The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-04-05
A BOLD BLOCKADE RUNNER.
Capt Wilson Loses and Recaptures the
Emily st. Pierre.

A BOLD BLOCKADE RUNNER.
Capt Wilson Loses and Recaptures the
Emily st. Pierre.
One dark, rainy night in the summer
of 1868 the deck of the Emily st. Pierre,
a rakish.looking sailing vessel anchored
off one of the largest wharves in Charles
ton, was the scene of unusual commotion.
Isss.''se ,gas heavily loaded with cotton, and
her caigc,, valued ats1OO,OO0, was con-
signed to Trenholm, Fraser & Co., Liver.
pool, England, the.largest cotton firm in
the world. Her sails we're being unfurl-
ed, aud as they caught the wind that blew
half gale, the swaying of the vessel
impeded somewhat the rapid movements
of the crew as they hurried along the
slippery deck in evident preparation for
a journey. The steward, burly negro
who had been born slave in the family
of Mr.. Trenholm, was the only one who
took things leisurely. Finding the sail
ors too busy to listen to him, be stood
peering into the darkness, whence shone
far in the distance the lights of Fort
Sumter, and further still, faint glim.
mer on the inde6nable horizon, which he
knew came from one or more men.of-war
that were on the watch for a chance
blockade vessel.
This negro steward knew every inch of
the harbor as we'll as he knew the deck
on which hestood. The soughing of the
wind and driving gusts of rain, together
with the intense darkness of the night,
seemed to impress him uufavorably and
awaken some Of his innate superstition.
He muttered to. himself as sudden rush
of wind struck the bellying sails:
~ dom like dis. De SCUM dat wind
brings from de pine barrens is like de
moanin' of lost an wand'rin' sperrit.
In de ole days Mas'r an me sent our
cotton outen dis port in broad daylight.
Now We sneaks cut wild de whitest an de
finest dat grows on de Sea Islands jes'
like We had been er stealin' somebody's
chickens. No flag afyin', no sunshine on
de deck, no wayin' of de bandannas on
de wharf, but jes' so-in de dark, sly like
er fox, an dodgin' dem forts an gunboats
like we couldn't5no longer hole our heads
up big an high assenybody. I'll give
Mas'r talk on dis subject if Cord spars
ne to come, an jes' es shore es my name
is John Calhoun, dis is my las trip
under sech circumstances"
While Calhoun soliloquized, two men
were talking earnestly on the wharf.
One was George A. Trenholm, the head
of the firm, and at that time secretary of
the treasury of the Southern Confedera-
cy. The other was known as Capt
Wilson, the commander of the Emily
st. Pierre. He was called Capt Wilson
becauseshe did not choose to use the
name ofan ancient and noble house that
had borne the 1eur de lis on its azure
shield in the days of Bourbon supremacy
in his native France. The Emily st.
Pierre had been named for the beautiful
daughter of Mr.. Trenholm, who though
q mere girl, stood in the window of the
main Office of the cotton warehouse,
looking out on the scene before her. At
her side stood boy of about 10 years,
who was also ready and eager for jour-
ney.
Like Calhoun, the girl seemed to have
a forebodiug of coming danger, and
silently held the hand of her companion,
as if she would like to keep him at her
side rather than see him 60 aboard the
restless ship. The boys hand returned
her warm and friendly clasp, but his eyes
we're concentrated on the tall, sinewy
form of his father on the wharf below.
him. Trenholm was saying: "Wilson,
do not take Leolyn with you. 1t is a
perilous voyage. Leave him with me.
I will be q father to him if anything
should happen to you. The sum Of $685.
900 shall be put to your credit in the
Bank Of England as soon as your cargo
reaches Liverpool, and your success is
more assured without the child than with
him."
'Entreaty is useless" Wilson answer
ed firmly. 81 laust have him with me.
He must become accustomed to perils.
His forefathers were brave men, and
never commenced an enterprise with a
forethought of failure. l am determined
to have him educated in Europe, and I
see no promise ofa better opportunity to
take him on yoysge with me. The
wind and rain are in our favor, and in an
hours time we ought to be beyond the
FORTS"
AS he finished speaking he made high
musical note on an antique silver whistle
he carried on his watch-guard. When
the boy heard it his eyes frightened, and
drawing the girls hand through his arm,
he carefully led her down the Office steps
aud towards the two gentlemen. In a
few minutes Mr.. Trenholm returned with
his daughter and was driven to his home
in Charleston.
Every sail on the Emily st. Pierre was
Stretched to its utmost tension, and as
the anchor chain ratified over her sides
she sailed away. By sunrise she had
safely passed the gunbcats and Calhoun's
uneasiness would have entirely disap.
peared if the sunbeams of the morning
had fallen on the familiar flag he had
been accustomed to in "de ole days" in-
stead of the Union Jack that was un-
furled to the breeze as she sped over an
open sea.
A few days Afterwards, however, two
large Federal men .of-war saw aud sig.