The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-10-08
RUNNING THE BLOCKADE.
BY NIAEK L. WARREN.

| pleased 10 De gwen thlS WORK. 1OF the
/ Sassucus was reputed to be very
speedy. and they were anxious to try
her behind some Of the swift blockade
breakers Of which so much was told.
And this desire was intensified when
in trial of speed upon leaving Nor
! folk the vessel made a record Of four
teen and half knots in dn hour.
/ was young midshipman, and
| this was to be my first experiment at
blockading. | icipatRd slow work,
but was very agreeably disappointed.
We were at sea scarcely twenty four
hours when 9 sail was made, and we
gave chase, for our orders were to run
! down and TO examine every vessel we
should sight This one proved to be
merely a schooner, heavily laden but
! having correct papers.
Another and another were over
| taken with the same result, then
steam transport filled with our own
| soldiers, and the next day several
craft OF various descriptions, Our
| first real chase was after the blockade
runner Wild Dayrell, which we press
ed so hard that She was run ashore.
We could not get her of and were
compelled TO hurn her
At the earliest glimmer Of dawn the
day following the destruction OF the
Wild Dayrell. Sail hOw was sboutcl
from the masthead
\ thin curl Of black smoke could be
seen just dimming the horizon. Down
went the helm on The instant and
around came the ships bow. Four
bells were signaIed to the engineers
and away we went after what we an
ticipated would he prize The wind
blew freshly dead ahead, ana the
white capped waves tossed their spray
over our bows, but so low were we in
| the water that it hindered Us but lit
tie Rapidly 1t first, because not yet
ourselves discovered we gained upon
the stranger, till Just as the hull was
becoming dimly visible. she seemed
to spy rs. At once her smoke became
thicker and klacker ard we could see
that She was getting up to nyr best
running and was anxious to gei away
from Us. This made Us feel certain
as to her character
1T was splendid weather for speed
and puGsTer and pursued made the
very most of it. Mile after mile, hour
after hour, the chase kept Oh. The
| distance between Us, at first about
twelve miles, had now decreased by
three. but thin mist filled the atmOs
| phere and was slowly settling upon
the whole sea. The chase was evident
ly swift steamer, and the thick,
black smoke and the foam under her
paddle wheels showed that she was
doing her best Interest increased.
and all the glasses on the vessel were
leyeied to measure the advantage we
were gaining. The rapidly incroas
ing log began to excite the fear that
she might be hidden before we could
overtake her While the interest was
the warmest, impatience most irrita-
ting, and the fog becoming moro and
more dense, some part Of our machin
cry began to heat and the wheels
slowed down. 1t was most provoking.
Oil was useless, and constant streams
of cold water would barely allow
moderate rate of speed
Fortunately, a change of course on
the part of the chase, by altering the
effects Of the waves upon rs, relieved
the strain upon the heated parts, and
again we were under full neadway.
We at once began to gain slowly but
steadily upon the mass ahead. and
our hopes again arose.
4 heavier bank than usual had
gathered upon the port side of the
chase, and suddenly changing her
course She plunged right into 1t, dis
appearing from our view.
Still we kept the same direction,
reasoning that once in the fog she
would resume her original course. and
trust TO our having changed when she
did In this we were correct, and in less
than ten minutes the fog thinnel and
there she was, still ahead but nearer.
More ana more distinct grew the
stranger, and higher and higher be
came the excitement aboard our
ship. Suddenly the chase changed
her course shoreward, evidently feel
ing sure that in the open sea we
would overtake her 1t was plain her
captain was making for IA sheltered
port or intended. rather than fall into
om hands, to strand his ship.
This put new phase on the chase.
Unless greater speed was attained
our prey might yet escape Every
fire was cleaned and every pound Of
steam that the boilers would bear
was crowded on. Soon we We're NOV
ing at the rate of sixteen miles an
hour Our smokestack was gradually
turning brown from the heat and
flakes Of paint pcaled off and fell upon
the deck So intensely hot did it, be-
come that one could not stand within
six feet of it. and men were stationed
| with hose and buckets Of water to
| quench the first appearance of flame
in the deck through which it passed.
Land ho" came from the mast
| head lookout. and far away a low dark
| border TO the horizon could be seen
with a glass. Oh. for ten miles more
sea room. The shore soon grew bold
er and plainly visible, even without
glass.
1t was thought the 100 FOUNDER
rifle might stop her and it was called
into rcquisition for the purpose. 4
she'll was fired. 1t rose in the air.
| and, like speck. could be seen on its
course till little puff Of smoke took
its place directly over the flying YES
sci No notice was taken save ap
parently to hasten her speed, Another
| followed. and another swept her
decks: but the running hither and
| yon Of the excited crew and the cool
Indifference of the man at her wheel
We're the only results.
1t was now evident that she would
succeed in stranding, and most prob
ably be set on fire. The water was
shoallng rapidly, and the leadsman's
song changed at every cast of the
| lead