The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1891-11-06
LuckIEsT SHIP AFLoAr.
NO Danger Ever Troubles This Nautical
Mascot.

Mascot.
There Is a vessel now lying at San
Francisco that attracts great deal OF
attention by her queer rig and old FASH
soned appearance. She is the British
four masted bark Omeo, belonging to
Melbourne. The old craft has quite a
history and was formerly a steamer
She was built in 1858, in England, and
b 7S9 tons. During the civil war she
WAS used as a blockade runner and
snade a number of trips to Charleston,
escaping capture more than once from
the Federal war vessels.
The last trip she made was re-
markable one. She passed the gun
boats that were blockading the harbor.
and then orders were given by the flag
ship to keep a sharp lookout for her
when she attempted to leave, and to
catch her at all hazards. The days
went by until six weeks had passed,
and the officers were beginning to
.tiiiuk that the steamer had given them
the slip and made away without their
knowing it, when one night rockets
were seen from the cruisers as if some
one was signaling on shore.
A bright lookout was kept for the
slippery blockade runner, and just be
fore daylight she was,seen well in shore
passing out She was loaded to the
guards with cotton, and had several
hundred bales piled on deck. Half a
dozen steamers started after her at
once. and it seemed as if she would be
caught at last. But she managed to
reach open water without coming in
range of the guns of the warships. and
In few hours had distanced all but
one of her pursuers.
This was one of the new gunboats, a
screw steamer of great speed; and as
,the two hew through the water the
American captain had the satisfaction
of noting that slowly but surely he was
-oyen,auling the heavily laden block
ader. The captain of the British
steamer also perceived that the gun
boat was gaining on him, and he knew
that it was only question of time,
unless something turned up to prevent
III
way to New York with the cotton
steamer In tow.
He looked at his deckIoad. which was
worth thousands of dollars in Liver
pool could he land 1t there. and then
hooked at the American. which was
slowly crawling up on him, until every
.sninute he expected to see the puff of
smoke FROM her bow gun. He decided
that the deckioad must go. But there
was great danger of crippling the
steamer should lie drop the big bales
over the side. as one of them might be
Caught In tie propeller, and then ship
and cargo would go to New York with
out doubt.
In order to prevent this. long stage
was rugged over the stern and the bales
rolled out ON It before they were dropped
into the sea. The plan worked first
.class-in fact, better than the bold En-
,glisliIuen had dared to hope. Bale
after bale was dropped overheard, and
soon a long line of them foated on the
water right In the road of the Ameri-
can steamer, and no attention was paid
TO them by the officers of the gunboat
until a crash was heard and in a few
seconds her engines stopped. The cap
tain went down in the engine room to
liearn what was the matter, and q short
Investigation showed that the gunboat
was helpiessly crippled.
One of the lbales had been caught by
the. propeller and its contents wound
around the shaft in second, and to
their chagrin the rich prize slipped
Through their fingers when they were
nearly alongside. After the war the
.Omeo went to Australia, and for a
number of years ran from Melbourne
to New Zealand. and was then turned
into sailing vessel. She is regarded
as the luckiest ship afoat, as well as
,one of the fastest, as. In spite of her
queer rig. very few can outsail her,
Detroit Free Press.