The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-04-15
RUNNING THE BLOCKADE.
A Story of the Times that Tried Mems
Souls.

Twenty-six years ago to-day on the 1st
of April, 1865, an incident took place of
Galveston harbor in which Capt. Sim
Adkins, the Nestor of fCharleston harbor,
then the gallant commander of dashing
blockade runner, the Fo.s, bore promi-
nent part. The story is best told by
John F. Mackie, then sergeant in the
marine corps, and doing duty on the
United States Steamer Seminole, one Of
the blockading squadron off Galveston
harbor.
Mr.. Mackie relates how the Fo.r was
discovered about 10 o'clock in the morn
ing "right abeam," how all hands were
called to quarters and the Seminole started
in pursuit of her prey, long, low steam,
er about eight miles to the eastward,
burning black smoke, steamipg rapidly
to the northward and westward. The
stranger sighted the Seminole and chang
ed her course instantly from west to
northwest, and steamed directly for the
Texan shore, distant about eight miles,
which trends rapidly to the northwest
above Galveston. By this course the
stranger would strike the shore in about
an hour, unless prevented by us from SO
doing. II successful, she could make an
inner channel which runs between the
shore and sandba- which runs along
the Texan coast, distant about half a
mile from the mainland but on this bar
there is only about ten feet of water
inside there is twelve, and sometimes
fifteen feet.
The Seminole overhauled her prey
gradually and prepared to open fire.
When within two miles of her we opened
fire on her from our eleven-inch pivot,
exploding a shell right under her bow
and nearly deluging the ship with water,
but doing no further harm. While we
were reloading the pivot she put her
helm "hard starboard" and ran across
our bow, heading directly for the shore
distant about mile and half-appar'
emily intending to run herself ashore
While this was being done we were not
idle; the change, of course, compelled
us to "shorten SAIL"
AS soon as the last man reached the
deck Capt. Clarey shouted: 'Put your
helm hard starboard, sir" 'Hard a
starboard, sir" answered the officer at
the wheel the same moment, putting the
wheel sharply about, and the ship turned
on her heel as if she knew what was
expected of her and started directly for
the shore, with the stranger, now right
abeam, starboard side about mile off,
bringing our whole battery of FIVE guns
to bear on her. The Captain cried ou'
to forward rife: "Fire as soon as you
are ready and without further orders
only don't waste the ammunition. Pivot
there, sir; fire carefully, and aim at the
wheel.house and at no other place. Sink
her, if possible; 50 ahead and show us
what you can do. Quarterback battery
(six eight-inch guns,) take good aim and
fire rapidly as you can; aim at the wheel
house; don't let her get away from us. ,
All this was done in less time than il
takes to describe it, and as We were now
nearing her rapidly it seemed impossible
that she could escape us. A shell from
the rife exploded over her; shell from
the eleven.inch burst close beside her
and the three and eightinch she'll guns
were sending their compliments thick
and fast, but strange to say not a single
shot had struck her. She seemed to beal
a charmed life. We were about half 8
mile distant from each other and about 6
mile from the shore when she suddenly
changed her course to south southwest
aud started to run down along the coast
heading directly for US.
1t was now nj p and tuck. The slfang
er was going to run for it, and had the
bar between US. Our only chance was
to sink her before she got in. Nothing
now could save her, as the steamer
Penguin, which had been after the othel
sail, which, by the way, was passing
friend, now joined US in the chase, anc
opened upon the flying steamer with nc
better success than before, her shots
flying wide of the mark. The most tire
mendous excitement prevailed on boare
each vessel. Capt. Clarey raved ant
swore and stamped in an intense bu
subdued tone, but all to no effect. Sho
after shot went over and exploded beyond
on the shore; some exploded short ant
covered the steamer with spray, some in
the air, others cut the water just ahead
some just grazed the stern, but not one
touched her apparently. 1t seemed i'm
possible to strike her. The men worked
the guns as if they were only toys in thei
excitement, and loaded and fired as i
their lives depended on the accuracy O.
each shot. So rapidly did we fire tina
we had to wait for the smoke to lift before
we could see for the next shot.
We were now rapidly approaching
Galveston harbor, and it seemed as i
she was going to get away in spite of us
Since changing our course last time VT
were both sailing, or steaming rather
dead to windward, but she being the
lightest draught was making better time
than we, and slowly but surely getting
away from us. Her captain for the las
hour had been walking the bridge be
tween the wheel.houses, with both hand
in the pockets of his pea-jacket, smoking
cigar very unconcernedly; but tina
there was q feeling that their lives ant
property hung only on single threat
was manifest in the way those wheel
flew around, leaving 4 track of boiling
foamy sea far astern, and the thick, huge