Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-03-07
THE BLOCKADE OFF WILMINGTON.



Ashore-Commons Sense ". Law.
A certain Saturday night, Oh the western
bar, one Of the inlets into Wilmington, was an
exciting one for the blockaders and blockade
runners also. There was no time to indulge
in Saturday night songs and revelries or to
drink -Sweethearts and Wives" We knew
that the blockade runners were expected, for
the tides and the state Of the moon both
favored them. The moon went down early.
Orders had been given that at that time
every vessel should have her anchor up with
steam and everything ready for start. The
vessels, four in number, Connecticut, Geor-
gia, Emma and Buckingham, were swing
ing about, and little steam used to keep them
in their assigned positions. They were like
restless race-horses awaiting the order,
@go.n
The officer Of the deck was lying down
upon his breast on the hurricane deck. sweep
ing the horizon with his glass Suddenly be
reported that there was something moving
ON the water like q blockade runner The
commander took look and confirmed the
report Orders were Immediately given TO
start and move at full speed Two shotted
guns were fired at the vessel, when she
changed her course, stood of under full speed
and was lost sight Of In this move she met
with the Georgia, which vessel started after
her and drove her off. Continuing in her
persistency to enter, the Emma met her and
drove her of. She was faster than most of
cur vessels, and as it was dark she could soon
run out of sight. But she was not willing to
give il up. She had now stood pretty well
over toward Smiths island, thinking she
might get in by running close along the
land, and now for the fourth time she at
tempted it, when the Buckingham espied her,
opened her guns upon her and drove her of.
As we didn't see nor hear anything more
Of her that night we supposed she had gone
out to sea, to try it, perhaps, another
night, as was frequently done.
But at daybreak the next morning, 10 and
behold! there was the steamer hard and fast
ashore. She had been forced OFF and showed
over 50 many times that she had got nearer
the land than she calculated and had run
badly on shore. Attempts were made by
Cur vessels to get her of, which was found
to be impossible. A few days after gale
Of wind came on which broke the vessel to
pieces. She was found to be the noted Eng
lish blockade runner Herald The officers
and crew had left in their boats and landed
ON Smiths island In the dark of the night.
This steamer had been running between Ber-
muda and Charleston, had made ten or
twelve successful trips and had paid for her
self several times over. She had changed
her route to the one between Nassau and
Wilmington, which proved bad luck, as she
was wrecked on her first trip.
And now came up the question of common
SENSE versus law. The Connecticut had
captured schooner laden with salt-a cargo
not worth more than $500 or 500 BY
throwing the salt overheard 8 600 or 5000
worth of valuable goods could be taken from
the Herald and put on board of the chooner,
which was done. This would naturally be
deemed common sense, but the law says that
mo person in the navy shall take out of a
prize any goods or any property before the
same shall be adindged lawful prize by a
competent court This proceeding was
duly reported to the navy department, but
nothing was ever said in the way of APP
proval or disapproval thereof.-Rear Adj
ni;rai Almy in Philadelphia Times.