The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-28
4 BLoCkADER's LONG CHASE.
Thrilling Capture OF the steamer
Armstroug in ga.

Thrilling Capture OF the steamer
ArmstrOp.g in "a.
Mr.. Frank Chandler has painted a pic
ture Of the famous confederate blockade
running steamer Armstrong. for Capt. VI.
p Usina OF tiais city. who was her COM
mander
The painting is cop led from photograph
taken in 1854 at Bermuda Il f. a work
OF art. and shows The talent OF the nauti-
cal painter. The lines of the vessel are
gracefully drawn, and every minute detail
is worked into I ne canvas. The colors
are harmoniusly blended and the clouds
in the southern sky from a lovely horizon
10 The sea, upon, which floats the gallant
ship with a gal liant crew To those who
were familiar wi al the perilous adventures
or blockade run ming, view OF this paint
ing exhibited j. a Broughton street win
dow, brings exc ting "reminiscences 10 their
minds.
The history o the gallant little steamer
Armstrong, ans her final capture is inter-
esting. She W as built al Glasgow, Scot
land, IN 1851, a I'd was owned by Crenshaw
Bros OF Ricf tmond. She was employed
Dy the confed crate government TO trans
port supplies rom Nassau TO the confed-
eracy. She h ad made several exciting
but successful runs, while commanded by
Capt. Usina through the federal fleet
which was sta tioned of Cape Fear. and
carried full car goes Of supplies to the port
OF Wilmington, y. C., where they were
distributed to 1 he soldiers.
In November, 1864, Capt. Usina was or
dered 10 the British provinces on a secret
mission for the government, aud he left
his chief officer. Virginian named Mel
son, In commands About o'clock on the
morning of Now s. 1864, the Arms trong
passed through the inlet at Cape Fear
bar, bound from Wilmington TO Bermuda,
with a cargo of icotton. After success
fully eluding the blockaders around the
inlet. Capt Nelson. sighted a federal gun
boat bearing down upon him. The boat
that gave chase " as the r. r. Cuyler
and she was soon joined by two other
gunboats. The Cuyler was a large screw
steamer, built for passenger trade be-
tween Savannah anil New York. She was
named after FORMER president of the
Central railroad, and was considered the
fastest steamer out of New York
Al 10 O'Clock the FIST shot was fired by
the Cdyler, and for seven hours Can't
Nelson walked tn bridge, cool and ,col-
lected, being no more excited than If he
had been moored to a dock in a safe har-
Dor The little 'side-wheel blockade run
ner was pushed for all she was worth.
but She could not make more than twelve
miles an hour. The Cuyler gained on her,
fir.ngJall the time. The top Of her paddle
box was shot away, and the debris COW
cred capt. Nelson, but he eXtricated him
self and continued to walk the brio ge
An exploding shell set fire to the cabin
but II was quickly extinguished by use
of the hre hose. Everything possible was
done to get away. Cotton, anchors and
chains We're thrown overheard, but the
ib.g ships We're too much for -ae little
fugitive
Ats O'Clock in the afternoon the ca plain
of the Cuyler hailed the Armstrong and
as the engine frame broke in two il lst at
that moment there was nothing to 10 but
allow the pursuers to take possessI en-.
The first boat that boarded the Arm
strong had in 1t lieutenant and 4 sur
geon. The surgeon quickly aske a how
many are killed and wounded. sJrange
to say, not man was scratched. Con-
sidering that all hands, about fortyr men,
were on deck engaged in throWiF z cargo
overheard, II was a wonder thu every
one was not killed. About 400 hot and
. shell had been fired at the little steamer.
the prisoners: 1--WE have captured
twenty-five blockade runners. an 1 think
] know whereof 1 speak when say your
captain is the bravest man thai runs the
blockade"
Capt Joseph j. Mccoy of this cltv was on
the Armstrong during the memorial bic
chase and subsequent captur E. In relat-
ing his experience TO a Mornil IL News re.
porter yesterday, he said:
1T was one of the longest and hardest
chases during the war For eight
hours the steamer Cuyler ga We us a stern
chase, during part Of the til ne two other
federal steamers being engag ed In the pur-
suit. Our little craft was struck three
times and quite badly DANA; ked
when overtaken about O'Clock n. m.
we were about twelve mile off the coast
of North Carolina. We wer e hailed nv the
captain OF the AuyleI. n is orders were.
stop that ship or l viii slow her ont of
the water Upon her SUR ender the oues-
tion was asked, Who is in command of
that ship? When told tn; 1t she was com
Inanded by Capt. Nelson | of Virginia ali
eyes were turned upon ne man who had
the courage to refuse I o surrender his
snip until 1876 shots ha been fred from
the Cuyler and many hore from the 9TH
er two purs uing vessel
1.-THE deck of the Ar 1nstrong was liter
ally, covered with the grape shot hurled
at her. We threw about one hundred
bales of cotton over board, cut her two
masts away and ancl iors and chains were
let go, so as to inc rease her speed, but
At was of no avail Her commander un-
dertook then to b leach her, but had TO
abandon that plan, as she was overtaken
before it could l,e done. Capt Nelson
wanted to get baj elk to land and put her
on the beach rath er than stand the humil-
3ation of surreR Aering."
The Armstrong was about 400 tons net
register, go fee in length, 30 feet beam,
and feet draft She was a side-wheei
ship with oscHtating engines. Her decks
were clear, DClthing showing but the
bridges She made trip from New York
TO Savannah lust after the war, under the
name of sfSa tyannab