The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-06-08

1nS cAdnce tnat she might never come
IN lie wanted me to wait until the arrival of
ner owner, Joseph Berry, who was expected
daily from England
@dFer waiting several Gays said to him one
morning: It looks as though your ship has
Deen captured or sunk. TIL take a gamblers
cnance that she hasn't and will give Won $40 :
ooo for her and $4,000 for the cargo that is
waiting for her; you to take the cargo she
Or ngs in. I'll give you three hours to think II
over" -
1t looked as though was taking long
chance, but had "hunch" that she was all
rlsht, and never have had well-defined
nunch steer me in anything but a safe
course, wherefore invariably heed them At
the expiration of the time limit there was nor
sign OF smoke in any direction and the agent
accepted my proposition In half an hour
nad Dill OF sale for the ship and the ware
mouse receipts for the cargo of war supplies
On the third day the Letter came tearing
IN, pursued at long range by the U. S. S. Pc.
Whatan. which proceeded to stand guard over
9 the harbor, keeping we'll off shore on account
Of the reefs and shoals that were under her
lee. 1Ss
Inc Letter B discharged 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-eght hours
| took command of her, with John B. Will
Jams, her old captain, as sailing master, and
determined to put to sea at once.
knew the PoWhatan would not be looking
for us so soon, and planned to catch her off
her guard
The Powhatan saw us sooner than I had
expected, and started but she was not quick
enough. She fred three or four shots at us,
but they fell far short.
At sunrise we had the ocean to ourselves
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 off Charleston late in the after
noon and steamed up close fnshore until we
coTi make out the smaoe of the blockading
feet 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 murky night with
hard blow, which came up late in the after
noon, and when we got under way at midnight
q good bit OF sea was running.
With the engines held down to only about
half speed, but ready to do their best in
twinkling we headed for the harbor, standing
as close inshore as 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
Gid not see us until we had passed her. Then
she let go 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 lis as we darted away.
They Immediately opened us, but after
the first minute or two it was a 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 saw where they were firing
l 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.
BeforN the second Might was half over we
had everything out Of her and full cargo
OF cotton aboard and we steamed out at once.
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. It 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 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 southerly
and eastery 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 enterprisng Englishman at Turks Island.
Having succeeded as a bockaderunner, l
was ambitious to become hllbuster, which
kindred vocation thought offered even greater
opportunities for adventure, and Immediately
after the sale Of the Letter B, in the latter
part OF 1854, returned to New York. in the