The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-07
THE TALLAHAssgE's ESCAPE.
Colonel Wood Tells How the Confederate
Got Out of Wilmington.

Soionei WOOD Tells How the Confederate
Got Out of Wilmington.
Colonel John Taylor Wood. who as COM
mander of the confederate blockade run.
ner Tallahassee. created such havoc and
so much trouble during the civil war, has
written an interesting story of the ships
exploits. He says this of her memorable
escape from Wilmington:
Ten days suficed to get things in
working order and the crew INTO shape.
when We dropped down the river to await
a favorable time for running the gauntlet,
which was only when there was no moon
and when the tide served. 1 determined to
try the eastern or new inlet. and on the
night of Aug. 4 the outlook was favora-
BILE. Everything was secured for sea. The
lights were all carefully housed, except
the pinnacle. which was shaded; fires
were cleaned and freshened, lookouts
were stationed and the men were at their
quarters. The range lights were placed
these, in the absence of all buoys and
lights, were necessary in crossing the bar,
and were shown only when vessels were
going in or out. TIT Mound, a huge earth
work, doomed up ahead looking in the
darkness like a black cloud resting on the
horizon. We started ahead slowly, but
brought up on the rip. or inner shoaL.
Two hours of hard work with the engines,
and with a kedge astern, were lost before
we got off. and then it was too late for
the tide. We turned up the river a short
distance and anchored. The next night we
had the same experience. except that We
grounded so badly that 1t required three
steamers to tow us off.
Finding that with the state of the tide
and our 1872 feet draught the eastern inlet
was impracticable. l determined to try
the western one. Steaming down to Fort
Caswell, we waited for darkness. Only a
few fleeing clouds were in the sky. As the
moon went down on the night of Aug. 6
at 10. we approached the bar, fearful OF
a repetition of our previous mishaps, and
as the leadsman called out the water in a
low tone our hearts rose In our threats
as 1t shoaled by the mark three-and a
quarter less three-and a half two-and a
quarter two She touched, but did not
bring up. Then came the Joyful words:
And a half two.
I'VE had just started across the lump,
a bad shoal in mid-chalnel, and were
over the bar. Chief Engineer Tyan was
by my side of the bridge. 1 turned to him
and said:
open her out, sir, but let her go for
all she is worth
with a bound he was in the engine
room and in a few moments l knew from
the tremor of the vessel that the order
was obeyed. and with a full head Of steam
we leaped on.
"a sharp lookout ahead was the or
der passed forward. We were hardly clear
of the bar when back came the words:
"A steamer on the starboard bowl! "A
steamer aheadp The two made us out at
the same time and signaled. l hailed the
forecastle and asked how the steamer I'M
der our bows was heading. To the south
ward was the reply. The helm was ac-
cordingly ported and we passed between
them, so close under the stern of the one
that was ahead that a biscuit could have
been tossed on board. AS we dashed by we
heard the sharp, quick words of command
of the officer in charge of the after pivot:
Run out! Starboard tackle handsomely!
Elevatei Steady! Stand clear!' Then the
flash from the muzzle. like the CLEAN of
lightning, illumined the water for a mo-
ment and a heavy shell flew singing over
our heads, leaving a trail like a comet. 1t
was an excellent line shot. That order
Elevate" had saved us. The steamer on
the starboard side opened. and our oppo-
nents, now on our quarter, Joined in, but
their practice was wild and in a few
oments they were out of sight. / did not
return their fire, for 1t would only have
shown our position, and l did not wish
our true character to be known, preferring
that they should suppose us an ordinary
blockade runner.
During the night we ran to the south
ward until clear of Frying Pan shoals,
and then hauled up to the eastward. More
TO be feared than the inshore squadron
were the vessels cruising off shore from
40 to so miles, in a position to sight at day
light the vessels that might come out dur
ing the night, and these were the fastest
and most efficient b~locakders." / was not
surprised when, at daylight the next
morning, a cruiser was reported in sight
astern, hull up. As we were outlined
against the eastern sky, she had seen us
first and from the dense smoke issuing
from her funnel l knew she was in sharp
chase. AT s another steamer was made out
ahead. i changed our course eight points,
bringing one on each beam. and the chase
became interesting. One we made out to
be a large side-wheeler, and she held her
IL she did not gain. Mr.. lyman made
frequent visits to the engine room, trying
TO coax out a few more revolutions, and
he succeeded, for we brought them grad
ually on our quarter and by noon had
their hulls two or three points. 1t
was at times like this that the ship and
proved themselves reliable. for
had a screw loosened or a journal heated
should have been lost.