Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-27
DAILY. STORY
A YANKEE TRICK.

the water, painted q light gray, lay at
a wharf at Charleston, S c. The time
was 1868, and it was evident that the
vessel was Il blockade runner. Her
low build fitted her especially to es
cape observation, and her hull was
most like the gray of early dawn, the
hour that blockaders usually slipped i'll
and out of port. On her stern was her
name, the Petrol. She was taking on
a load of cotton, fabric worthless in
the Confederacy, but valued at more
than a dollar a pound in Liverpool. \
lean man, with his hands in his peck
cts, sauntered up to the captain, who
was standing on the dock. and asked:
Coin TO sail tonight, cap?'
The captain turned with a scowl to
the intruder whose accent was plainly
that of a Massachusetts Yankee, but
did not vouchsafe u reply. His ques-
toner coolly took out a pocketknife.
picked up stick and began to white.
"See hyar, yo' blamed Yankee, what
yo' dom loose in South Carolina"
The Yankee laughed. Guess they
know more bout that at Richmond.
There's southerners in the Yankee
service and Yanks in the southern
service l know all about you. You're
goin' to run the blockade tomorrow
mornin' before daylight
We'll, suppose l am
The Yankee pulled Il fat envelope out
of his pocket bearing the stamp of the
state department at Richmond and ad-
dressed to Il Confederate emissary III
London.
Guess you want Il passenger, don't
yOu?'
The captain looked puzzled. CHANGING
back and forth between the Yankee
and his packet. He did not want any
one he didn't know aboard his vessel,
but did not like to refuse to take Il
messenger of the Confederate govern
meut. He thought that if he could
see the contents of the packet he
would he satisfied. But he had no
right TO omen it. He concluded 10 tele-
graph the state department for instruc-
tons.
"All right" he said: IF yo're bona
fide messenger yO' can go"
About midnight the Yankee came to
the dock with lot of chickens we'll
coOped.
Heard from Richmond" he asked.
Eyes: its all right. You can go. But
what are yo' going To do with those
chickens?'
We'll, l suppose Ia ought to CON
tribute somethin' to eat durin' the
voyage. and | couldn't think o any
| thing better n broilers."
The captain again looked puzzled,
but permitted the Yankee to take his
broilerS aboard.
At the dead of night the Petrol left
the dock and steamed down the har-
| Dor.
Lying outside was the Yankee gun
boat MOntauk, Lieutenant Spanker
commanding. At a. m, as was his
custom. he left his cabin and proceed
ed on deck. For more than an hour he
paced to and fro, cursing the fog and
declaring that there never was Il bet
ter night for blockade runners. About
half past 3. just as the coming day
rendered the fog less black. he thought
he heard a cock crow.
Mr.. Havens," he called to young
ensign, "are there any chickens be
low
NO, sir; not fowl OF any kind
aboard"
We'll, then. there's one on blockade
runner. 1 distinctly heard rooster
crow. Call all hands. She's got out
and we must follow. Order the en-
gineer to put on all steam
In half an hour it was day. and. in
ten minutes more the fog lifted. There
within Il cables length was the Petrol
Lay to- shouted Lieutenant Span
ker
The Petrol replied by number Of
angry puffs and sped away, but the
Montauk sent shot after her, and hel
captain, seeing that the gunbOat was
gaining on him, made virtue of ne
ceSsity and shut off steam. \ boat was
lowered from the Montauk and Ensign
Haven boarded the blockade runner
with prize crew.
Would yo' mind telling me how yoI
got on to us?'' asked the Petrers cap
tain.
You've got a rooster aboard. w
heard him crow"
The captain looked at the Yankee
The Yankee smiled.
Are you what you pretended to b.
or not?" asked the captain.
I've been layin' for this prize"
But the dispatch from Richmond
How did you manage that
Easy enough. l waylaid the mes
senger who brought the reply, took hi
message and sent my own reply by an
other messenger while | gave the reg
uIar one a supper
The southerner. with flaming eyes
made Il dash for the Yankee. but be
fore he could reach his prey the latte
had whipped out a revolver and Gov
cred him. This cooled his ardOr and
couple of marines put the captain IN
der arrest.
The Yankee went on board the gun
boat and Informed Lieutenant Sparkle
that he was employed by the Unite,