The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-06
THE BLOCKADE BUSINESS.
Col w. B. Sterrett of the Confederate
Service Relates His Experience.

The var is over and while twenty-four
years have passed, yet every tale of the
struggle is of interest Among the partici-
pants on the confederate side was Col. W.
b. Sterrett, who for a considerable time was
stationed at Nassau, in the Bahama islands.
The colonel took a great interest in the
trade carried on between his post and the
southern states by the blockade runners,
who usually sought to reach the port of
Wilmington.
This gentleman is at present staying in
Chi ago, and was asked for a bit of history
ana personal "reminiscences connected with
his island home. In talking over the days
past he said to the Inter Ocean:
The confederate agent at Nassau was a
man named Hyleger, through whose hands
many millions of dollars must have passed,
as he bought large quantities of army sup
plies, such as boots shoes, blankets and
arms, for which there was SO great a de
mand at Nassau that merchants tiocked
there from every quarter. The quaint lit
tie town, previous to the war, was noted
only as wreckiog station, and the inhabi-
tantS, like those on the Cornish coast, were
reported to have ended their evening de-
yotlons by praying that God would send
ship ashore before morning. Being the
nearest neutral port from the southern
coast, with the exception of Cuba, which
was too far south for Wilmington and
Charleston, an immen'e trade sprung up,
and in the early days of the war schooners,
slow steamers and vessels of all kinds had no
difficulty in running the so-called blockade,
selling their cargoas at a handsome profit
and bringing out cotton, which was pur-
chased for 10 cents and sold for 40 cents per
pound. In fact, the supply of cotton
throughout the world became SO limited
that famine ensuei, thousands of opera
tlves in Manchester and other manufactur
ing centers of England were thrown out of
employment, and there was a season of
much distress. The south had complete
monopoly of the trade, from the simple fact
that cotton cannot be grown in any other
country in the world to such advantage, be-
cause in all cottOn-growlng countries with
the exception of the south, there are dry
and wet seasons, instead of a heightened
period of fine weather, varied by occasional
rams. The closing of the cotton ports,
however, gave an impetus to raising the
material in India and Egypt.
At the close of hostilities India cottons
went virtually out of the market, but
Egypt still grows considerably quantities.
This was exceedingly fortunate for the
south, for if there had been no cotton to
bring back there would have been no
bloch ade-running, except by the confeder
ate government steamers, as the risk was far
the profits were large, confederate money
decreased SO rapidly in value that before
bonds and money could be converted into
gold there was more chance for loss than a
profit"
"Were there many large fortunes made
by Notwithstanding during this periodm
"At first a great deal of money was
made, but the fact is not generally known
that the Unite States really got the best of
the game. During the war there were not
less tnan 800 vessels with their cargoes cap
tured or destroyed. 1t brought to grief the
large English firms of Alexander Collie &
Co, Overel ID, Quincy & Co., and a num-
Der of lesser concerns who were engaged in
it. The firm of G lie Brothers had fine
feet of swift steamers with three tunnels
and double screws which the sailors called
"Three-fingered Jacks Several of them
were captured by the federals and convert
ed into chasers. No heavy armament was
required as the blockade runners never car
ried guns, aud for a mere merchantmen to
resist United States man-of-w war would be
considered as an act of piracy, and would
be treated as such. The blockade runners
all iloated the British flag, and were chiefly
manned by British subjects. When cap
tured the crews were generally released or
only detained for short time"
There must have been a considerable
amount of prize money due the navy at the
close of the war thenW
"There was undoubtedly a vast amount,
if it had been properly administered, but
| there were so many middemen, brokers,
| etc, to be taken care of baforeit got to poor
| Jack that it didn't amount to as much as it
| should have boon. Gen. Dix, who was in
command of the port of New York, told
! friend of mine that blockade runni was
a most fortunate thing the United States
navy, as it popularized the service and
there was no difficulty in obtaining recruits
for the Atlantic squadron 1t was was not,
| however, so easy to get men for the iron
clads on the Mississippi and at New Orleans,
as there was no prospect of prize money, and
| life on an iron clad in q semi tropical climate
was anything but enjoyable. At the close
of the war many of the captured steamers
became merchantmen on the lakes. and
| occasionally come across names of boats
that piled between Nassau and the south in
thos' exciting days.
1.-THE confederate government did not
own any of the vessels directly. 1t was
not policy to do So 1t was better to have
British register and to fly under a British
| flag in case of capture, as in such an event
! there would only be short detention,
whereas the crew of confederate vessel
| would be lab O to permanent Imprisonment,
and therefore Il would have been difficult
! to get men for the service. The confederate
| government was the chief owner in the Owl,
! very swift vessel commanded by Capt.
Motfctt, son of the great Methodist
preacher, the Rev. John Newell Moffett,
who was noted throughout the United
States in his day. The Owl made many
successful passages, her cargo consisting
mainly # arms, cannon, etc, purchased in
England. She was the last of the blockade
runners to make the trip. | took passage on
her as | had urgent business in the south.
We had heard OF the fall of Fort Fisher be-
fore leaving Nassau, but thought we could
reach Wilmington by landing at n point
farther down the coast and have the cargo
carted TO the nearest railway station. On
nearing the coast, we met pilot boat and
were Informed that Wilmington had fallen
rs we'll as Fort Fisher the Owl went on
with her cargo to Galveston but myself and
the Hon Thomas Connolly, member of the
British parliament, who wanted to see the
actual condition of the south, determined to
land and make our way to Richmond. An
amusing incident occurred, showing the ac-
tual condition Of the south. We stopped at
place that han very much the appearance
of tavern, and there found a pretty, rosy
checked girl dressed in very shabby cot
ton gown Mr.. Connolly, who was Jolly
Irlshman chucked her under the chin play
| fully and mndo tire remark that she was IA
very pretty hnrmaid This familiarity was
Indignantly resented, and shortly after her
father appeared on the scene with revol-
yer and WAS with difficulty estrained from
~. a 4.