Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-30

who sat at his desk writing. At last he
enf Wth he MS andsd to
Austin. It was a certificate Of citizen,
ship sh Il Cuba; Swapping their fingers at
they left the Palace free men. .
During the remainder Of their stay in
the Cuban capital Captain Austin and
ship with the Governor who had given
them their liberty. This fact proved
! their salvation later.
THE BLOCKADER'S LAST RUN.
But it was in Galveston harbor that
the last and most brilliant event in {.
| civil war career occurred under the eyes
of the entire city: Old men tell OF It
yet, although with years the memory
| Of the deed is dimmed. In broad cay
! light Captain Austin ran the blockade
Of the port with his ship, the Susanna,
| and brought provisions and war supplies
| TO distressed land.
| 1t was the last year of the struggle,
Almost all of the blocAaded ports along
| the Atlantic and the Gulf had been cap
tured. and the entire southern squadron
| the event, as told by the commander Of
! the United States ship Seminole, which
led the chase, has already been published
In the New York World under the title of
"a Dash Through Feet" The author
ity for the tale already to4u was unac-
quainted with the identity of the captain
considera ton gives him credit for being
the coolest, man that ever walked
j quarterback
and was a long, low, steamer built Il. tor
speed and concealment. Time after time
she had run into Galveston harbor
always before at night. Her arrival was
regular and always on time. When eX-
| pected she always turned up tied at the
! wharf in the morning.
Her last run was n1omentous. Leaving
Havana with a cargo Of gunpowder ami
provisions. calcula tfons had been made.
der cover of darkness, but break in the
machinery caused delay. StoaminS along,
Captain Austin found himself one morn
ing but few miles off Galveston and in
sight of the blockading fleet.
AS yet he was unseen. owing to the
low construction Of his ship and ne DE-
low elected the informa ton that the
supply of coal would not be, sufficient tor
twelve hours more no. Inc o M nernavf
under the shore, and thither the Prov
was turned.
But the overhanging smoke had at
tracted the attention Of the fleet. and
ship of war was fast bearing down upon
the daring blockade runner. Without a
/! 1ernlined to run the gauntlet. The course
was again changed and the Susanna
headed directly for the bar a dozen
ships barred her way.
RUSHED TO DESTRUCTION.
from the tunnels and all attempts at
concealment thrown to the winds, the
swift susanna rushed on. seemingly 10
sure destruction. Soon sne came within
from a long distance. The Seminole was
in the lead and sent solid shot across the
Skinned Skin tn the Water. i roam splashed up
over the deck, but the warning hao no
effect.
distance between it and the Susanna UNI
til objects could be plainly seen from one
| deck to the OTHER Shot after shot t., went 1bt
blockade runner, but, still she kept her
course. The regular channel was blocked,
but she went straight ahead. Raked fore
frightened animal, rushed on. All Gal
weston was on the wharves watching the
engagement, hoping and praying for the
Suddenly the course of the Susanna
| was changed. Doubling around the Semi
mole she made straight Tor ;, shallow
Of war they believed her captain had de-
cded to beach her.. and the chase was
taken up in hope of capturing the crew rev!
| of the vessel.
But it was part of the trick. Another
turn, that sent the water swirling under
the PROV, and the course was again
changed. Crossing at dangerous and
generally unknown place on the short
bar. the Susanna entered tts deeper
! shot away and both snloizestacks We're
wrecked. but, riddled with shot and shell
as she was. She steamed slowly to the
wharves and discharged her carso;
During the entire engagement captain
| Austin, according to the commander Of
the Seminole, coolly, paced the bridge
| with his hands in his pockets and a.
| cigar between his teeth. Not once did
/ he leave his place or show sign Of trep-
| idation, in spite Of the fact that
half a ton of black powder was stored
! directly beneath him. In the shower OF
shot and shell he stood as he had on the
| deck of the Manassas, facing almost GER
| tain death while his ship was being shot
| feet seamanship and an absolute know
ledge of the harbor assisted him in per-
| been ee,ualed and that only emphasizes
/ the fact that some Of the credit given to
| others belongs to him.