The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-04-14

come me to differ, do you see, sir. But |
remember once, thirty seven years ago, |
was on the coast Of Africa as foretopman
aboard the old Rar-"
'There goes a rocket, by the lord
Harry. Another, one, two three guns in
rapid succession. There is something up,
sure. Boy, 60 down and call the Captain
In an instant every man of the watch
was on the alert. The engineer of the
watch was ordered to let his steam run
up, while the smOkestack rolled forth a
goodly volume of smoke. Sharp-eyed
topmen were sent alof-, with orders to
report at once anything that resembled a
vessels spars. The head of the Blue
Blazes was pointed III shore, at which
stage of the proceedings the commander
appeared on deck. In few moments he
was acquainted with the situation, the
| position of the vessel pointed out to him
on the chart, as we'll us the report that
the forward pivot had been cleared away,
the crew assembled at quarters, ready to
prescribe one Of Uncle Sans pills should
the patient heave in sight.
LET her stand on the southland, sir,
keeping in six fathoms of water. Perhaps
we may run foul of her. But it will oe
uN tlisi!! S,Jt't iIittiiIt9tiitiity
in this internal fog
For full half an hour we felt our way
along, then stopped, lying motioness in
the water, with our head to the north
ward. Rockets were flying in all drec-
tons, from the otfshore vessels, with an
occasional report Of heavy gun rever-
! berating through the dense atmosphere
! Not light, not an object, could be dis
cerned, while the fog with provoking
obstinacy refused to lift in obedience to
J our anxious prayers.
"We must be very close to the land"
muttered the commander as ranged up
alongside. "Contound the fog, it will be
the means of allowing another cargo to
be run in for the benefit of the rebs.'
| knew the worthy commander spoke
from disinterested and patriotic motives
| 1t was not prize money that he thought
Of for moment Far from it: but it
was torture to his noble spirit to stand
| idly 10y while the enemies of his country
We're receiving substantial aid and com
fort. The fog was undulating, swaying
| to and fro, moved by the influence of
gentle breeze that had sprung up from
westward.
"By heavens, we must be close under
the guns Of some of those batteries, and
should the fog lift suddenly we would be
in a nice mess. take it, Ring her up,
| sir, and let her bear L. n. f."
| | was on the point of 0beying the order
when, with a convulsive grip, the fingers
OF my superior tightened on my arm.
''Ilold a minute. DO you hear that
1t is a steamers wheels, and coming this
way as if the devil was after him."
! listened with every drop Of blood in
my veins dancing a jig. | did hear sure
enough. and it was either a blockade
runner coming directly into our very teeth.
or possibly one Of the in-shore cruisers
like ourselves. Suddenly the satety-vavc
OF the Blue Blazcs opened, followed by
| shrll, hideous shrek OF spitetul, pent-up
steam, that echoed around like forty
| thousand demons in full chorus. Like
magic the foe rolled up shimmering like
WaVy folds Of lace meath the soft influence
of the starlight 1t revealed a low range
of sand hills on the shore side, seemingly
but stones throw away, While on our
StdrbOard bow there was the English
''nlght-tiyer, as Sailor Jack called them,
| gong for the north passage with the We
locity OF atyphone, There was 10 mistak
| lng the low hull, raklng masts, jaunty
sm0kcstacks vomiting forth clouds of
| black smoke, the peculiarly cut bow and
! general appearance. once seen, an Eng
| lish blockade runner of the late war could
never be contounded with any other style
craft | am afraid the commander sWore,
| but the keen sharp report of the riled
| Parrot drowned the energetic eXpletiVes
| nt Who,,rf l,al
| exploding above the fleeing steamers
mastheads, which the skipper very prop
erly kept in one, presenting the least pos
sible surface tor our men to fire at The
thirty FOUNDER on the forecastle sent her
missile after the illicit trader with good
effect, a shower of white. glistening splin-
ters filling the air and cleaning in the
starlight. 'He has got our mark, and
Will know us next time" groWled one old
salt who had watched the effect Of the
shot. The batteries now tried their hand
at the fun, and had only been deferred
from an early participation in the nights
sport 10y a doubt of as to who was who.
Once friend was determined from foe,
the rebs made it exceeding warm for the
Blue Blazes. They had caught us nicely
within range, and it was fun for them,
but we failed to see where the laugh came
in. Shot, shell and shrapnel dropped
around us with reckless prodigallty, to
say nothing OF an entire disregard for life
and limbs We were not long DELAYED in
getting our masts ranging in one, while
the manner in which our wheels revolyed
soon placed a respectable distance be-
tween us and our foes. The cause of all
the disturbance had in the mean time
rounded to- displaying her full dimensions
in the dim light, that made every mans
mouth water on board the Blue Blazes
as he gazed. The fire from the batteries
had ceased, while the clear, sweet notes
OF bugle, rising and falling Oh the calm,
still air, reached our ears with a plaintive
cadence. 1t proceeded from saucy
steamer, and we recognized it as "DiXie." :"
1t was the last straw to break the camel's
back, serving to send my commander
below in a towering rage. Perhaps the
engine room department was not reserved
for a precious oyerhauling that morning.
But no taint of disloyalty, treason or
treachery could be ascribed to that branch
OF the ships company. Something con-
nected with the safety valve had given
away at the wrong moment, with a result
already related. The captain Of the auda-
cious steamer, who had so successfully
run through the fleet was no new hand
at the game. 1t constituted his sixth trip,
his reputation for coolness, daring and
disregard Of danger being firmly estab
lished throughout the entire blockade
His steamer was well known as the fastest
one in the trade, and the exploits Of the
Phantom and Black Jack, her command
er. formed the material for many an eX-
citing yarn reeled off in the dog watch
Four weeks after the above incident our
commander received orders from the
Admiral to report at Fortress Monroe for
the purpose of conveying some important
and pressing papers of state to our agents
located at Nassau. The Blue Bazes had
been selected on account of her superior