The Virginia star., 1882-11-11
blockade Running.

Ing III 1000, Lut aptaill VI 0hO DA"Sh@NN.o
running steamer Southern Gross re-
ceived information that Federal cruisers
were lying in wait for him about twenty
miles off the coast. In consequence OF
this news he ran to the right Of the
usual track about ten miles, to avoid
them. The Federal commanders sus-
pected that their presence would be
known in Nassau, and therefore ran to
the left OF the track.
The runner was fifteen miles at SEA
when night fell. Every light was put
out. the speed was slowed down, and
every man aboard was cautioned to be
absolutely quiet, no matter what occur
red. The fireman opened barrels OF tar.
to be prepared for sudden call for IN
creased speed, and the steamer crept
forward into the darkness. Owing to
her color, she could pot be seen quar-
ter of mile away on that night, and
there was enough wind and sea to drown
the noise Of her paddles. All OF sud-
den, as the runner crept forward, the
lookouts sighted one OF the cruisers
dead ahead and advancing. The steam
er sheered to port, but in five minutes
the other cruiser was sighted, and she
found herself between the two. Her
engines were stopped, and the vessel
fioated quietly before the wind. The
chances were that she would not be dis
covered. when an Irish deck-hand,
who had been without smoke as long
as he could stand it, filed his pipe and
struck match. The flame, tiny as it
was, betrayed the steamer.
The cruisers signalled each other and
at once opened fire. The shooting was
guess work unaer the circumstances,
but it was good guessing. The very
first cannon ball carried away the orna-
rAent ON the top of,the pilot house. and
tie second smashed ton feet OF deck
railing. The blockade runner at once
started ahead at full speed, all the time
under fire, and as she ran away she
passed within hundred feet of one OF
the Federal ships. A solid shot. fired
from this distance, passed through the
runner Just above the main deck, and
another grazed her bow, and the Fed
eral commander hailed, "Come to or I'll
sink your There was every show that
he had it in his power to do SO, but the
runner steamed ahead, and after an
hours chase accompanied by constant
fire from the big guns, she gave the
cruisers the slip.
One of the most valuable cargoes
ever reaching Southern port was that
of the steamer Sumter. She was we'll
known to the Federal blockaders at
Charleston. and upon receiving this
cargo she made direct for Wilmington.
There was blockading fleet of five or
six vessels there, and the Sumter came
in sight Of it in the morning. Paying
not the least attention to their signals
or movements, the ateamer hoisted the
American flag and ran steadily in. The
boldness of the movement SO astonished
the fleet that not gun was fired until
the runner was out of range. 1t was
the first and only time that such bold
trick was put in practice, but the block
aders felt sore oyer it for years.
The cargo consisted of arms, ammd-
milton, clothing, cloths and medicines.
and not the least important articles were
two monster Blakely guns. These guns
were SO large and unwieldy that they
were loaded with their muzzles sticking
up through the hatchways. The great
blockade-running house of John Frazer
4 Co., purchased the cannon in England
and presented them to the Confederate
Government. The work of unloading
them at Wilmington and conveying the
monsters to Charleston by rail and
placing them in battery at the espla-
made, was accomplished by Major vii.
hs, then Beauregards quartermaster.
Had the feet captured the SUMTER
and nothing would have been easier had
her true character been suspected, the
South would have been loser of. at
least $S,O00,000 and whole army
corps would have lost the guns, tents,
batteries and ammunition intended for
it.
CUPPED EGGs.-Put spoonful oi
high. seasoned brown gravy into each