The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1892-04-08
lUCklEST SHIP AFlOAT,
Ma Danger Ever Troubles This Nauti
MalOnf.

No Danger Ever rouble This Nautical
Mascot.
There is a vessel now lying at San
Francisco that attracts a great deal of
attention by her queer rig and old 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 1858, 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 more 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 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
think 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 vas seen we'll 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 ut
once. and it seemed as if she would be
caught at last. But she managed to
range of the guns of the warships. and
in a 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 flew through the water the
American captain had the satisfaction
of noting that slowly but surely he was
overhauling 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 a question of time,
unless something turned up to prevent
it, when the American would be on his
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 it there, and Their
looked at the American. which wa
slowly crawling up on him. until every
minute he expected to see the puff o
smoke from her bow gun. He decided
that the deckload must go. But there
was great danger of gripping tn,
steamer should he drop the big bale
over the side, as one of them might b.
caught in the propeller. and then shil
and cargo would go to New York with
out a doubt.
In order 20 prevent this. a long stag
was rugged over the stern and the bale
rolled out OF it before they were dropped
into the sea. The plan worked frs
class--in fact, better than the bold En-
glish1nen had dared to hope. Bal
after bale was dropped overheard. AM
soon a long line of them tioated on tn
water right in the road of the Amer
can steamer, and no attention was pai'
to them by the officers of the gunboa
until a crash was heard and in a fe,
seconds her engines stopped. The car
tain went down in the engine room t.
learn what was the matter, and a shor
investigation showed that the gunboa
was helplessly crippled.
One Of the bales had been caught b
the propeller and it's contents woun'
around the shaft in a second, and t
their chagrin the rich prize slippe
through their fingers when they wer
nearly alongside. After the war tn
Omeo went to Australia, and for
number of years ran from MeIbourn
to New Zealand. and was then turne
into a sailing vessel. She is regarde
as the Iuckiest ship aloat, us well 9
III of the fastest, as, in spite Of he
queer rig. very few can outsail her.
Detroit Free Press.