Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-09-09
BLOCKADE RUNNING.

BLOCKADE RUNNING.
How the steamer Lee Threw . Union
Cruiser on Her Track.
During the civil war Nassau was tho
chief depot of supplies for the Confeder-
acy. Blockade-runners piled between
1t and the ports of Charleston and Will
mington, carrying out cotton, and bring
ing back cargoes of general merchan'
disc. Captain Wilkinson, In his MARIA
two of Blockade-Runner," relates
many adventures which befell him on
such trips. lie was in command OF the
steamer Lee. and ON the 18th OF August,
1863, sailed from Wilmington to Nassau.
We passed safely through the block
aiding feet OIL the New Inlet Bar, re-
ceiviny no damage from the few shots
fired at us, and gained an ofiing OF thir-
ty miles before daylight BY this time
our supply OF English coal was exhaust
cd. and we were obliged to commence
upon North Carolina coal OF very infer
ior quality. which made terrible smoke.
This was little after daylight. Very
soon afterward tho vigilant lookout at
the masthead called out: sail ho?
and in reply to tho "where away?" from
the deck, sang out Right astern' sir
: and in chase"
The morning was very clear. On go
I ing to tho masthead Icould just discern
the royal OF the chasori and before
came down. say In half an hour, her top
gallant showed above the horizon.
, 1t was evident that our pursuer would
A I 4. 4 81
rate we were going. Tho first orders were
to throw overheard the deck-load OF cot
. ton and to make more steam. The sec
, ond of these orders proved to DO moro
,s easily given than executed; the chiei
engineer reported that 1t was impossi
ble to make steam with such wretchcS
u fuel. filled with slate ard dirt
ia A modci atc breeze from the north an
,e east was blowing, and every stitch o
canvass on board the square-rigge
steamer in our wake was drawing. Th
VI advantage could only be neutralize
either by bringing the Lee gradual
head TO the wind or edging away :
W bring tho wind aft.
Tho former course would be running
)O toward land, beside incurring tho add
tional risk OF being intercepted an
captured by some of tho inshorc cruiser'
~. began to edge away, therefore, and
to two or three hours enjoyed the satisfa'
tion OF seeing our pursuer clew up an
furl his sails. The breeze was still fresi
,o but we were now running away from 1
i, and the cruiser was going literally O
40 fast as the wind. so that the sails wer
No rather hindrancc than help Bu
"A the cruiser was still gaining upea us.
~ A happy inspiration occurred TO m
r when tho case seemed hopeless, and
VI sent for the chief engineer.
y. 'Mr. s., let us try cotton saturate
2. with spirits of turpentinc."
~ There were ON board. as part OF th
w dech-load, thirty or forty sarrels OF spi
v It's. In n fow moments a bale OF cotto
was ripped open, barrel tapped, an
buckets full OF the saturated materii
were passed down into the flro-room.
,d The result exceeded our expectation
M The chief engineer, an excitable littl
~ Frenchman, soon made his appearance
~ on the bridge, his eyes sparkling wit
' triumph, and reported full head {
' steam. was curious 10 see the ofet
a3 upon our speed, and directed him
au wait moment till the log was hove.
III / threw it myself-nine and ha
30, knots.
,al Let her go, now," ! said. Five mil
or utes afterward hove the log again
IL thirteen and quarter!
es We now began to hold our own, an
even to gain little upon the chaser
but sao was fearfully near, and bega
n, to bave visions OF another residence O
10 Fort Warron. wonder II the officers {
~ the cruiser could have screwed anothc
" turn Of speed out of her II they ha
known thatstho Leo had on board, In at
dition to her cargo OF cotton, q larg
'as amount OF gold shipped by tho Confe(
nd crate Government
,os There was slight change in our reli
tive positions till about six o'clock
au tho afternoon when tho chief engine'
to reported that the burnt cotton hi
all choked the flues, and that the steam wi
;r- running down.
vi 'only keep her going till dark" r
piled. 'and we will give our pursuer Il
slip yet"
~, A heavy bank was lying along u
es. horizon TO the south and east, and sa
he possible means of escape. At suns
10 the chaser was about four miles astei
and gaining on us.
l stationed an officer on each whee
ne house, with glasses, directing them
'm let me know the instant they lost sigl
OF the chaser In the growing darknes
At the same time l ordered the eng
m neer to make as black smoke as poss