Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-02-19
RUNNING THE BLOCKADE
Will Not Be Preclu led by the Mod
era Naval Methods.

Bruce's squadron at Charleston In en-
deavoring to maintain a blockade,
and of the Vesuvius in attempting toI
evade it, was, considering the small
scale in which it has hitherto beeaI
tried, instructive.
That blockades are still to form an
important part of warfare was recent
ly shown by Capt. Mahan, who de-
voted an essay to studying the re-
quirements for shutting up hostile
fleet in its harbors or rendezvous and
preventing it from escaping.
In our civil war blockade duty be-
came very important, through the
extent of the south Atlantic seabo ird,
and the numerous attempts to IL tro-i
duce supplies to confederate ports and
take out cotton. Bermuda, Nassau
Havana, and Matanoras were the four
principal points that served as bases
for the blockade runners, and Nassau,
in the Bahamas, was the most used, as
it was only 500 miles from Savannah,
q little more from Charleston, and but
$40 from Wilmington, n. c., these
three points being the chief seats of
commerce on the eastern coast held
by the confederates Bermuda came
next to Nassau, and its closest con-
nection was with Wilmington, GA
miles away.
At first, any available vessels were
used, but soon light, swift low-hulled
steamers, often side-wheelers, painted
dull gray or lead color, and SO not
easily visible on the sea, were speedi-
" built, as Prof. Solely has shown, and
became the typical blockade runners
from the Bahamas and the Bermudas.
The two short masts carried no yards,
the tunnels were telescope, the for
ward deck was turtle-back, for going
| through heavy seas, and anthracite
coal from the United States, which
made no smoke, was burned, until the
government prohibited its exporta-
ton. When running into port, lights
were put out, the pinnacle and fire.
room hatch we're covered, and steam
was blown of under water The run
from Nassau or Bermuda was often
timed for a moonless night and a
high tide for running in. The run
ners trusted entirely to speed, and
when ordered to heave to, put on a
high squirt, if possible, and risked
stray shots and sometimes a long
chase. All sorts of tricks in seaman
ship came into play, and beyond doubt
running the blockade was full of eX-
element.
There was fun, too, when the cul-
prits were sighted, for the blockaders.
If intense excitement ruled ne pic
turesque scene when Admiral Bruce's
ships were watching for the Vesusius,
it might be imagined how the case
was when real blockade runners were
running out or in from Charleston or
Wilmington The object, of course,
was not destruction, but capture and
a prize sale.
Nassau grew rich out of blockade
running. When cotton was bought by
the blockade runners it was trans
shipped elseW here, and her aggregate
exports and imports rose from 3d.
100000 in 1860 to over $5O,OO0;OOO
in 1866, Then a terrible hurricane
swept away her wealth, and she had
also lost her extra civil war commerce.
The run to Wilmington could be
made in about two days and nights,
and from 600 to 200 bales of cotton
could be carried at trip. The profit
was so enormous that the owners
could afford to lose the vessels after
few trips. It has been estimated
that out of Sc blockade runners max
ing regular trips, 10 were captured,
destroyed or wrecked, yet generally
after more or less success. And the
owners were not alone IN making
money. On a frst-class vessel, in the
heyday of the business the captain got
perhaps 5000 for the round trip be-
tween Nassau and Wilmington; the
chief officer, $1,250; the second and
third officers, $3.50 each; the chief
engineer, 50, 500; the crew, about
$3.50 each; the pilot, $3.50. There
were also allowances, in some cases,
of certain number of bales for Of
ficers for private speculation It is
said that over so vessels made but one
voyage each; %, two; six vessels three
voyages, and so on to two that made
ten voyages and one that made IS
n. Y. Sun.