Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-02-26
RUNNING Tie BLOCKADE.
Vessels Built Specially to DEFY
Federal Pursuit
Sons Exciting and Valuable Captures By
the Union BlOckading Fleets.

were long. narrow. low side wheel
steamers, with sharp bows that cut
the water like a knife, powerful en-
gines, Taking tunnels, and two masts.
rugged as schooners The hull rose
only few feet above the water. They
were painted a dull gray. so that even
in the daytime it would be difficult to
see them far away. The forward part
Of the deck was covered over, 50 that
they could run through heavy seas.
Before the war there was little com
merce between England and the Ber-
muda Islands, but now the harbors
were alive with ships great sea-going
steamers from England loaded with
arms, cannon, powder. goods of all
Misunderstanding to England freighted
with cotton. The blocade runners
brought the cotton from Wilmington
and Charleston, delivered it to the large
steamers, took on board the goods,
arms and ammunition, and steamed
back to those ports. always planning
to run past the blockade vessels in the
night. When coming in all lights were
! put out the steam was blown off under
water. A man up in the 'crow's nest
on the forward mast kept a sharp look
out for the Union vessels. The pilots
knew every channel and sand bar.
The vessels were all light drafts The
blocade runner was only runner, not
a lighter. II he came too close to a
war ship he took to his heels. The
runners were SO swift, the war ships so
slow, that they were rarely captured
when the chase was a stern one.
1t was hard, exciting SCI vice which
the blockading fleets endured. During
the day the vessels cruised along the
shores, looking into all the inleIs, or sail
ed eastward to discover any approach
ing blockade runner, but at sunset they
came close in.shore; almost under the
guns of Fort Sumner at Charleston, or
Fort Fisher at Wilmington. All
lights were put out, except the one
lantern at the masthead of the Com
modore's vessel. Men were up in the
rigging straining their eyes through
the night to catch the sight Of the
swift runners.
On an October night, 1868, the
Venus from Nassau approached Viii
mington. The lookout up at the
masthead of tho steamer Nansemond
discovered her. Lieut.. Lamson, COM
handing the Nansemcnd, when he
had a duty to perform was always
ready. The fires were blazing under
his boilers the steam was up. In an
instant the Nansemond was away.
"Give her shot r. he shouted. The
long rified guns flashed. The shot
skaters the foremost of the Venus;
another shot goes through her cabin;
the third crashes through the fore
castle. killing a sailor; the fourth
strikes the hull below the water line,
Both vessels are fast, going fourteen
knots an hour. The captain of the
Venus sees that he cannot make the
harbor and runs for the shore She
strikes hard and fast; the crew leap
into the water and reach the sandy
beach. The Nansemond lowers her
boats and takes possession Of the
vessel. The Venus cannot be moved
she IS set on fire and the Nansemond,
at daylight, steams away.
.'1here she is |" The lookout of the
Niphon shouted it az daybreak a few
mornings later. Captain Breck, COM
manding the Nippon, saw side
wheel steamer close in shore making
for Wilmington Harbor. Another
blockader was in pursuit. The Nippon
was ii position to intercept the runner
the Ella and Anna. The captain Of
the runner sees that he is cut off and
he determines to run the Nippon
down.
Captain Breck sees the situation.
~Ready, boarders r he shouts, and the
sailors, who have been thoroughly
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