St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-08-25
PRIZE MONEY DIVISION.
An Interesting Branch Of the q.
s. Treasury Department.
It Holds Several Hundred Thousaad Dol
lars which Have Never Besa C1aimeA
By Thelr Owners-Goo& 9aoflss -
Blockade RunAinG.
fspeci.l Wsshineton L.etter.l

Especial Waahington Letter.1
There Is . bureau in the treasury de-
partment called the prize money divi-
sion; and it i m important division.
too. Millions Of dollars have been dis
buroed - . result Of the work OF the
clerks employed there. There are
500, 600 now in the treasury awaiting
tho claims to be made by sailors In
whose behalf It Is already adjudicated.
Many Of them, possibly all Of them, are
dead, and their heirs do not know the
money is due them, though the names
OF al Of them are written in the gov
erument's books, with the amount In
dollars and cents duo to each. 1t il
only occasionally nowadays that appli-
cations are made for awards of cash
from this deposit Of treasure. Event
ually nearly all Of 1t will be turned
over by congress to some other pur-
pose for lack Of claimants.
Prize money belongs to o4ncers, sail
ors and marines who participated In
tho capture or destruction Of the YES
sci Of an enemy In time Of war. During
the late civil war In this country there
were many naval engagements, and in
every victory won by the federal men.
of-war tho union forces were entitled
to prize money. The same Is true con-
cerning their rights to their share in
the value Of captured vessels. Very
many Of the latter class were blockade
runners. A generation has grown to
manhood and womanhood since the
war closed. and many probably do moi
realize what . business blockade run
ming was The principal Atlantic and
gulf ports Of the southern states were
guarded by federal gunbcats to pre-
vent the entrance Of vessels from
European countries bearing arms. am
munition and supplies to the confed'
eracy.
Some Of the finest steamers ever built
were used by Englishmen for running
the union blockade during the war
British naval officers got leaves Of ab
sence. during which they commanded
blockade runners Blockade running
Is . very peculiar business. There Il
no penalty for 1t under international
law except the confiscation Of the shiE
and her cargo. The people on board Of
her are treated In al other respects q
n they were transacting . legitimate
mercantile business. At the earlies,
opportunity they are let 60 in peace.
The people Of this country were very
indignant with the British government
during the war; and some Of our orator.
until this day take every occasion te
denounce the English government and
al English individuals for their par
ticipation in that nefarious business
But, after al, the less we say about
that the better; because during the
Crimean war United States vessels
carried supplies TO Russia by way d
the Arctic ocean and the White sea
The British put q stop to this by max
ing captures To establish the block
ode they were obliged to patrol the
waters with battleships. The great
Napoleon made q paper blockade" .:
II was called. but such blockade Is not
now considered IN international law;
He issued announcements declaring
certain ports blockaded. but since hi.
time no nation has recognised such =
declaration. Blockade running is fail
for anybody. 90 long Is he escapes cap
ture. That is the only penalty, Yes
sells engaged in such enterprises do not
20 armed. A dark night and . goo{
pair Of heels arc the conditions they
require. II one blockade runner out