The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-05-01
SOME INSIDE HISTORY.
The Story Of a Blockade Runner and
Several Missing Millions.

Washington Post.
In December, 1864, a very swift
and light blockade runner was
captured off Wilmington, N. 9. II
had been built for The purpose oil
running drugs and medicine INTO
the Conlederacy, and had made a
great many successful trips when.
by a confederation Of cream
stances and accidents, one foggy
morning in December she found
herself a long way outside OF her
intended course and within 300
yards of the United States cruls-
ers, who Immediately captured her
without struggle or any injury TO
the beautiful prize. One of the
officers who was present at her
capture declared that lie had never
seen in any ship such combina-
ilon ot grace and swiitness. She
was condemned and sold IN New
York on or about the 10th day of
February, 1865. Four men became
her owners, three of whom are dead
and one living. They had her
machinery very carefully over
hanled, d,everything put in thorough
ly good condition, and selected
captain who was known to them
all as not only as thorough sea-
man but as man who could and
would keep still tongue. He was
directed 10 coal up, proceed to
Halifax. and there await orders.
When he received a dispatch he
said it meant 10 start for LIVER
pool and 60 rs fast as steam and
wind could lake him, and it was
estimated that he could make he
run in three and a quarter days.
He was given sealed orders and
told that he would be instructed
by telegraph when TO open them.
He sailed for Halifax Feb. Is, 1865.
The Confederacy was then in its
death-throes. Hoods army had
been driven out of Tennessee VII h
great loss Of life. Its desiilutIon
was something that no man can
understand who did not see it..
Men were absolutely starving and
dying for want o. food and cloth
ing. Generals of brigades were
halt clad and were wearing
boots and shoes taken from dead
Union soldiers feet. How they
did live, who did live through it
all, is only known TO God and
them. Ii was a time which those
who participated in can never for
get. Their comrades faces were
gaunt and hacgard with privations
and famine, and men had in their
eyes the look of those whom hun
ger had nearly made mad. The
few horses that were lett were like
skeletons. Yet how these men
fought Franklin and Duck river
will bear witness. There was no
word of surrender amid all this
starvation and death. They pre-
ferred TO fight, for in tents OF their
enemies they found food and cloth
ing. warmth and the breath of life,
and they attacked where they
could with the courage of trained
soldiers and the fearlessness of
men almost mad. Never was there
seen on North American soil such
splendid contempt for death. Lees
army was in almost as destitute
and any day might see
the ending of the Conlederacy.
Time went on, February passed
away, then March, and the waiting
got no word. He kept his
fires banked and his men on board
as he had been told. April came,
and at 4:3C on the 9th Captain
Blaich received a telegram con-
tanning these words: SEQ and ex-
scute The orders given you in the
sealed writing. Open them one
lay before you arrive in Liver
pool" This was all. AT Z p. IN.
he steamed out of Halifax harbor,
and in three days and twelve hours
he was dropping anchor in the
Mersey of Liverpool. When he
arrived at Fastnet Light, The first
light seen on the Irish coast, he
opened his orders. They simply
directed him to deliver two pack
ages of papers 10 The addresses on
them as soon as he landed, at day
Or night, and then to report to a
we'll known firm of ship brokers
for further order, meanwhile to
talk with nobody. lie obeyed
hem strictly.
The end of the Confederacy had
come. Two great London and Liv-
erpool houses sold Confederate
bonds short till they had over $780,
100000 OF shorts. AT that tine
there were in Liverpool, London
and Manchester 1900 bales of cot
ion belonging 10 the Confederate
A week after the ar
rival of this swift ship the mail
steamers brought the news of The
of Lees and Johnston's
armies, the final collapae of the
government and The
fight of Mr.. Davis and his cabi-
net. Confederate bonds fell from
35 to 40 cents 10 nothing. The
American minister in London, Mr..
Chas. Francis Adams, immediate
ly directed the United States con-
suIs at Liverpool and Manchester,
and in London, 10 seize all the
cotton in those cities
.,I hold n till f,rfhar ordoru Pat