The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-12-04
RUNNING THE BLocKADE.

A. mmander-Enormous Profits That Tempted Men to Take Great Risks some Very Close Calls-Great Britain's Usefulness to the south.
 lErom the Galveston Daily Newsl
 A reporter spent an evening last week with Commander John c. Brain, who graduated from the Naval Acade- my, and rendered distinguished service in the Confederate States navy.
 "Blookade running" said he, "ls Q science. It is attended with great risks and dangers, but when properly stud ied it may be operated with absolute success and comparative safety. l hear it said in these times that block ades cannot be run now on account of the search light, but can run block ade now. I would get search light, too. While it is true that the number of vessels in a fleet Is known to each in the cordon, the location and position of each at all times is not known, and for that reason the uncertainty that would surround the identity of a blockade runner carrying a search light would give her an advantage, and an oppor- tunity to reach a point of safety before she was discovered.
 Enormous profits were made during the late war by blockade running by both private parties and corporations. The only ports of the Confederacy for running the blockade were Galveston, Tex, Mobile, Ala, Charleston, S, C., and Wilmington, N. c. The latter was the principal port for the reason that it was more accessible, it having two channels leading into the port-the new and old inletS. The old inlet, being the southern entrance, was guarded by Fort Caswell and Fort Fisher. The new inlet from the north was guarded only by Fort Fisher and a small bat tery on land Both of these inlets lead into Cape Fear river, on which is situated the city of Wilmington, twelve miles from its mouth. On the coast on each side of the inlet flying batteries of artillery, commanded by Colonel Lamb, c. s. A., were kept patrolling the shores at night time to protect any blockade runner that might have to be run ashore to keep her from falling into the hands of the enemy. These batteries did valuable service.
 Notwithstanding the Federal gov ernment did all in it's power to effectu- ally seal up or blockade this port, it having at one time nearly two hundred vessels in the blockade squadron, in one night twelve vessels forced the blockade successfully and entered the port. Fourteen attempted to effect en- trance, but two were captured. These vessels were loaded with provisions mn war for the Confederate government.
 'The inducement for running the blockade was the enormous value of cotton, it being bought in the Confede- racy for twenty-five and thirty cents a pound in gold, or it's equivalent, and sold outside for $1.60 to $1.SO pel pound: consequently the profits were enormous, even if the risks were great Most of the blockade running was done by corporations. Among the largest oi these engaged in the business was the Bee company of Charleston, s. O., who owned the famous blockade runner Cy- rene. She ran the blockade thirty-twc times i'll and out of Charleston, s. c When Charleston was evacuated she was lying at her wharf there and he1 owners burned her rather than allow her to fall into the hands of the enemy The Confederate government owned several blocka de-running vessels to re plenish the supply store, and also seve- ra1 states owned blockade runners among them Virginia and North Caro lima To give an idea how quickly these ships were constructed, an ordel could be given to a shipbuilder on the Mersey or Clyde for ship costing from 40,000 to 50,000 pounds sterling S2OO 900 to S250, ,000. These vessels were anchored in the river ready for sea six fy days after the contracts were signed. These vessels were llgh draught, requiring not over nine feet o water, and had a speed of fifteen tt eighteen knots an hour. After comple tion the vessel was cleared from Liver pool or the Clyde for the port of Nassau or St. George. Bermuda. When she ar rived in port her top hamper was taker down and the Notwithstanding crev at once shipped. The captain was pait the enormous wages of s5000 in golt and 5000 in Confederate money. Tn pilot was paid $5,000 in gold, and tn chief engineer was paid the same; tn AIrSt aSSlSCdnL 1o,uuui SeGuilll, tHlL U dll' fourth engineers $2.000 each, per voy age. One voyage per month was made each being made in the dark of tn moon. Seamen and firemen were pail $500 a month, S10O on signing shippin, articles, the balance on return of tn ship to port. Officers were paid on re turn of ship to port. The leadsmal was paid $500 8 month His service mere required only when the ship wa coming in or going out of port, Tn signal officer was paid the same.
 'The ship being fully prepared, hay ing been painted leaden color so a not to be distinguished in the dark and having taken in her cargo, her in ward cargo, consisting of bacon, provi sions, pig lead boiler iron, medica stores and munitions of war, she a once cleared for Halifax, Nova Scotia All these blockade runners had Eng fish register and English colors Owing to her Majesty's proclamation of April 1861, forbidding her subject to engage in assisting either side dur ing the late unpleasantness, thes ships when they made the mistake 0 entering the port of Wilmington in stead of Halifax, and running tn blockade, violated their registers, ant consequently on the return voyage hat to get out a new register.