The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-29
BLOCKADE RUNNING.
HOW the Steamer Lee Threw q Unio,
Cruiser on Her Track.

- BLOCKADE RUNNING.
How the Steamer Lee Threw = Union
Cruiser on Her Track.
During the civil war Nassau was the
chief depot of supplies for the Confeder-
acy. Blockade-runners piled between
1t and the ports of Charleston and Will
mlngton, carrying out cotton, and bring
Ing back cargoes of general merchan-
disc. Captain Wilkinson, in his MARIA
tive OF . Blockade-Runner," relates
many adventures which befell him on
sucn trips. He was in command of the
steamer Lee, and on the 18th of August.
1903, sailed from Wilmington to Nassau.
we passed safely through the block
aiding fleet off the New Inlet Bar, re.
ceiving no damage from the few shots
nred at us, and gaiQed an offing of thir-
ty miles before daylight. By this time
our supply of English coal was exhaust
ed, and we were obliged to commence
upon North Carolina coal of very infer
lor quality, which made terrible smoke.
This was little after daylight. Very
soon afterward the vigilant lookout at
the masthead called out: ''Sail hop
and in reply to the ''Where away?" from
the deck, sang out, Fright astern, sir,
and in chase"
The morning was very clear. On go
Ing to the masthead Icould just discern
the royal of the chaser; and before l
came down, say in half an hour, her top
gallant showed above the horizon.
| If <Ic4 i,
be alongside of US by midday at the
rate we were going. The 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 be more
easily given than executed; the chief
engineer reported that it was impossi-
BILE to make steam with such wretched
fuel, filled with slate and dirt
A moderate breeze from the north and
east was blowing, and every stitch of
canvass on board the square-rigged
steamer in our wake was drawing. The
advantage could only be neutralized
either by bringing the Lee gradually
head to the wind or edging away to
bring the wind aft.
The former course would be running
toward land, beside mourning the addi-
tional risk of being intercepted and
captured by some of the inshore cruisers.
l began to edge away, therefore, and in
two or three hours enjoyed the satisfac-
ton of seeing our pursuer clew up and
furl his sails. The breeze was still fresh.
but we were now running away from it,
and the cruiser was going literally as
fast as the wind, so t. at the sails were
rather hindrance than a help But
the cruiser was still gaining upon us.
A happy inspiration occurred to me
when the case seemed hopeless. and
sent for the chief engineer.
''Mr. s., let US try cotton saturated
with spirits of turpentine."
There were on board, as part Of the
deck-load, thirty or forty barrels of spir-
its. In few moments bale of cotton
was ripped open, a barrel tapped, and
buckets full of the saturated material
were passed down into the fre-room.
The result exceeded our expectations.
The chief engineer, an excitable little
Frenchman, soon made his appearance
on the bridge, his eyes sparkling with
triumph, and reported full head Of
steam. / was curious to see the effect
upon our speed, and directed him to
wait a moment till the log was hove.
1 threw it myself-nine and half
knots.
LET her go, now" I said. Five min
utes afterward l hove the log again
thirteen and a quarter!
We now began to hold our own, and
even to gain little upon the chaser:
but she was fearfully near, and I began
to have visions of another residence at
Fort Warren. / wonder if the officers Of
the cruiser could have screwed another
turn of speed out of her if they had
known that the Lee had on board, in ad-
dition to her cargo of cotton, a large
amount of gold shipped by the Confed-
crate Government.
There was slight change in our rela-
tive positions till about six o'clock in
the afternoon, when the chief engineer
reported that the burnt cotton had
choked the fues, and that the steam was
running down.
"Only keep her going till dark" I re-
piled, land we will give our pursuer the
slip yet"
A heavy bank was lying along the
horizon to the south and east, and / saw
a possible means of escape. At sunset
the chaser was about four miles astern
and gaining on US.
/ stationed an officer on each wheel
house, with glasses, directing them to
let me know the instant they lost sight
of the chaser in the growing darkness.
At the same time I ordered the engi-
neer to make as black smoke as posi-
BILE, and to be in readiness to cut it off
by closing the hampers instantly, when
ordered.
The twilight was soon succeeded by
darkness. Both officers called out at
the same moment, 1--WE have lost sight
of her." while dense volume of smoke
was streaming far in our wake.
''Close the hampers" called out and
at the same moment ordered the helm
'shard starboard."
Our course was altered eight points,
the cruiser was thrown off the track,
and two days later we arrived safely at
Bermuda.
The Rapidity of Thought.
Prof. Donders, of Utrecht, recently
made some interesting experiments in
regard to the rapidity of thought. By
means of two instruments, which he