Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-02-26
RUNNING THE BLOCKADE.
Vessels Built Specially to Defy
Federal Pursuit.
Some Exciting and Valuable Gap
lures by the Union Blockading

/
The vessels built for blockade run
ming were built for the purpose. They
were long, narrow, low side-wheel
steamers, with sharp bows that cut the
water like a knife, powerful engines,
raking tunnels, and two masts, rugged
as schooners. The hull rose only few
feet above the water. They we've paint
eo dull gray, so that even in the day
time it would be difficult to see them
far away. The forward part of the
deck was covered over, so that they
could run through heavy seas. Before
1 the war there was little commerce be-
tween England and the Bermuda Is
| lands, but now the harbors were alive
with ships-great sea-going steamers
from England loaded with arms, can
non powder, goods Of all kinds-return-
ing to England freighted with cotton.
The blocade runners brought the cotton
from Wilmington and Charleston, de-
livered it to the large steamers, took on
board the goods, arms and ammunition,
and steamed back to, those ports, a.
ways planning to run past the blockade
vessels in the night. When coming i'm
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 sharp lookout for the Union ves-
sells. The pilote knew every channel
and sand bar. The vessels were all
light draft. The blockade runner was
only a runner, not fighter. If he came
too close to war ship he took to his
heels. The runners were so swift, the
war ships SO slow, that they were rare
ly captured when the chase was stern
one
1t was hard, exciting service which
the blockading fleets endured. During
the day the vessels cruised along the
shores, looking into all the inlets, or
sailing eastward to discover any ap-
preaching blockade runner, but at sun
set they came .close in-shore /; almost
under the guns OF Fort Sumner at
Charleston or Fort Fisher at Whining
ton. All lights were put out, except
the one lantern at the masthead of the
Commodore's vessel. Meu were up i'm
the rigging straining their eyes through
the night to catch sight of the swift
runners.
On an October night, 1868, the Ven
us from Nassau approached Whining
ton. The lookout up at the masthead
of the steamer Nasemond discovered
her. Lieut.. Lamson, commanding the
Nasemond, when he had duty to per-
form was always ready. The fires were
blazing under his boilers-the steam
was up. In an instant the Nansemond
was away.
"Give her shot I" he shouted. The
long rife guns flashed. The shot shat
tered the foIemast of the Venus "a
mother shot goes through her cabin; the
third crashes through the forecastle,
killing sailor {; the fourth strikes the
hull below the water line. Botsvessels
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 Nasemond low
ers her boats and takes possession Of
the vessel. The Venus cannot be NOV
ed; she is set on fire and the NaSemond,
at daylight, steams away.
sThere she is - The lookout of the
Niphon shouted it at daybreak few
mornings later. Captain Breck, COM
manding the Nlphon, saw side-wheel
steamer close in shore making for Will
mington Harbor. Another blockader
was in pursuit. The Niphon was in
position to intercept the runner-the
Ella and Anna. The captain of the
runner sees that he is cut off and he de-
termines to run the Nippon down.
Captain Breck sees the situation.
"Ready, boarders !" he shouts, and the
sailors, who have been thoroughly drill.
ed, seize their pistols and swords. The
cannon of the Niphon send shower of
canister. The next moment there is
crash, and the bowsprit of the Niphon
breaks like pipestem.. Over the rail
swarm the boarders, and the next mo-
ment the Ella and Anna is theirs, with
800 cases of rifles and a cargo worth
$11S,OOO. The vessel is renamed the
Malvern, and becomes one of the block
! aiding fleet.
A great many blockade runners were
captured and destroyed, but the profits
were so enormous that others were
built. The officers and crews were will
ing to run the risk of being captured
for the high wages they received. A
captain received $4,000 for each success
ful:trip, each one of the crew $3.50. the
chief engineer $2,5OO and the pilot S.
700.