Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-22
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DURING CHARLESTON BLOCKADE
How Fearless Captains Supplied the
City and Made Bio Money.

| Slty ana md0c Dig "oHeJ'
| When the first shot was fired on
Fort Sumter in April, 1861, a quieter or
more insignificant town than Nassau,
In the Bahamas, could scarcely have
been found along the Atlantic coast.
on the beaten track, with population
of less than 1000, engaged in sponge
fishing, salt drying and lumber, cotton
and pineapple exporting, 1t dragged
dreary existence, says c. +. Wlngate
in the New York Post.
Few large vessels ever crossed the
bar; commerce was carried on IN
sloops and schooners, and the arrival
of a ship of any size, from Europe or
the states, was an event to be talked
about for weeks. The houses were
small and low, built Of coral rock, and
the streets were paved with the same
material.
The town was defended by a few an
cient guns, mounted in stone forts, gar
risoned by colored troops, with Englsh
officers. The sympathies Of the Mas
san residents were decidedly with the
south in its struggle for independence
and they watched the progress OF the
Confederacy with growing interests.
The civil war brought about remark
able and rapid changes in the Bahama
capital. AS if by the wave OF a mag
ician's wand, Nassau was Transformed
from tropic calm to the greatest activ-
ity. Its inhabitants awoke from Kip
Van Wrinkle sleep that had lasted loo
wears, and it happened in this wise:
Nassau was within 600 miles OF Char-
lesion and Wilmington, where was an
unlimited demand for provisions, coal,
tobacco and military supplies, while
piled high on docks and in ware
houses in these ports cotton might De
bought for 10 cents pound and with
in fifty-one hours sold in Nassau Tor
81 a pound. Thus, profitable freights
could be obtained for both inward ana
outward cargoes, and while the risks OF
capture or wreckage were great the
proceeds were so enormous that block
ade running, with Nassau as destina-
ton. became at once most popular
occupation.
The coast line Of the southern states
extended for $500 miles, with 1S9 in
lets or bays, and constituted an ideal
region for smuggling or blockade run
ming. Even the large Federal navy
at the middle period of the war could
not cover so vast an area The ex-
pedition against Fort Fisher in Decem-
her. 1864, consisted Of 125 men-of-war
and transports; yet it was not able 10
prevent several steamers from running
through. The blockade running Ves-
sells were so swift that Admiral Porter
declared they could play around our
vessels" while at night they were prac-
tically invisible. Long, low and mar
row, built expressly for speed, and
drawing but little water, using smoke
less coal and painted a dull lead COL
or, they were not easily overhauled or
captured.
At first, old and inferior vessels were
employed in the traffic, owing to the
risk of loss, but after time steamers
were specially planned for the purpose,
and q number Of these became famous.
AS the business developed, capital was
attracted and joint stock companies
monopolized the trade. Individual
ventures gradually became the excep-
ton; the risk was lessened by the
possession of a greater number Of ves-
sells. Even If half the fleet owned by
company were captured or wrecked
profits of the other half would more
than balance the loss.
The first blockade runner arrived at
Nassau from Charleston on December
s, 1861, with 144 bales Of cotton. UP
to the close of the war 397 vessels en-
tered there, and 5SS sailed for southern
ports. OF these forty-two were cap
tured, and twenty-one run ashore. Two
steamers made ten trips each, and the
Siren eighteen, while the Robert E.
Lee, Captain ]. Wilkinson, ran the
blockade twenty-one times, carrying
G, 900 bales Of cotton, worth $2,000,OOO
in gold.
The usual run to Charleston or Will
mington consumed forty-eight hours,
and in three days a vessel would be dis
charged and loaded again. The total
expenses Of an SO0-bale steamer were
$4,000. The captain received $4,000,
the privilege Of carrying ten bales OF
cotton on his own account. The pilot
had equal pay, and five bales, while
the sailors received 500 a month and
$50 bounty if the trip proved success
full.
In the two first months Of 1865,
twenty steamers landed 1882 bales or
cotton, worth $2,000,750, at the Nassau
wharf. The total import and export
duties for the entire Bahamas rose from
234,629 pounds in 1860 to the vast
sum Of 100000 pounds sterling In
1865.
The streets and docks were crowded
with freight. The town swarmed with
strangers. Every inch Of lodging room
was occupied, and men slept under
sheds and on verandas. Every one was
prosperous. Money was spent with
lavish hands; wages were doubled, and
even day laborers ate and drank Of the
best. Fortunes were made in a few
weeks, gambling, drinking and every
form Of dissipation prevailed. Steam
ers bought at double their original cost
paid for themselves in a few trips,
while some of the English joint stock
companies returned 700 per cent to
their shareholders. While the big
profits went into the pockets of the
capitalists, a good portion benefited the
local merchants and dealers. The pub
lie debt of 47,7S6 pounds was wiped out,
and the Bahama legislature built the
Royal Victoria hotel at cost of $780,
900 to accommodate their summer Wis
itors. Confederate flags and newspa-
pers were seen on every side. News of
Federal disasters and of the depreda-
tions Of the Alabama. whose command
er, Raphael Semmes, visited Nassau
in 1861, were hailed with delight. Pho