The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-06-08
Oulrunailg RunlWaY---l leaf from
u BtOCkader'S Log.
BY CLEw GARNET, U. 8. N.


For reason, known | should say, only t,
the admiral down there at Port Royal, the
commander of the steam blockader Transit
at that time the Eistest craft IN the South
Atlantic squadron--and lastly To myself,
was temporarily transferred from tie saucy
jauuty little stiiing wlipper-n for the fleet
to the steamer aforesaid, which was detached
from fleet duty and ordered off in a greal
hurry on some special mission, the nature
OF which knew as little Of as did of the
inhabitants OF Nova Zenbla.
1t was not until after we had crossed the
Gulf Stream, aud was driving on over the
Bahama Banks that it occurred to me uui
destination could he no other than Nassau :
and it was several hours later, before caught
the glIrnIer of an idea as to the admilal's
REASONS for sending me across the Gulf, and
over to Nassau in the Transit. Then il
dawned upon me III this manner:
| was leaning over the lee rail, looking
down through four ftthoms of brine as
Transparent as air. upon the vast spor =.
fields, over which we acre rapidly passing
and quietly asking myself if sponge-hshimg
just about that Latitude, wouldn't be a
profitable calling; VIXEN Il no very delicate
IN WIS laid uppl my shoulder aud look
ing up, there vas my comm Under pro tenn.
Captain Arthur L. Alvin, standing beside
mie.
Looking for mermlids, and dreaming of
the girl left behind me, Mr.. Garnet p he
asked.
mo sir | was calculating the money max
ing chances Of sponge lishug, and wonder
ing between times, why the admiral has
Gent me off here without my having the
ghrst of an idea as to what is or will he re-
quired of me"
''Ah yes, certainly Mr.. Garnet All very
natural" A long pause. Then an abrupt
question
by the bye, Lieutenant Garnett, do you
happen to know anything of ID rebel steam
or called the OrioIe, or Of her command der,
one, Harry E. Simonson ?"
Yes sir, IA good zeal of BOTH
$50 the Admiral has been Informed, and
for that reason has seut You OH board the
Transit Be pleased, sir to acqnant me
somewhat d, it'll y0ur acquaintanceship with
the Oroe first.
''WeIl sir, she was built i'll New York, to
ply h,tN cen Charleston aid HAVANA; aud
desig ned tor the fastest sea going steamer
aAOat. Iii the summer Of 1860. her owners
i'll Charleston finding the vessel wanting
something III the required rate Of speed, had
her engines replaced with new ones which
Increased her sailing rate fully mile above
the sought for speed aud with tile excep
ton of the Transit, don't believe there is ii
seagoiug steamer atioAl that can ovefha u |
the OrIule."
And do you really believe this ship able
to do it, Mr.. Garnet p
lin heavy weather and rough water yes
sir. But III light winds and with smooth
sea, think the Orlole will beat her kuuu
her all 10y heart sir, as. when it was custom
airy for junior officers If the u S Navy to
command merchant steamers, had charge
of the OllOle Il good many voyages.
80 we have been Informed, sir And now
about her present commander-he claims to
be an Eugishuau"
dietary Simon sou an Fnsi>hnan
Not a mite OF it, any mo than President
Lincoln Is He Is i Mary lander; born and
bred i'll Baltimore, and was more than a
year chief mate with me in the OriOle"
''trom your intimate acquaintance with
chem you wlii most likely tie able to recog
nlze either snip or commander
Yes sir. The fo mer as far as can sight
her by day or or night, and the latter under
any disguise he may assume
VERY well. Aud now as | am afte
this same swift winged 0rioe, you may Ca
silly guess why you have been sent with Us
We have rcliabe information that she viii
leave, Nassau Oh or about the 10th, aud a.
Tins Is the TIN we're in time you see Blu
tl.en the fellow may slide out ahead Of lii
tune, as 1t Is the dark of the moon So il
is better to he ON hand than behimdhanCi
''Laud-U-right ahead, sir, sung GU
the lookout aott, just at this moment.
'Ah, We're near enough MIR. Garnet
'Iwont do To let that chap sight our smoke
or he'll stay in his hole"
We were square i'll the track of the block
ade bound steamers, twenty miles to tn
westward OF Nassau, and tie Transit WA
anchored III SIX ttthoms, waiting for some
body 10 come along.
just at midnight somebody did com
along hut as there was SORT of smok
Vapur lying low on the water, the first inti
NATION we had OF her coming, Was the rau
id l1htcher-1chtche1-achicher, of her pad
dies.
Then it was turn out, Jack; up ancho
aud stand 10y for fun Three rockets-tw
blue and rel one We're sent from on
farecdstle, ami promptly replied to 10y til
strangers sending up two red ones an
burning blue light.
"rne devil ons of our own cruisers
muttered the captain in disgust
No sir--a block lde runner, who Ia
either stolen our Signals or stumbled upo
them 10y mistake Don't you see that littI
twlnklimg yellow light on his port qulrtel
sill p
You're right, Mr., Garnet You've bee
watching these night running ras,4ls Ion
ger than have, and know their tricks be
ter. Is it tie Orioe think you p
No sir No more like the Orioie tina
the lro,,sitys'
''SlmI. speak to him. sir, and invite Iii
to give us call ? respectfully inquired OF
- gunner, atfectionately sIapping The wrong