Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-07-14


Oft sailed the sea as a blockade run
ner
For acting quick he knew the trick
OF playing discreet to slip the watch
Of the blockade fleet.
OF the many shippers who dlstln-
guished themselves by running the
blockade of Confederate ports during
the war, probably the most successful
and therefore, most famous, was capt
Fem Peck. of Charleston. Capt. Peck
went out of port to the unknown sea
long ago, but his fame is still fresh IN
the memory of a few old-timers. Star
ling Lebby L. NJ. CoXetter, the LOCK-
wood brothers, Torn and Bob, Peter
Tecklenberg, and others less well re-
membered, won distinction in the
dangerous game, but Capt. Fem Peck
made more runs than any of them and
rounded off his career by never being
caught or losing a ship.
Prior to the war Capt. Peck was in
the peaceful employment of coastlnS
skipper. He commanded at different
times the sea a-going steamer Cecile
which piled between Charleston and
Florida ports, and the river steamer
William Seabrook, which threaded the
tortuous inland passage to Beaufort
But the advent Of the war carried him
further off shore. His first deep sea
venture was made early in 1861, when
John Fraser & Co, sent him to Liver
pool to pilot an English steamship
loaded with arms into Confederate
port.
Even then it was no easy voyage to
Iiverpool. so Capt. Peck had to sail
over both land and sea. He first made
his way to Canada and began his
ocean voyage from Montreal or Que
bee. Returning, he planned originally
to bring his ship into Hatteras Inlet,
on the North Carolina coast, but near
ing that haven he overhauled Fed
eral merchantmen and secured news
papers. which apprised him of the fact
that Hatteras Inlet had been taken by
the Yankees. Knowing there was
big blockadng fleet off Charleston, he
headed for Savannah and succeeded IN
bringing his vessel by night inside OF
Tybee island. That was the first yes
sci to run the blockade of the Confed-
eracy, but unfortunately l have not
been able to get her name and others
give her the distinction which is her
due. She was afterward converted
into the Confederate gunboat Commo-
dore Tatnall.
Brought Arms from Nassau.
Shortly afterward Capt. Peck was
placed by John Fraser & Co., in COM
mand Of his old vessel Cecile, in
which about 10 o'clock one night, ne
skipped out of Charleston harbor un-
observed by the blockading fleet and
proceeded to Nassau for cargo OF
arms. Instead, however, Of returning
to Charleston he ran across the FIori-
da strait to Smyrna, where he landed
his arms successfully.
About the same time, the steamer
Kate, commanded by Capt. Tom Lock-
wood, also from Nassau, and loaded
with arms, made the same port. These
two cargoes of arms were conveyed
over land to Gen. Albert Sidney John
ston, and with them he fought the
battle of Shiloh. An incident connect
ed with the landing Of those arms is
illustrative of the intrepidity Of the
blockade runners.
Capt. Lockwood wishing to take his
wife and family over to Nassau ran
up to Charleston for them, while his
ship the Kate, was unloading. Rail-
road communication between Florida
and Charleston was not in those days
what it is today and Capt Lockwood
was longer in making the round trip
than he expected to be. When he re-
turned to Smyrna, he found his mate
had already carried the Kate back to
Nassau. Nothing daunted Capt. Lock-
wood purchased sailboat and carried
his family across the strait.
Capt. Peck after bringing the Cecile
back to Charleston was transferred by
John Fraser & Co., to the Herald, af-
terward renamed Antomila. He made
one round trip in the Herald, but, for
some reason that has been forgotten
turned her over for the second voyage
to Capt L. NJ. CoXetter, who will be
remembered by old CharleStonians as
the commander after the war of the
steamer Dictator which piled for years
between Charleston, Savannah and
Jacksonville. Capt. COXetter success
fully eluded the blockaders, but ran
into thrilling experience at the very
end Of his voyage. He made Nassau
at night and lay in the Offing to take
pilot aboard next morning. Feeling
that his voyage was safely over he
turned in for a good nights rest, after
warning the mate not to let the ship
drift more than a mile off shore. New
ertheless, when he went on deck at
daybreak his ship was fully ten miles
away from the entrance to the harbor.
Laughed at Broadside.
AS he headed for port man of-war
was steaming down on him. He sup
posed it was the British ship stationed
at Nassau and promptly sent aloft the
Royal George. However, the ap-
preaching dOg-Of war proved to be
the United States sloOp of war Adir-
ondack, which ran alongside. The men
behind Uncle Sans guns could not
have been as good in those days as in
these. for the Herald was unhurt and
the only effect of the Droadside was to
make Capt. CoXetter ring full speed
ahead"
Then followed blood stirring chase
the Herald having the speed, but the
Adirondack the weight of argument in
the shape of brOadside after broad
side. Capt CONetter pistol in hand,
stood upon the top Of paddle box di-
rccting the course OF his ship 50 as TO
avoid as much as possible the aim OF
the broadsideS. Every time the Adir-
undack manueuvred To deliver broad
side ne would steer the Herald so as
To put her out of the course of the
missiles. He handled his ship so well
that though somewhat damaged in