The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1907-03-16
Id ~ CAPTAIN HICKS.
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was composed of merchant steamers.
many of which were captured block
ade runners converted into war YES
sells which carried only one gun,
called a Long Tom, that was worth
! little, except to disable an unarmed
craft. The greatest danger to which
| the blockade runner was subjected
was finding itself close to one OF
| these fast running light arm..i
steamers at early dawn with an +
day chase before them. So whteo
daylight began to appear we kelIf
vigilant lookout. The rosy norma,
rolled back the mantle of night, and
to our JOY there was no sail in sight.
AS the sun arose-as it only does at
sea-dispelling the mist from the
oceans swell, the man at the mast
head shouted, Sail no." and pointed
out thin column of smoke off our
/ starboard bow. Although it was
scarcely perceptible, we quickly
turned from it and fed, for the
blockade runner ran from every
shadow of danger, and when the look
out again discerned a pillar of cloud
On our port bow, we awaited ourselves
of the benefit of the doubt, and
turned from the suspicious column
that was painting sign of warning
in the heavens.
This day and the next was marked
by neither incident nor mishap. AS
night again closed around us, we felt
greatly relieved and l retired to rest,
wearied with constant watching. The
sea was now calm and the balmy air
of the Gulf Stream invited sleep.
During the night, while the Little
Hattie sped on to tropic isles, l was
awakened by the cry of Sail no."
and saw steamer bearing down on
us. Fortunately the moon, although
shining brightly, would soon be
down, but being closely pursued we
put on steam, and when the moon
went out Of sight altered our course
and escaped in the darkness. Worn
out with aniety, | sat at the stern,
leaning oye,' the railing watching the
SDhoreSCent SparhleS that fell like
glittering jewels from the rapid
Whirl OF our propeller, until I slipped
quietly amid a pile of canvas and fell
asleep. Whether awake or dream
ing | never knew, but / saw a short
distance from me the Bahama pilot
in low earnest conversation wiz q
Portuguese sailor. They We're speak
in /, :, ial I,,.,
guase | am familiar, and in the still
ness OF the night | could distin Suish
every word they uttered.
I'VE must wreck her, Armbr;ster,
as soon as we get among the reefs.
The schooner will certainly be on the
lookout for us among the Gays"
Il dare not undertake it," replied
the other, until we sight the schoon-
er. The skipper here won't stand
any folishness, and if l have to jump
and swim for it, want help at hand.
You know every fishing smack about
the islands is ready to rush in and
claim salvage, and old Saunders
gang of wreckers is always on the
watch for wrecks
But you don't intend to miss the
chance, do you?"
''Not much: but l want the skip
per to get the steamer safe in sight
of the Bahama Banks, and when he
turns her over to me I'll set her fast
on rock near Green Turtle Key"
They went forward to the fore
out of sight rubbed my eyes. Was
| dreaming or awake? 1t all seemed
so real, yet seemed to have reached
me through some other sense than
that of sight, for it was too dark to
distinguish their features, much less
the expression of the treacherous
scoundrels which nevertheless was
stamped on my memory as wildly as
If seen by the light of day. | am
yet uncertain whether it was reality
or dream. I resolved, however, to
act upon the impression made on my
mind, and to watch the villains with
out letting them know of my sus-
picions. l sought my berth and slept
until daylight, when l was awakened
and informed that a steamer was
bearing down on us. Rushing on
deck, saw that our only chance lay
in out-speeding our enemy. We put
on steam, and under full spread of
canvas and unfurled the Confederate
flag. There being only a gentle
breeze, not sufficient to roughen the
sea, the Little Hattie rode the I'M
dulating swell like a waterfowl. We
were gaining rapidly upon our pur-
suers when they began to fire on us,
but the shot fell short.