The times., 1898-06-19
.BLOCKAD[s OF THE COAST
Effective Work Done During the
American Civil War.
MoNoToNOUS AND PERILOUS
Southern States Starved by the
Vigilance of ships Guarding
Their COastIine--Biocixade Rum
Ming "a Dangerous Game, Hut for
High Stakes.

The first naval blockade established by
this Government was in 1861, even before
the war of the rebellion was fairly under
way. That blockade, though frequently
the war, was wonderful success. The
entire Southern coast was practically
guarded by a fleet that while not so ef-
fective in the beginning. succeeded before
the end of the war, In starving out the
South. 1t was a factor in securing the de-
feat of the Confederate arms, less to
be regarded than the land forces, TAX
ing into consideration the fact that 1t
absolutely deprived the enemy of the
means of subsistence. Vessels with sup
plies could only now and then as the
months wore on, gain an entrance into
port. Clothes and shoes became unobtain-
able. Medicines including the precious
quinine, were lacking. The rolling stock
on Southern railroads became worn out
and useless and new material could not
be obtained. This, with a hundred other
things. materially aided in the victory of
the armies Of the Union. Blockade duty
Notwithstanding its monotony, has its
exciting phases and it's dangers While
lying outside Of coast five miles at sea-
a peril is ever pre- sent in the tempests
that sweep across the ocean. Ships are
at the mercy of torpedoes, and there is
no knowing at what moment, on a dark
and stormy night. willy foe is not pre-
pairing the work of annihilation.
One thing that constantly animates the
spirit of men serving on blockade duty
IS the chance of capturing prizes and
sharing in goodly amount of prize
money.
Successful blockade runningis Immensely
profitably. 1t is necessarily so because of
its dangers The supplies that were car
ried to blockaded Southern ports during
the late war were sold at abnormal
figures because of their scarcity and pres
sing need. Even If a ship was lost with
all her cargo after having made one or
two successful trips, the profits of her ven
lures much more than made up for the
bad luck experienced.
Familiarity with the coast was almost
essential TO successful blockade running
more especially when dark moonless
nights were usually selected for the task
A sharp lookout had to be kept for cruis-
ers on the outside blockade, and the
blockade runner. by keeping at a distance
could generally pass them HnobseTved. If
by accident or carelessness he came very
close, he would press on all steam and
take TO his heels, trusting 10 speed 10 get
away. He never hove TO when ordered
for it was usually hard &c hit him as TO
overtake him. The run past the iushore
squadron was always critical moment
for the latter. II was no easy matter on
d dark night TO hit, much less TO stop
small and obscure vessel running at
fifteen knots, whose only object was To
pass by. The service called into action
all the faculties of the blockade runner
perb courage and ready resources. II was
combat of skill and pluck against force
and vigilance. The excitement of fighting
only was wanting. Ii a blockade runner
should fire a shot he would constitute
himself pirate and be liable to death
If captured The blockader is in every
way at a disadvantage. He has no ob-.
jective point save the blockade runner,
and he never knows when he is coming
He can choose nothing, but must take
the circumstances as they happen to
come and they are pretty sure 10 be un-
favorable He is compelled to wait in the
worst of all situations-ircessant watch
fulness, combined with prolonged mac
ton. He spends days and nights of
anxious waiting with expectation strained
to the tensest point, for an emergency
which lasts, perhaps, only for as many
minutes and which comes when least
e8IeCltu IISit Is LO Telling "ISH pT
where the blow will need to be struck
and solitary moment OF mapping may be
fatal in spite of months of ceaseless
vigilance.
When blockade runner Is sighted then
it is all excitement on board the ships of
the blockading squadron. The one that
| sees her first gives the signal by hosting
a flag, if In the daytime, or sending off a
rocket or displaying a light If at night
The squadron is always ready for action,
and the instant the anchors are slipped
the ships are off at full speed. The chase
Is on. And now comes into play the skill
and courage of the captain of the block
ade runner. 1t is squadron of armed
ships against his defenseless vessel. He
understands the risks he takes-his yes
sci may be sunk; if he Is captured the
| least he can hope for is a parole while
he loses his vessel and cargo. He is never
| more seen to be the master on his own
| deck than at a time like this. AS the
shots that threaten destruction are flying
about him and every moment seems his
| last, he is directing engineer watching
the pursuing fleet and studying a way of
escape all at the same time. In blockade
running, as in many other things it is the
unexpected that usually happens. The
captain may make q sudden move for
which the squadron is not instantly pre-
pared run under its very guns and escape
70 port IHiS WIS lTSQucItly uODe curing
| the Civil War; 1t would be less likely
to succeed at the present time
During the war of the rebellion, the
number Of prizes brought in was 1,149; of
these 219 were steamers. Besides there
We're 355 vessels burned, sunk, driven on
shore or otherwise destroyed, of which
! S5 were steamers, making a total of 1 504
vessels of all classes; while the value of
| the vessels and their cargoes, according
| to a low estimate, amounted to S31 000 0O0
| Many of the vessels engaged in block
| ade duty during the civil war were mer-
| chantmen, purchased by the Government
and quickly transformed into men-of-war
In fact the majority of the blockading
| fleet was of this class. The fleets includ-
| ed schooners brigs full-rigged ships and
steamers of all sizes. Great numbers of
| them were commanded by volunteers
| their official titles being those of acting
| masters, acting lieutenant commanders
and acting officers of other grades, while
| the officers under them were also of the
/ ''acting" class. They acted we'll and
| proved the efficiency of a volunteer navy
| as well as volunteer army in time of war
The experience of those days is bearing
| fruit now.
| $500 Excursion to the Sea- $500
| shore vim PennsyIyHnia Railroad.