The Republican journal., 1869-04-08

Luckily, found the leading fireman intelli
gent and docile, and by the time Captain
Ford wanted to get the ship under way
everything was ready in the engine-room.
We left port in the morning, made Viii
mington, and returned to Bermuda in safety
One or two of Uncle Sans blockader;
chased us, but the Fanny Flewker showed
them a clean pair of heels. She was
sweet cratt-as handy as river boat, and
with pair Of engines that worked like a
watch and we'll Captain Ford handled her
l have known him to lower the masts and
run in the grey dawn into port almost with
in hail of the blockading squadron. We
burnt Welsh coal, so that there was not any
smoke to betray us our white hull and up
per works blended with the morning mist
and you may rely there was not much noise
on board Another of the skipper's tricks
used to puzzle the Yankees. Of course
there were plenty OF spies in northern pay,
both at James Town and on the coast. We
always left Bermuda as the Fanny Flew
ker, but when we got ont to sea, strip Of
canvas with another name painted on it was
nailed over the stern, so that we came into
port as the Kate, perhaps, or the Daphne,
or any other name the captain fancied. This
ruse not only diverted particular attention
from US, but made the Yankees believe there
was regular feet running; and didn't it
make the blockaders savage!
Well, we made twelve successful runs,
and that's a long life for blockade-runner.
had scraped together good pile of money,
for l received gratuity from the owners
each voyage, IN addition to my pay, and,
taught wisdom by experience, had invested
it safely. | cannot tell why | dreaded the
thirteenth run, but somehow | had fore
boding Of evil, and could not help telling
the chief officer of my idea, Of course l
got laughed at for my pains. Adams wanted
to know if had taken old Todd's COM
plaint perhaps my nervous system was
beginning to decay and lot more of that
kind of chaff
We started that voyage with a cargo
of hospital stores, quiuine, cloth
ing, &C., together with battery of rihed
field guns, all going on smoothly till we got
off the mouth of the Santee River, South
Carolina, and there big lump of paddle
steamer lay right in our way. Directly we
sighted her, our course was altered, and we
bore away to the southwark full speed and
as we went about three knots to her two,
it was not long before she was hull-down.
Sharp eyes, however, on board that paddle
had seen us, and it was evident by the dense
smoke still visible on the horizon, that ev-
cry effort was being made to overtake, or
at least keep up with us. Going, too, as
we were, nearly before the wind, we could
hear at regular intervals the dull ''boom' of
her heavy gun. Why they were wasting
powder, could not make out, unless it was
lmpotent rage at our escape.
''D'ye hear them?" shouted Adams to me
down the hatch, as another report came up
with the wind.
eyes" [ answered "what can it mean 7"
''Hardly know" said he 81 don't like
the look Of it !; Nunky does not burn powder
without a purpose" Tie words were bare
ly spoken, when | heard the lookout for
ward shout, ''smoke, no " ''Where away" ?"
was the captains quick reply. Broad on
the port bow y and there, plainly enough,
was to be seen the dense column of smoke
marking the presence of a hostile steamer.
That she was foe was evident from the
fact that all runners burnt smokeless coal;
smoke therefore betokened danger. We
could now detect the meaning of the firing
it was the paddle signalling our arrival to
her consort, and we were being hemmed in.
Captain Ford was, however, equal to the
our course was shaped for the
land preparations were made for lower
ing the masts and saw that the mannu-
vre which had before stood us in good
stead was once more to be tried. The
coast of South Carolina abounds in shoals
and sand-banks, stretching out for miles
into the sea; these are intersected by chan
nels navigable for vessels Of light draught,
like ours. Captain Ford knew the coast
we'll, and, moreover, we had Wilmington
pilot on board; our course, therefore, was
to stand in for the land as far as possible,
and then, by threading the narrow, aud to
them inaccessible passages, endeavor to
double on our pursuers.
We had been running on parallel lines
with ou1 paddle, she keeping as near in
shore as she dared, with the object of driv-
ing us to sea and into the jaws Of her con-
sort. AS we bore up, of course the relative
distance between us was lessened. 1t was
evident they understood our tactics, for
they favored us with shell from their big
gun. We could see the clouds Of spray
raised by the enormous missile as it bound
ed from wave to wave but it burst harm
lessly half a mile from us. Another and
another followed, but the saucy Fan flew
along under full head of steam, and soon,
with two men at the wheel, and the pilot
coming her, we entered the only patch of
green water in line of angry surf We
held on till darkness fell, and then we were
safe from boat attack; and as there was
a heavy sea running, and no moon visible,
it was not likely either the paddle or her
consort would risk their men. A single
anchor was let 60 with hemp cable, axes
being placed handy, so that in case of need
we could literally "cut and run" The fires
were banked, tarpaulins placed over the
deck lights, for fear treacherous glimmer
should betray us, double look-outs posted,
and all made snug. 1t is astonishing how
Use reconciles us to peril. The first time
was in a similar fix, felt, to say the
east, extremely nervous; now l turned in
and slept till l was called. "Turn out,
Mr.. Trereave," said the chief (who, for a