The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-03-29
A DARING ACT.

A DARlNU ACI.
BLOCKADE RUNNING ON THE
HIGH SEAS.
Story Of q Confederate Blockade
Runner---The Capture and Re-
capture Of tho Emily st. Pierre.
BY CARRIE JENKINS HARRIS.
In 1868 the EmiIy St. Pierre, a
rakish looking boat commanded by a
Frenchman who gave his name as
Wilson, sailed out of Charleston harbor
about midnight. She was heavily
laden with cotton from Trenholm,
Frazer & Co., Liverpool. The boat
was the property of Hon. George A.
Trenholm, then Secretary of the
Treasury, Confederate States, and
senior member Of the Liverpool firm.
She was named Emily ST. Pierre for
the beautiful daughter of Hon. George
A. Trenholm and sister of Col. Wan.
Trenholm now of New York.
Capt. Wilson was reckless, daring
man, and would risk any danger if it
promised to reward him with plenty
of money. Mr.. Trenholm had made
most liberal contract with him and
pledged, besides, heavy percentage
from the proceeds of the sale of the
cotton in case the Emily ST. Pierre
should elude the vigilance of the
Federal men of war, that guarded the
Atlantic coast, and land the cotton on
Tranholm & Fraser's wharf at Liver
pool.
The adventurous Captain met with
no accident until he gained the high
seas. In mid ocean he was seen flying
the Union Jack by one of the most
powerful war vessels of the Federal
Navy and signalled to stop. Although
the Emily St. Pierre carried a few
guns and could have defended herself
against more insignificant enemy her
Captain decided to take the chances
of safety in flight. Every sail was
unfurled and every effort made to
distance the rapidly approaching man
of-war, which from the start had the
advantage of wind and position.
When Captain Wilson saw that
capture was inevitable, he received his
captors on board the Emily St. Pierre
with all a Frenchman's suavity. The
crew with the exception of the steward,
big burly fellow, and Captain Wilson
were Immediately transferred 10 the
man n-of-war and sent to Washington as
prisoners. Two officers and thirteen
sailors were left on the Emily, St.
Pierye, which was to follow in the
wake of the man -of-war with its
valuable cargo.
A slight storm at sea separated the
two boats and they soon lost sight of
each other. The man-of-war reached
Washington safely and waited many
days in vain for news of the EmiI St.
Pierre. The storm had driven the
latter boat some distance out of the
usual track and the young officers, won
by the urbanity of the polite prisoner.
Captain Wilson, sought his advice in
managing the heavily laden boat,
which he had SO recently commanded.
Wilson became SO popular and showed
such perfect knowledge of the ocean
that his captors allowed him
unrestrained freedom and often sent
him with an order to the sailors.
No notice was taken of the steward
who continued to perform his ordinary
duties. Nor did it seem at all singular
to the young Federal officers that
Captain Wilson should spend every
moment of his time whiting pieces OF
wood. After a few days the willy
Captain and the young officers became
apparently very warm friends. Captain
Wilson was allowed to carry his
revolvers and continue his singular
habits of whiting necessarily, un-
molested.
But one day the steward was amazed
to see Captain Wilson approach him,
put a cooked pistol at his head and
say: "You can take your choice,
and stand by me and the Trenholms
or die. With your assistance | can
and will retake this boat Pledge it
or I'll blow your brains out this
instant" The steward, whose fidelity
to his former employers, Wilson
thought he could depend upon, agreed
to everything Wilson demanded. He
was left heavily armed to guard certain
entrances, while Wilson went into the
commanding officers cabin. He
found that official seated and studying
chart. He walked in and before
an outcry could be made he slipped a
gag on the Federal's Captain and
secured it. He repeated the perform
ance with the second officer and left
them both securely bound and speech
less to tell his success TO the steward.
Sixteen strong and rudely made gags
were the result of Wilson's persistent
whiting. With the utmost self
possession Wilson next went in quest OF
the thirteen sailors, telling the steward
to be near the ha,chway in case he
needed assistance. He ordered the
sailors to descend, one by one, and
told them the captain had asked him
to. superintend some work to be done
in the hold Of the ship. As he had
A.
before, they unquestioningly obeyed
him. As the last one disappeared
down the hatchway he fastened it
securely and held them unarmed and
helpless prisoners. He managed to
communicate with them with the
assistance Of the steward, and told
them plainly what he had done,
promised to feed them and land them
in LIVERPOOL, nav them increased