The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-01-08
Running the
s.. Blockade
By DONALD c4AMBERLINs

Port Royal. South Carolina. is a fine
harbor. In that region are many Is
lands lying between the mainland and
the ocean on which is produced what
- called sea island cotton. an article OF
very superior grade. When the war be-
tween the states opened and the south
ern ports we're blockaded this was a
Aavorite point for running the blockade
with cargoes of this valuable cotton.
Where it wal grown 1t al worthless:
beyond the Yankee ~blockading squad
ron 1t was often worth more than a
dollar a pound.
The United States government sent
q naval and military force to Port Roy.
al to occupy the harbor. and adjoining
the, islands. some fifteen or twenty
miles from the mouth of the harbor, is
the town Of Beaufort. and one day
during the early part of the war a
steamer lay at the wharf taking on cot
ton. A man on the deck was watching
a gang Of negroes rolling the bales
aboard. A long, thin man with lean
cheeks and a tuft Of beard on his chin
and wearing a butternut suit came
sauntering along and stood looking at
the loading.
"Are yo' the cap'n O. this hyer ship?'
he said to the man on deck.
II am"
I'm lookin' fur transportation.
want to git out O. this dod rotted.
Yankee ridden country. I've sold out
my little plantation and put the money
into cotton. I got twenty bales"
Don't you know that the Lincoln
government won't let any cotton leave
the Confederacy:"
"You don't say SOL"
Eyes. I'll take your cotton for you.
but there's a big chance Of its being
captured by n Yankee gunboat lying
of the mouth of the harbor. If g 1t
will be confiscated."
"Waal, now. I reckon that's inter
fern with a mans material rights"
But If you git it through, If it's
sea island cotton. you'll make n small
fortune out of it."
"Well7"
"If yo' want to take the risk I'll
carry it for you for 20 per cent of what
yO' sell it for"
"Yo' goin' to carry over this what
20 takin' aboa'd?"
I'm goin' to try"
"I'm afeard l mought lose my cot
ton"
"In that use yo' bette not risk it."
But yo' say yo' goin' to risk it with
yo' cotton"
II am"
What yo' paintin' yo' ship that colo
fo'?"
That's the color of u fog. l shall
not so to sea till I can git q misty
night. That gray paint is exactly the
shade Of a misty mo'ning just befo'
lay"
A bargain was struck between the
two. the captain agreeing to take the
can man and his cotton to England
for 20 per cent of its value In Liver.
pool provided the blockade could be
run safely. The twenty bales were
AIKEN to the wharf and rolled aboard.
The owner remained ashore till a fog
~ night should enable the ship to get
% sea. there being ave chances of
success to one OF capture.
Finally an east wind brought In
nurky weather. and the captain told
ais passenger that there was a pros.
1ect Of her getting out early the next
morning. The latter went aboard with
lis baggage. n hair trunk. q bandbox
ind q leather case evidently contain.
ng q musical instrument. But the
.aptain. who was busy experimenting
Getting the ship OIL. had no time to
inspect the passengers baggage.
Steaming down OF to the broader
waters the ship cast anchor between
,wo Confederate forts on either shore
to wait for an opportunity. There were
considerable wind and rain during the
light, but nothing to conceal a ship
About Z o'clock In the morning the
wind lulled and a dense fog settled
hwn. The captain concluded to try to
Zip out between the gunboats outside
he harbor. Just before the fog shut
everything from view he took his bear
ngs from his compass and. with speed
mly sufficient for steerage way, aided
~ an outgoing tide. drifted to the har-
1or's mouth.
On passing out Il dim hulk appeared
N his port quarter. He knew that 1t
vas a blockader, but he had the adj
'antage of his ships being the color of
he mist. and he passed safely. Half
hour passed, and he was congratu.
ating himself on having cleared the
hockading ships. when from below
here arose the resonant sound of a bu-
lie. Dashing down the companion
yay, he followed the sound, which led
Jim to his passengers stateroom. The
nan was practicing on a cornet. The
aptain with a blow sent it scurrying
N the: door.
"You idiotr' he exclaimed. "What
10 you meany" .~..t. o.
"What do 20 mean yo'self? l al
rays practice ut this time o. the morn
NJ" >-G}'
"rool! Do you want to lose your
4ottoo2'..
&Hrhpos,0h n rortholo fhov heard ssShin