Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-10-11
BLOCKADE RUNNING
How If was Prosecuted During the Wharf.-The
PeriIs, Profits and Adventures.
I'M Quad, in Detroit Free Press.1


IN Quad, in Detroit Free Press.I
The war began in April. By Septem-
Der every southern merchant had sold
out his old stock and must henceforth
depend on Europe. 1t was then that
prices leaped to such figures as aston
ished everybody, and were quoted at the
north as evidence that the confederacy
was staggering. And yet Lee was in
his glory as a successful general when
those prices had advanced from 500 to a
LOCO times. The woman vino bought a
paper of pins in the fall OF 1864. femem-
bers that they cost from 800 to $125 in
confederate money.
The south bad very few vessels fit for
blockade-running, but she had money to
buy with, and agents we're kept in Eu-
rope to pick up the sort of crafts wanted.
Some of the most successful vessels were
sailing craft, but after 1862 the great
majority were side-wheel steamers and
propellers. Where the latter approached
the speed of the former she was taken in
preference After the first year the
business was reduced to something like
a science. In the first place all the
steamers were provided with smokeless
coal, and this was always a great point
in their favor. In the next place the
color of the craft was found to be very
important matter. After many expert
ments it was found that a white hnged
with blue was the best that could be
adopted. Runners thus painted have ap-
preached within 500 feet of blockader
at night without being seen, and have
rested half day within five miles of an
entire feet. Everything was painted
this one color, so that there was moth
ing fer the eye of the lookout TO catch.
IF he saw the steamer at all she was
simply haze or blur in his eyes. After
it was found that the wafer churned up
by the wheels sometimes betrayed the
craft by its phosphorescent CLEAN ar
engagements were made to prevent,
generally by floating a sail behind the
wheel. Men even came to count the
chances of capture and escape as coolly
as they figured the cost of cloth.
The profits were enormous. A suita-
bic craft could be purchased in Europe
for from $50, 900 to $3.50, 900, and as a
rule one successful trip would clear her
cost. To show what the profits were,
Maj Willis once sent out bale of cot
ton worth $400 In Confederate money.
of borax, which he sold in Charleston
for 81, 900 In the same currency. Again
he sent out bail of sea island worth
5000 and received a bale of women's
wells which brought him $13, 900. Mer-
chants who bought English cloth at fifty
cents per yard had no trouble in dispos-
ing of 1t at home for 81 and So. A pair
of boots costing 81 brought $40 and $12
in Charleston. Tea which could be had
IN Nassau for for forty cents per pound
brought from S14 to $40 in the south.
If the owners made we'll the men who
assumed the perils were by no means
neglected. The wages of the common
sailors were doubled and more and paid
in gold. Many captains bargained by
the trip. IF successful In making the
round trip they received So, 500 to S., 900
in good English gold. Outside of this
sum each captain was permitted to carry
one bale Of cotton each trip on his OWE
account. As nothing was said about
weight, they had two and three ordinary
bales compressed into one, and often
made SIS, 900 out of their speculation.
Whatever the confederate government
needed had to come this way, and 1t
paid the same prices as Individuals.
The runners brought III cannon, muskets,
ammunition, boots and shoes, cloth,
uniforms, equipments, tents, sabres,
medicines, etc., and it was only in this
way that the confederate armies were
kept in the field. The same number of
states, geographically situated like Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin, would
not have held out so long. Stringent as
was the blockade, 1t was never close
enough to entirely stop the business.
With twenty-four federal vessels off the
bar at Charleston a confederate steamer
made that port without receiving a shot
A pilot to be depended on, and a night
such as the runners prayed for, would
take vessel out or IL, no matter how
alert the blockaders.
Just before leaving Nassau, one eve
ming IN 1868, the captain of the blockade
running steamer Southern. Cross, re-
ceiyed information that two federal
cruisers were lying IN wait for him about
twenty miles off the coast. Ia conse-
onence of this news he ran to the right
of the usual track about ten miles to
avoid them. The federal commanders
suspected 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