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

One Of the boldest and most peril
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 a very imperfect outfit. In
the haste of departure she sailed away
without rammers, sponges, lights,
locks, elevating screws, or quoins.
Her guns, therefore, were useless.
She took refuge on the coast of Cuba,
but the yellow fever, which in that re-
gion is more terrible scourge even
than war, got aboard, and for a time
reduced the effective crew to one fire.
man and two seamen. The captain
himself was given up by the Spanish
doctor called from Havana, who de-
clared that he could not possibly sur
vive beyond noon.
you're liar, sir p cried the sick
man, "I have too much to do, and
can't afford to die
His will force saved him.
1t was now necessary at all hazards
to run into Mobile and reft, though
the place was blockaded by formida-
BILE force, and the Florida was quite
unable to fight. The British flag was
run up, and by this ruse the vessel
succeeded in getting pretty near the
gunboats before her real character was
discovered. "Four minutes Of hesi-
tation may save US, said Captain
Mahit.
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-
longing ship (the Oneida.) Two more
Federal gunboats quickly joined the
melee. The Florida was shot through
and through. One 1l-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 powerless to reply with single
gun. The strain Of this passive con-
Aict was awful. The ship seemed
doomed.
But she was swift-as a successful
blockade runner has need to be. Her
engines heaved and strained and pant
ed, the steam pressure almost at the
bursting point. 1t was no time for
caution. Helpless as she seemed, she
was rushing through the water at a
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 fecked 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 a little remiss; anyhow, she
was not sighted until about daybreak.
The drums sounded, lights flashed,
and there was general commotion.
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 MaAit 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 as to what had
become of her; it was even surmised
that she had sunk, so sudden and mys-
tcrious was her disappearance. Mean
while she was quietly making off in a