The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-04-12
A BLOCKADE-RUNNER
HOW CAPT. WILSON LOST AND
RECAPTURED

the War-SeiZed by Federal Men-of-
War While Running Out of Charles
ton with Cotton.
Mrs Carrie jenkins Harris IN ". z World.
One dark, rainy night in the sum-
mer of 1866 the deck Of the Emily
St. Pierra, a rakish looking sailing
vessel anchored off on one of the larg-
est wharves in Charleston, was the
scene of unusual commotion. She was
heavily loaded with cotton, and her
cargo, valued at 100000 was con-
signed to Trenholm, Fraser & Co.,
Liverpool England, the largest cotton
firm in the world. Her sails were
being unfurled, and as they caught
the wind that blew half a gale the
swaying of the vessel impeded some
what the rapid movements ofthe crew
as they hurried along the slippery
deck in evident preparation for the
Journey. The steward, burly negro
who had been born slave in the
family of Mr.. Trenholm, was the only
enc who took things leisureiy. Find
ing The sailors too busy to listen to
him, be stood peeling into
the darkness, whence shown. far in the
distance, the light on Fort Sumpter,
and, further still. faint glimmer on
the indefinable horizon, which he knew
came from one or more men -of-war that
were on the watch for a chance to
Blockade vessel.
This negro steward knew every inch
of the harbor as well as he knew the
deck on which he stood. The sough-
ing of the wind, and driving gusts of
rain, together with the intense dark
ness of the night seemed to impress
him unfavorably and awaked some of
his superstition. He muttered to
himself as a sudden rush of wind
struck the bellying sails:
Il don like dis. De SCUM dat wind
brings from the de pine barrens is like
de moanin ofa lost an wand rim 'sperrit.
In de ole days Mas'r an me sent our
cotton outen dis port in broad day
light. Now we sneaks out wild de
whitest an de finest dat grows on the
Sea Islands jes' like we had been er
stealin' somebody's chickens. No
flag afyin', no sunshine on de deck,
no wavin' of de bandannas en- de
wharf, but jes, so-in de dark, sly
like er fox, an dodgin' dem forts an
gunboats like we couldn't no longer
hole our heads up big an high as eny-
body. I'll give Mas'r talk ON dis
subject if Cord spars me to come back
an jes' as 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 south
ern Confederacy. The other was
known SIS Capt. Wilson, the COM
mander of the Emily St. Pierre. He
was called Capt. Wilson because he
did not choose to use the name of
an ancient and noble house
that had borne the feur de us on its
uzure shield in the days of Bourbon
supremacy in his native France. The
Emily St. Pierre had been named for
the beautiful daughter of Mr.. Tren-
holm, who, though mere girl, stood
IN the window Of the main office of
the cotton warehouse, looking
cut on the scene before her At her
side stood boy of about ten years,
who was also ready and eager for a
journey.
Like Calhoun, the girl seemed to
have forebodying of the coming dan
ger and silently held the hand of her
companion, as if she wouldlike to keep
him at her side rather than. see him
go aboard the restless ship The boys
hand returned her warm and friend
" clasp, but his eyes were concentrat-
ed on the tall sinewy form of his faith
-er on the wharf below him. Tren-
holm was saying: "Wilson do not
take Leolyn with you. 1t is a periIous
voyage Leave him with me. l will
be father for him if anything should
happen to you. The sum of $4,000
shall be put to your credit in the
Bank of England as soon as your car
reaches Liverpool, and your sue
cess is more assured without the child
than with him."
"Entreaty is useless" Wilson an.
swered firmly. | must have him with
me. He must become accustomed to
perils. His forefathers were brave
men, and never commenced an enter
prise with failure. I am deter.
mined to have him educated in Eu.
rope, and [ see no promise of better
opportunity to take him on a voyage
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 a
high musical note on an antique silver
whistle he carried on his watch guard
When the boy heard it his eyes bright
ened, and drawing the girls hand
through his arm he carefully led her
down the Office steps and towards the
two gentlemen. In 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 gunboats and
Calhoun's uneasiness would have en-.
tirely d. disappeared if the sunbeams OF
the morning had fallen on the famil.
lar flag he had been accustomed to in
sde ole days instead Of the Union
Jack that was unfurled to the breeze
as she sped over an open sea.