The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-05-17

blockade-runner, and offered to buy her and
ta6e the chance that she might never come
IN. He wanted me to wait until the arrival of
her owner, Joseph Berry, who was expected
daily from England
AFTER waiting several days said to him one
morning: 1T looks as though your ship has
been captured or sunk. I'll take gamblers
chance that she hasn't and will give you $780,
900 for her and $4,000 for the cargo that is
waiting for her; you to take the cargo she
brings in III give you three hours to think it
over"
1t looked as though was taking a long
chance, but had "hunch" that she was all
right, and l never have had well-defned
hunch' steer me- in anything but. a safe
course, wherefore invariably heed them At
the expiration Of the time limit there was not
sign OF smoke in any direction and the agent
accepted my proposition. In half an hour I
had bill of sale for the ship and the ware
house receipts for the cargo of war supplies.
On the third day the Letter came tearing
IN, pursued at long range by the U. S. 8. Po-
whatan, which proceeded to stand guard over
the harbor, keeping we'll of shore on account
OF the reefs and shoals that were under her
lee.
The Letter discharged a full cargo OF
cotton and was turned over to me. She was
unloaded In twelve hours, and all Of her cargo
was safely slowed in another forty eight hours.
I took command of her, with John B. VIII
Jams, her old captain, as sailing master, and.
determined to put to sea at once
l knew the Powhatan would not be looking
for us SO soon and planned to catch her of
her guard.
The Powhatan saw us sooner than 1 had
expected, and started but she was not quick
enough. She fired three or four shots at US,
but they fell far short.
At sunrise we had the ocean to ourselves
l started In at once to master practical navi-
cation, the theory of which I knew, and to
familiarize myself with the handling of ship
We arrived of Charleston late in the after
noon and steamed up close inshore until we
could make out the smoke of the blockading
fleet, which was standing well out in a semi
circle. Then we dropped back bit and an
chored All Of the conditions shaped them.
selves to favor US. It was a murky night with
hard blow. which came up late in the after.
noon and when we got under way at midnight
good bit of a sea was running.
With the engines held down to only about
half speed but ready to do their best in a
tw1nkling, we headed for the harbor, standing
as close inshore as we dared go. We passed
so close to the blockading ship stationed at the
lower end OF the crescent that she could not
have depressed her guns enough to hit us even
II we had been discovered in time. But she
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she let 60 at us with her bow guns and, while
they did no damage, we were at such close
quarters that their flash gave the other ships
glimpse OF us we darted away
They Immediately opened on us, but after
the first minute or two it was case of hap
hazard shooting with all of them. The first
shells exploded close around us, and some of
the fragments came aboard, but no one was
injured. When I saw where they were firing
threw my ship further over toward Sullivan's
Island, where she could go on account of her
light draft. and sailed quietly along into the
harbor at reduced speed. At daylight we went
up to the dock and were warmly welcomed
Before the second night was half over we
had everything out of her and a full cargo
OF cotton aboard and we steamed out at once
l knew the blockaders would not expect us for
at least four days, and we surprised them Just
as we had surprised the Powhatan at Ber-
muda. 1t was thick night, and we sailed
right through the fleet at half speed, but pre-
pared to break and run for It at the crack of
gun. Not shot was fired or an extra light
shown.
AS soon as we were clear Of the line we
put on full speed. and three days later we
were safe at Turks Island, the most southe.ly
and easterly of the Bahama Islands,
I made two more trips to Charleston without
any very exciting experiences, though we were
fired on both times and then sold the ship to
an enterprising Englishman at Turks Island
Having succeeded as blockade-runner. j
was ambitious to become i1ibuster, which
kindred vocation thought offered even greater
opportunities for adventure, and Immediately
after the sale of the Letter B, in the latter
part Of 1864. l returned to New York, in the