Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-10-24
LucKlEsT SHIP AFLoAT.
No Danger Ever Troubies This Nautical
Mascot.

Mascot
There is a vessel now lying at San
Francisco that attracts a great deal OF
attention by her queer rig and bic fash
toned 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 1855, in England. and
is 7S9 tons. During the civil war she
was used as a blockade runner and
made a number Of trips TO Charleston,
escaping capture than once from
the Federal war vessels.
The last trip she made was a re
markable one. She passed the gun
boats that were blockading the harbor,
and then orders were given 10y the flag
ship to keep a sharp lookout for her
when she attempted 10 leave, and TO
catch her at all hazards. The days
went by until six weeks had passed,
and the officers were beginning 10
think that the teamer had given them
the slip and made away without their
knowing il. when n night rockets
were q from the cruisers as u some
one was signaling on shore
A bright lookout was kept for the
~slipperv blockade runner. and just be
fore daylight she was seen well in shore.
passiup out. She was loaded 10 the
guards with cotton, and had several
hundred bales piled on deck. Half a
dozen steamers started after her al
once. and il seemed as if she would bt
caucht AT last. But she managed &c
reach open water without coming II
range of the guns of the warships, anc
in a few hours had distanced all bu'
one Of her p~ursuers.
This was one of the new gunboats,
screw steamer of great speed, and a
! the two few through the water tn
American captain had the satisfaction
Of noting that slowly but surely he wa
: overhauling the heavily laden block
ader. The captain Of the Britisl
steamer also perceived that the gun
boat was gaining on him. and he kne'
that il was only a question OF time
unless something turned up TO proven
= II. when the American would be on b
a to New York with the cotto
? steamer In tow.
He looked at his deckload. which wa
: worth thousands of dollars In Live
pool could he land IT there, and the
: looked at the American. which wa
: slowly crawling up on him. until ever
= minute he expected 70 see the puff
smoke from her bow gun. He decide
! that the deckload must go. But thel
was great danger Of crippling q
= steamer should he drop the big bal
" over the side. as one Of them might |
caught In the propeller. and then sh.
and cargo would 90 TO New York wit.
az out a doubt.
m In order to prevent this. a long sta
Iv was rugged y the stern and tile bal
rolled out on II before they were drops
IA into the sea The plan worked fir
n class-in fact. better than the bold +
a glishmen had dared to hope. ia
a after bale was dropped overheard. al
o a long line of them ioated on Z
Iv water right in the road OF the Anne
can came and no attention was pa
" 10 LAlEAl ~ AAAE CnAANA1 VI 80 49,
no until a crash was heard and in a Il
- seconds her engines stopped The ca
tain went down in the engine room
learn what was the matter, q a she
investigation showed that the gunbo
an was helplessly crippled
- One of the bales had been caught
All the propeller and its contents wou
n around the shaft IN a second. and
BE-. their chagrln the rich prize slpp
il through their fingers when they VI
an nearly alongside. After the war I
1r Omeo went TO Australia and foI
Tor number of years ran from Melboui
to New Zealand. and was then turf
into a sailing vessel. She is regard
as the luckiest ship a1oat, as well
one of the fastest as, In spite OF
queer rig. very few a outsail her
Detroit Free Press