out Of their sight was Eantonly rur
AagTouad on the North Carolina coast and instantly
bnsued By hss captain tegsfhsr with her cargo ans
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