The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-08
PERILS OF THE BLOCKADE.
Incidents in the Life Of an Old
Blockade Runner.

Capt. NJ. P. Usina's Address Before
the Confederate Veterans Associa-
tions-Four Years of Successful
Service Under the Trail of the
Yankee Maya Proof That the
South Sends Brave Men to Sea-An
Interesting Chapter in Confederate
History.
Capt. NJ p. Usina entertained the Con-
federate Veterans Association last night
with very interesting paper upon the
subject of blockade running during the
confederacy. The paper was lengthy but
was very much enjoyed by the veterans,
of whom there were a large number
present. 1t was read once before to a
small meeting of the veterans, and it
was thought so good that it deserved to
be read before a larger meeting. This
fact IN itself speaks for the character of
the paper.
Capt. Usina was engaged in blockade
running during almost the entire civil
war, and the paper was filed with anec-
dOteS Of his personal experiences and
those of his brother blockade runners,
which they had narrated to him. Capt
Usina was only % years of age when he
began his hazardous work, but soon rose
to the command of some of the most i'm
portant vessels engaged in the business.
THE soUTH's BRAVE sEAMEN.
1t had been often stated, he said, that the
South produced no sailors, but the history
of the blockade runners viii prove to
any one who will investigate it that the
south produced some of the best and
braYest sailors the world has ever known.
Tho Tnn1lITnmpnfG Of tho HyrOply hn
were such that it was not only necessary
that the men engaged in it should have
the most undaunted courage, but they
should be shrewd and resourceful and as
cunning as foxes. That the men engaged
in the work were of this character was
shown time and again by Capt. Usina's
narratives of their daring, often success
full and again often unsuccessful.
AS an illustration of the character of
the men engaged in this service Capt.
Usina said that for the first two years of
the war the officers of the bloc kade run
ners were nearly all English and Scotch,
but during the last two years the risks
became so great that the foreign officers
retired from the business, and the block
ade runners were nearly all manned by
confederate officers.
KALEIDOSCOPE OF PICTURES.
Capt. Usinas anecdotes were often
humorous, and excited the laughter
of the veterans at some shrewd
were outwitted. Again their applause
was excited at the narration of some
brave deed, and sometimes tears came to
their eyes at the recital of some pathetic
occurrence.
Although engaged in blockade running
for three years, Capt. Usina was never
captured, and never lost his ship. He
hnI q
all the other blocl1aders declared to be a
mascot. One of his officers, on leaving
him to take command of a vessel, offered
$500 in gold for the dog, and though,
Capt Usina says, he was not a supersti-
tious, man the offer was refused.
Tinker's mission seemed ended at the
close of the war. He died shortly after
his master, and was buried from aboard
the ship, while all the seamen stood by
with bowed heads.
Capt. UsIna gave figures showing the
great service done the confederacy in the
immense qualities of clothing, provisions,
munitions of war and supplies of all
kin DIS obtained through the blockaders.
CAPT. UslNA CoNPLIMENTED.
j. Il. Saussy, Esq. expressed the
obligation, the veterans were
under to Capt. Usina for his valu-
able paper and on motion a rising vote of
thanks was unanimously rendered him
There were several old blockade run
ners present at the meeting some of
whom shared Capt. Usinas perils
Il could see it all as plain as day. one
of them declared afterwards with Capt.
Usina forward and Tinker beside him in
the bow with his paws on the rail and
the shells dropping all around us That
dog was worth his weight in gold"
ho .fa-ify <NFN n n
Bloodworth was received and read by the
secretary. Regrets were expressed at
Mr.. BlOOdworth's removal from Savan-
nah and it was decided not to accept his
resignation, but to continue him upon the
list Of officers of the association until the
next election.
The name Of eX-Vice President John r.
F. Tattnall was placed upon the roll of
honorary members.
The association adjourned at 10 O'Clock
to the Masonic hall to attend the enter
tainment given by the Ladies' Auxiliary.