The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-11-16
ABATTLE AT SEA.

ADA1lII al pIAs
n Hot Chase After n Blockade Run.
ner-.How Sailors Won q Prize-An
Incident of War Time.
"Union Jack" writes, in the San Fran
cisco Chronicle: early in March, 1899,
an expedition sailed from Port Royal to
take possession of the eastern coast of
Florida. The Blue Blazes formed n
s4of the squadron, and was kept entirely
employed running up and down the
coast, meeting with any amount ofbush-
whacking fighting. The Blue Blazes
had received orders from the admiral
to cruise well off shore aud get the BEN
eft OF the sea breeze. Malarious fogs,
S~estilential mists and odors from the la
Roons had begun to tell upon the consti-
buttons as well as spirits of the ships
company.
.sSail or, sang out the vigilant lookout
from the fore-topsail yard just as the
sun rolled its glowing disc beneath the
horizon. The fact was duly reported to
tho commanding officer, who thought
ontlittle ofthe circumstance. 1t was no
unusual event Tor coasters to pass within
sight OF the blockading fleet. but the
genuine Nassau trader seldom, II. ever,
diBp aged 3 square inch OF canvas. As
night settled down the bows of the Blue
Blazes were pointed off shore, the steam
allowedto run down, and the deck left
in the quiet possession of the officer OF
the deck. All around the horizon hung
a tfcx.iv o,@l x,1oNvnu o,,rt,sr nr,l-;n
ser and sky within its misty folds.
There is thesstrange sail, sir, a-com-
I'M up with o spankin' breeze reported
Che quartermaeter. CHANGING in the di-
rection pointed out, che startled officer
beheld the lofty spars and white canvss
of a sqnare-rigsed vessel standing in for
tho land. The stranger was in easy hail
ing distance, and the musical ripple of
female laughter was waited to his ears.
Rallving himself tho officer hailed the
vessel. In an instant every light disap-
speared rs If by magic. A word of com
mRnd was the only answer vouchsafed,
and the next instant the stranger had
disappeared in the surrounding obscu-
rity.
The Suspicious movements of the sail
ms. craft were at once reported to the
commander, who ordered steam, with
instructions to follow the mysterious
craft. In haitian hour, the Blue Blazes,
her furnaces glowing with fresh fires,
was in condition to pursue anything
had been wasted. The man. Of war was
making twelve knots per hour. The
loom of the land was plainly visible, and,
~ the aid o fglasses, the irregular line
of sandhills, could be seen, with q scat
tering tree here and there. Sharp eyes
Q 10 made out the stranger running
dead before the wind. That fellow IS
evidently no stranger here muttered
tine commander, as he watched closely
iher movements through his glass.
Something long and dark. floating on
tthe water, rising and falling with every
siIndulation of the sea, suddenly attract.
ed the attention of a number of the
company. A smothered e~jacula-
stion from the lendsman reached the ears
,of the executive officer, who sprang in
stoFtle chains in time 70 assist in hauling
on board q piece of line Confederate
tangled around the headline. 1t was
q common though ~fayorite dodge prac-
ticed by blocade-runners. in hopes that
the fabric would entangle and disable
the propeller of the pursuing vessel.
The situation was rapidly growing in
tteresting. the water shoallng rapidly,
willie the forward pivot had been hur-
sridly cast loose and trained upon the
vessel. u
Quarter less sthreeR' rang out sharp
and clear from the leadsman. Port
port POUR wheel; SLOW her down, air"
from the commander, followed by
the roar OF the pivot-gun. AS the smoke
cleared away, the square-rigger, her
white convas shining i'll the moonlight,
could not be What had become
Of her? All hands rubbed theirseyesin
amusement 81 they stfaine them&ato
craft was apparent anywhere.
The Blue Blazes came to anchor, q
strict watch was kept, and at the first
peep OF day the commander was astir,s
searching narrowly the barren landscape
through powerful Russian telescope.
Except the sandhills, stunted trees and
mouth of a deep, sluggish creek, There,
was nothing to be seen. The com mand-s
,er was fully convinced that the atranges
craft had disappeared amid the wind
ings OF the lagoon, and he an
nC unced his determination to
explere the extent of the
creek, 80 far us its depths would allow
the Blue Blazes to advance. The launch
and first cutter were to lead the way,
search for torpedoes aud sound out the
channel, 1t was not deemed expedient
to land q force, as though the marine
officer begaed hard for the privilege OF
allowing his command to touch terra
irma aud enjoy the favor of fringsa.
shot on solid ground.
Slowly he steamer advanced, pre-
ceeded by the boats. Nossigns of a hos
tile force was made manifest, and the
boats found nc explosive Instructions.
Gradually the creek narrowed into a
species Of straits, of limited length,
which opened abruptly into a wide cir
cular BASIN, thickly ~srsrounded by
woods. AT the head nft"a lake was a
battery hastily constructed, white the
~bfoadsida Of Confederate river gun
boat opened fire in concert with the
earthwork. Moored TO an impromptu
1har WIS . friend Of the proceeding
night. Her lofty spars had been sent
down and boughs OF trees artistlcally
AEfaDRed TO represent and blend with
the surrounding forest. A crowd OF
Confederntes were busilv engaged rum
ming the cargo out or her, but they
quickly suspended operations as The
sereech Of a nine inchshefl s%alutedtheir
cars.
The boats had ~beensrecailed aud were
ready to be ioisted when tbs keel OF the
Blue Blazee .toDk the lrand, which fact
WAS greeted by al exullant yell by the
srebels.s Their SiAesnen lurked amid the
$sladerfsnsh, susingS every opportunity to
annoy and harass Tho crew, while tile
reportofa heavy Gun from the direction
sof the.narypW entrance announced the
Sprese1LS Gf q Observation-Disclosures
masked battery. The vessel was between
sta6 fired, with the eunsoat pecnerina
away, aided by the sharpsilooters. Al
rapidly rs possible the heavy guns Of the
Blue BIazes were shifted and Drought to
allowed they realized the gravity of the