Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-03-14
Running the Blockade In Il Thunder
SVOrln.

the fl ,wer Of the American navy had been
thuuderirg 6 at the sea WILL of Fort Sumter. The
massive Masonry had been slowly cIumtiog,
but the shades Of evepiog had put an end to the
furious caunouadiDg, and the gunboats ard
monitors had retired out of range aud came to
suchor for the night. On the bar or lust out
side, the frigates and heavy side wheears took
up a position. Beyond R .belon Roads" :"
and ex:crdlog out to sea, was double oank, I'd
column OF gunboats while almost in range OF
Suuter and Battery Wagner, the New Iron
SIDES and the monitors wer, ragged.
After it grew dark thunder STORM bsgsn to
work up from the westward. Fitful e .shes of
liehtniog and the rumbliog of thurder rave
proOis, OF stormy night. About 10 o'clock
the storm vas raging fariously, aud on the low,
unsheltered decks the ironclads the watch
were exposed to the fury of the peItng rslu.
Near midnight the storm began workiog bsck
with redoubled violence. Flash followed fsso,
aud peal followed peal, ro log and crashing
with terrific conclusions. At times the tossing
waters Were lit up With weird. ghastly light,
plainly revealing the low lying islands and tho
grapiug embrasures of tho fort bard by.
Sudd.uly the heavy thud of gun clme down
on the wings OF tn. wind from seaward, and
following It blinking, gzag. binding shaft
OF light ssres ms ac0;s tho heavens. The mo-
menta'y light illuminated every pcr,ion of the
broad exDspse. Then there was tremendous
crash that shook tho solid mouitors to their
kcsls. AS the thunder roared and reverber
sted and died away in the distance. the deep
boom OF heavy Dahlgreeo qua was heard out
on the bar. Presently another, aud another, 10
rapid succession. The va C / below came spring.
Ing out Toto the storm, every oye peeriug into
the darkness.
Whio every ear listened to catch the distant
sounds osms the stlrriug musc of the American
naVy-s d'z,n drums beating the tumultuous
measured roll and tap-tap, aud d(zln fies
screaming 10 shtil cadence r ck,ts stream
a.oft aud lights ash Intelligence that steamer
is iosid the blockade and buuld 10.
Theu there was tumult for second. The
monitors beat to quarters, steam is ruog up,
aud the trained CT VS. 90 to their stations From
under the sbsdow of Fort sumter | strain
through the iron embrssure aod sas fdul
d hishes along the line Of guuboats. Yes the
fugitive WIS runDl6g the gauntlet Of tho Il yet
-trusunk TO the darkness to escape But he.
people did not know that they must aluvst rub
the muzzes OF our gus to pass. The p!ucky
fugitive was rapidly coming up. and 10 few
moments moro WIpd be blOWn out of the water,
1he drums have ceased beating, aud from
atar come quick exolam atoms. the heavy boom.
Ing OF the monitors aod the swift revolutions CT
screw. Iron clad after iron clad make the
steame! target; but it is pi Oh dark, and her
swift Tsy is against them. Above the tumul.
OF the elements c1me the loud roar of huge
guns; but still those adventurous spirits picked
their way through the inky blsckness. A
bright light is bloziug upon the rsmparts OF
Sumter, and broad off on our port beam, 10 the
direction OF Fort Moultrie. Rockets arc stream
log contlnuousy-the bearings the Coufede.
rates display to help the fugitive,
% she comes. The pulsatioDs of the tireles,
eng mes are now heard, together With the swift
churuing of the sorew. Now she is passing the
mooi!Or ahead, and 10 90 instant will be along
side. The Monauk delivers bith her guns:
there comes fash of li2h uiog, and the steam
or is revealed ior the fist tims. From her low
smoke stack the smoke is rolling 10 thick mass-
es, and directly 10 front, perohed on the bridge,
is the pilot. He stands upright a. an iron bar.
ln her waist hand is sIuug casting the load.
As looked his arm was cwsyiug and the lead
whlrling over his head, then it was dark. A.
she came abreast, fairly pushing the blsckuess
before her. the lea1smau' voice, full and strong,
spic d, too, with favor of Cookuey accent,
raog on:
"AId y a'alftwol"
Anolner fash revealed everything, thA man in
the wheel-huuse whiriDg the wheel, the Cock.
ney gathering in the slack line as if intent on
having another cast before being blown up, and
then bell tinkles, the turret turns ste .dlly to
port, and the men crouch away from the recoil;
then the vehement order 10 s'frew There is y
bresthless pause, and then o terrible maediction,
for both primers refuse TO buru and the bold
blockade runner had vanished around the north
east angle of oumterl
Some men are born lucky and some hove luck
thrust upon them: but generally the man who
is reckless and bold to execute is favored BIZ for
tune. 1t was thought the blockade runner sup.
posed the outer.llne of vessels was the block
| sde, and when ID discovered that he had ruo
into hornets nest had promptly decided to
run in at all hazsrus That a spt cial provi.
dence interfered in his case is evident from the
singular circumstance OF two primers failing to
burn. As for the failure to hit her, all veterans
will comprehend the difficulty of hitting an OBJ.
jsct in rapid motion. especially with heavy artl.
lery.-J Z. @. in Nev York Ne1o.
SEEDS-We have just received our sec md