The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-27

JOHN A. CoTsTER TAKES ISSUE
WITH MAJOR wITHERs.
Captain Cotter Was one Of the Crew
of the blockade Runper--His-
tory of the Vessel.
Galveston Tribune.

Galveston Tribune.
John A. Cotter. United states supervls-
ing inspector Of steam vessels for the
A. Withers OF Augusta, Ca. regarding the
Confederate blockade runner Owl. Major
Withers came here yesterday with sode
Southern Pacific officials he said this
was the first time he had been in Calves
ton since 1885, when he was aboard tho
Owl. Major Withers gave very intet-
esting account OF how the Owl On April
4, 1865, ran the blockade, but was SUNK
In Galveston harbor by Federal gunooats
The major together with the others who
were on board made daring escape from
the sinking Owl IN small boats AMI rowed
to the old fort on Pelican island and were
taken from there to Galveston island In
a schooner, Colonel Murray HAYES broth
er having made a perllous journey during
terrific norther to rescue them. the
major stayed on the island several days
with Colonel Murray HAYES who was in
command, and then made long, hard
and roundabout journey home, going By
rail to Nnvasota, by stage to Marshall,
ON construction train to Shreveport, and
then down the river, lastly walking about
twenty miles.
Everybody in Galveston knows John
Cotter. John was engineers storekeeper
on the Owl. John has no recollection of
Major Withers being on the Owl. Neither
has Mr. Cotter any recollection OF the owl
being sunk in Galveston harbor. On the
contrary Mr.. Cotter gives a detailed ac-
count OF what the Owl did after Mr.. With
.ers says she was sunk
Mr. Cotter says the Owl was of about 500
or coo tons and was commanded by Cap
tain Mafft. She came to Galveston in
March, 1865, Captain Blakesney of ITALIA
hassee, Fla, being the pilot, who brought
her in. The Owl got ashore in Bird island
channel coming in, Mr. Cotter says. This
was on a Thursday night, The cargo OF
stores, powder, general ammunition, etc,
with which the Owl was laden was thrown
overheard. A gale from the east was
raging when the Owl grounded. The gale
lasted two days. On account of the heavy
sea that was running the United States
feet. lying off the harDor. could not ire
on the owl.
day. On Saturday In trying to back eli
she burst the steam jacket on her star
board cylinder On Sunday morning CAP
tain James MoGaryey went over from
Galveston with the steamer Diana and
after taking the coal off the blockade
runner. got her afioat and towed her to
the wharf. About the time the Owl was
pulled off a shell from one OF the Federal
warships passed directly over McGaryey 5
head, SO close that the captain ducked his
head to avoid II.
Mr. Cotter says the broken steam Jacket
OF the Owl was repaired by John Bennlson
and then the vessel was loaded with 1000
bales of cotton and steamed away for Ha-
yana. The morning after the Owl reached
Havana the ram Stonewall arrived there
from France The Owl discharged her car
go and loaded for Galveston. The day the
captain went ashore at Havana to clear
he was notified by the authorities that, on
account of the surrender OF General Lee,
he couldn't sail out OF Havana under the
Confederate flag.
The Owl Immediately went out OF exist
ence and the Foam Of Liverpool sailed out
of Havana harbor. She came 20 Galveston
with her cargo. When she reached hera
Galveston had surrendered. The Lark a
blockade runner here at the time, was
looted by Confederate soldiers. The Owl
i ran Allt DlOCdhf all TiEul anu CdIue luSlue
as far as Fort Magruder, where she got h
signal that the city had surrendered, The
Owl Ghereupon backed away and. under
cover of the darkness that night, started
back to Havana.
The Owl. or rather Foam, remained at
Havana until August. Then she sailed for
Halifax. where Mr.. Cotter left her Cap
tain Maffitt took the steamer to Liverpool
and sold her. From Liverpool the Owl
went on voyage to the Rio de la Platte
in South America. From that time Mr.
Cotter lost track OF her.
Mr.. Cotter says that when the Owl ar
rived in Havana the last time General John
c. Breckenridge, CAPTAIN John TAYLOR
Woods, Judah p Benjamin and other no ed
Confederate leaders reached there In an
open boat which the Owl had left on the
coast Of Florida In February. These gem
tlemen made their home on the Owl until
she left Havana.
As to the vessels wrecked at Galveston
Mr.. Cotter saws the one on Bird island Is
the Denbigh and the one at Seaview Ia the
VIII o the Wisp, Both OF these were
blockade runners owned bv Captain Abuer
Godfrey, afterwards proprietor OF he Bat
Tie house, Mobile The wreck of the or
phannge is the Prince Albert which was
In the cattle trade after the war
The Owl Was a sidewheeler aud had A
speed OF sixteen miles an hour--very fast
for those DAYS
Car'ein Cotter says the Owl was chased
out of Havana by United states man-of-
war and had an exciting experiences hut
rs Mr. klplinS says, that's another story,
Thrown from Horse and F<nIed.