The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-06-09

suit the purpose. III but one in 10 made a safe
trip it was immensely profitable, as good cotton
could then be bought for few cents per pound
| IN Confederate money, which, when landed in
Havana, Cuba, was worth about 81 90 per pound
in gold. I presume the blockaders that ran
into Charleston were the most profitable as
the stock of one of them shares that cost 500,
sold for $4,000 in the Confederate currency.
At Mobile supplies OF cotton were always
kept on hand, so that vessel need be detained
but few hours. One named the DENLY / par
ticularly remember; o long. low, black, snake
like affair, sitting low in the water, so rs to be
measurably invisible to the blockading hees.
She made eight round trips from Mobile and
Havana, and the stock
COULD NOT BE HAD AT ANY PRICE.
Ground at one time in Mobile was wanted for
storing cotton during the absence of the block
ade runners. On this particular ground was o
stable formerly occupied by pair of muless
The mules and all personal property on said
ground were sold and moved off to make room
for the storage warehouse. The purchaser
moved all until he came to the manure, when
the seller contended that it was not personal
property, but was part of the real estate. The
question was left to arbitrators, who decided
that it had become portion of the realty. The
purchaser acquiesced in the decision, but en-
phatically remarked that he didn't wouldn't,
and never could believe that Lycurgus and
Blackstone intended to convey any such
idea that mules could eat personal property and
evacuate real estate.
The blockade runners had great trouble with
stowaways on their outgoing vessels. They
would get in with the deck hands, frequently
paying them large sums TO keep dark until
they would get out to sea, when they would
show themselves, and of course nothing re-
manned but to land them in port if successful.
But finally an inventive blockader studied out
plan to circumvent the stowaways Large
quantities of Scotch snuff in bladders was i'm
ported, and taking an ordinary sprinking pot
and filing it two-thirds full with the finest of
the snuff, the vessel, just before leaving port,
was submitted to a shower of the snuff wher-
ever the cotton was stored, especially in its
hold. 1t was ludicrous to see the performance
of this operation. Suppressed sneeZes and ter
rible oaths ground out through grated teeth,
would Enthusiastically show the location of the
stowaways, and crestfallen they would have to
come forth and go ashore.
During the hight OF the blockade season a
Frenchman was stopping in Mobile All
Frenchmen are usually known for their po-
likeness, but this one appears to have excelled.
which led TO a most laughable occurrence, and
might have led to tragedy. " Monsieur"
seeing a lady of his acquaintance INDUCING in
i" snuff dipping" and wishing himself to in
dulge addressed her thus: Permit me,
mauain, TO enter the pFoDit OF my myers into
the summit of your digit, to get some of your
soderiferous powder, to ease my non t-factum
nerves" Which translated meant: eff you
please, man, allow me pinch Of snuff from
your box" A big brother happened to be
present, and not comprehending such volubil-
ity of words to convey so small an idea, was
disposed to be lugly. but explanations followed
and all was satisfactory.
Blockade running continued with various
successes until one bright sunny morning Far
rsgut, with his feet, put in his appearance in
Mobile Harbor thus ending their profitable
commerce. But few successful trips after
that were made at Wilmington, n. c., before
the blockade was made effectual.
ITO be continued)