The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-10
The Florida's Daring Dash Through
Federal Ii-as

GUS feats ever accomplished by block
ade runner was the ''neck- or nothing''
dash Of the Confederate cruiser Flor
ida through the national squadron at
Mobile Bay in 1862.
She had been forced to leave the
British port of Nassau, in the BAHIA
mas, with very imperfect outfit. In
the haste of departure she sailed away
without rammers, spopges, lights,
locks, elevating screws. or quoins.
Her guns, therefore, were useless.
She took l,cuyc on the coast of Cuba,
but the yellow fever, which in that re-
gion is more terrible scourgc even
than war, got aboard, and for time
reduced the effective crew to one fire.
man and two seamcn. The captain
himself was given up by the Spanish
doctor called from Havana, who de-
clared that ne could not possibly sur
vive beyond noon.
You're liar, sir y cried the sick
man, 81 have too much to do, aud
can't afford to die
His will force saved him.
1t was now necessary at all hazards
to run into Mobile and refit, though
the place was blockadcd by formida-
bic force, aud the Florida was quite
unable to fight. The British flag was
run up, and by this rusc the vessel
succeeded in getting pretty near the
gunboats before her real character was
discovered. -Four minutes of hest
tation may save us, said Captain
Maffit.
Then came warning shot across her
bows. She made no response, either
by gun or signal. The next instant a
terrible broadside burst from the chal-
lenging ship (the Oncida.) Two more
Federal gunboats quickly joined the
melee. The Florida was shot through
and through. One 11-inch she'll rent
her side only three inches above the
water line. The blast of missiles
which swept over her deck tore her
spars and rigging in shreds and splin-
ters. The cries Of the wounded and
helpless sick rose shrilly above the
cannonade. At this moment an at
tempt was made to hoist the Confede-
rate flag, but the hand of the man
who grasped the ropes was torn by
shrapnel, and he desisted in agony.
All this while, remember, the Florida
was powcrless to reply with single
gun. The strain Of this passive con-
flict was awful. The ship seemed
doomed.
But she was swift-as successful
blockade runner has need to be. Her
engines heaved and strained and pant
ed, Che steam pressure almost at the
bursting point. It was no time for
caution. Helpless as she seemed, she
was rushing through the water at
speed unattainable by her pursuers.
Their shot began to fall short. They
heaped rosin upon their fires until the
black smoke gushing from their fun
nels was fiecked with fame, but it was
no use. Slowly the ship which had
seemed their almost certain prey drew
away from them, and at last made safe
anchorage under the guns of Fort
Morgan.
Scarcely less extraordinary was the
escape Of this vessel through the
blockading lines some months later.
She started out at night close on the
heels of tempest. Possibly the bit
ter cold-it was midwinter-made the
watch little remiss; anyhow, she
was not sighted until about daybreak.
The drums sounded, lights flashed,
and there was general conmotion.
All day long she was hotly chased
by no less than dozen armed ships,
but by evening all were distanced ex-
cept two. These were finally thrown
off the track by clever though risky
stratagem. Captain Maffit damped
his fires, thus subduing betraying
smoke, and closely reefed his sails.
This, in the mist and gloom, made his
vessel practically invisible. Her pur-
suers passed by at full speed, and
great was their wonder ao to what had
become of her; it was even surmiscd
that she had sunk, so sudden and mys-
terious was her disappearance. Mean
while she was quietly making off in a
new direction. .-Riladclshia Inquirer