Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-02-04
RUNNING THE BLOCKADE.
Vessels Built Specially to Defy
Federal Pursuit.
Some Exciting and Valuable Captures by
the Union Blookading Fleets.

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 knife, powerful en-
gines, raking tunnels, and two masts,
rugged as schooners. The hull rose
only few feet above the water. They
were painted dull gray, so tlrat even
in the daytime 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.
Eefore the war there was little COM
merce between England and the Ber-
muda Islands, but now the harbOrs
were alive with ships great sea-soing
steamers from England loaded with
arms cannon, powder, goods of all
Understanding 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 "crows nest"
on the forward mast kept sharp look
out for the Union vessels. The pilots
knew every channel and sand bar,
The vessels were all light draft. The
blocade runner was only runner, not
a fighter. If he came too close to
war ship he took to his heels. The
runners were 50 swift, the war ships so
slow, that they were rarely captured
when the chase was a stern one
1t was a hard, exciting service which
the blockading fleets endured. During
the day the vessels cruised along the
shores, looking into all the inlets, 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 the steamer NansemOnd
discovered her. Lieut.. Lamson, COM
mandlng the Nansemcnd, when he
had 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 a shot !" he shouted The
long rihed guns flashed. The shot
skaters the toremast of the Venus;
another shot goes through her cabin;
the third crashes through the fore
castle, killing sailor; the fourth
strikes the hull below tine 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.
"There she is ~ The lookout of the
Niphon shouted it at daybreak few
mornings later. Captain Breck, COM
manding the Niphon, saw side
wheel steamer close in shore making
for Wilmington 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 determines to run the Niphon
down.
Captain Breck sees the situation.
"Ready, boarders !" he shouts, and the
sailors, who have been thoroughly
drilled, seize their pistols and swords.
The cannon of the Niphon send a
shower of canister. The next moment
there is a crash, and the bowspr.t of
the Niphon breaks like pipestem.
Over the rail swarm the bolrders, and |
he next moment the Ella and Anna
is theirs, with 300 cases of rifles and |
a cargo worth $llS,0Oo. The vessel
is renamed the Malvern and becomes
one of the blockaiing 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
willing to run the risk of being cap
tured for the high wages they received.
A captain received 5000 for each
successful trip, each one of the crew
$3.50, the chief engineer $500 and
The pilot $500 --Nation1J Tribune.
Washed Twice in a Lifetime.
In Abyssinia there is plenty of wa,
Al.