The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-03-03

ing Star. the Star of Peace. and the
The Jacob Bell was making the return
trip from Shanghai, China, with 1880
tons Of tea and 10000 boxes of fire.
crackers intended for the celebration
of the Glorious Fourth" by children
in the North. AS southern Riddles"
had long since been obliged to cele-
brate Christmas without fire-crackers,
Lieut.. Maffitt determined to send that
part of her cargo into a southern port
It Is not recorded whether or not the
fire. crackers got in safely or into what
port they went, but 1t is safe to say
they did and that there are still living
today in the South men and women
old and gray, perhaps-who still honor
the memory of the thoughtful captain
who afforded them that unusual and
unexpected treat at Christmas so years
ago.
Ravased American Shipping.
Chased by dozens of Union men-of-
war. the doughty little Florida ravaged
American shipping in the Gulf of Mex
leo and south Atlantic, destroying 50
vessels of various sizes valued at over
s6,0oO,0o0. Though often coraered by
her foes, she always managed to
escape and capture additional prizes
in waters she was least expected to
visit! In March, 1868. she took the
Lapwing, a large steamer which, after
being renamed the Oreto, was placed
in command of Midshipman Bryan.
The Oreto cru1sed Independently and
captured several valuable prizes with
such ease that her captain determined
to take her into Hampton Roads and
burn the army store ships anchored
nF
roe The scheme was we'll planned
and seemed easy to carry out as it
would be an easy matter to get the
Oreto by the Union fleet with the Lap
wings papers.
Lieut.. Maffitt heartily approved the
scheme and gave his permission; but,
owing to leaks developing on board the
Oreto, she had to be abandoned. Later,
Lieut.. Read attempted to carry out the
plan on the brig Clarence-one OF the
FTorida's prizes-but found he could
not get in Hampton Roads without ex-
citing suspicion. Accordingly he steered
boldly for the New England coast, ran
into Portland, Maine, carried the reve-
nue. cutter Caleb by storm and at
tempted to destroy the enormous ship
ping tied up at the piers. Unfor-
tunately, the cutter grounded, and, it
being daylight before she could be got
ten off the bar, Lieut.. Read was forced
to put to sea in his captured vessel
without firing the shipping. The alarm
having been given, two armed steamers
and a tug went out after him. Lieut..
Read boldly gave battle, but, after
firing five rounds, was forced to sur
render as there was no more ammu-
milton aboard his prize. Read and his
crew were taken to Fl. Warren, in
Boston harbor, where they were i'm
prisoned until exchanged.
The holiness and success of this
daring attack in New England created
CONSERVATION through the North.
Every town and hamlet on the coast
clamored for protection and deluged
congress with protests against the in
activity of the navy department.
These people failed to understand the
terrible task the department had on it's
hands when 1t undertook to blockade
the thousands of miles that formed the
littoral of the southern coast 1t also
brings forcibly to mind the oft-re-
peated statement of men of military
and naval training throughout the
world that had the South possessed
even a moderately sized navy she
would never have been conquered.
Continued Destructive Cruise.
In the meantime, the Florida con-
tinued her cruise of destruction prac-
tically uninterrupted and ran into
neutral ports only when she found it
absolutely necessary to do SO. II this
way, the enemy was prevented ascer-
tanning her whereabouts, so that little
difficulty was ever experienced on that
score In whatever port she sailed, the
authorities, while. careful TO preserve
nutrality, afforded her every facility to
repair and replenish her stores, and
the populace. always on the side of the
weaker belligerent, gave her an enthu-
siastic welcome. The captain and Of
fcers were feted and the crew made
to feel at home wherever they went.
On the occasion of one of these visits
in Bermuda, July Is, 1S63--the Flor
ida saluted the British flag according
to the governments instructions and
was answered by gun for gun salute
from a shore battery. This is the only
salute ever accorded the Confederate
flag by foreign power