Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 24.djvu/234

 226 Southern Historical Society Papers.

In most instances the vessels were of English build, small, fast, with powerful engines, and of the type known as Clyde steamers. Their color assimilated that of the clouds, or a light lilac, the object being to prevent discovery by Federal cruisers, and it was often the case that it enabled the steamers to avoid and escape pursuit.

The Margaret and Jessie belonged to this category. She was an iron steamer of about 600 tons, and under the name of Douglas had plied regularly between the Isle of Man and Liverpool. Provided with double engines and a powerful frame, there were few vessels of her class, which in smooth water, could show a cleaner pair of heels to others in pursuit.

Her capacity for storing cotton was equal to about 800 bales, and the usual time made between Charleston and Nassau did not exceed on an average forty-four hours.

She was purchased in 1862 by John Eraser & Co., for ,20,000, and during eight round trips met with uninterrupted good luck, making money for her owners, and fame for her commander, Captain R. W. Lockwood. The latter was known to be not only one of the best pilots on the coast, but also a brave, dashing, yet judicious com- mander.

Captain Lockwood' s good luck did not follow him after the war. He died about ten years ago, many believe from the effects of the loss of the Clyde steamer Champion, of which he was in command, which was lost on her way from New York to Charleston.

Few of the blockade-runners were fitted with accommodations for passengers. Nevertheless two, three, or a half dozen might gener- ally be found on every incoming and outgoing steamer.

Not infrequently some of these were women. The men were either Confederate agents, business men in speculation, or persons seeking to avoid service in the Confederate army.

The fate of the larger proportion of these vessels may be inferred. Some succumoed to the perils of the deep, some were run ashore and wrecked to avoid capture, some became prizes to the Federal fleet.

Some of the vessels ran into four different ports, and it may be added that a number of them made from six to eighteen voyages. It was rare that a craft was captured on her first voyage, and it could be pretty safely figured that she would make two trips, and this gen- erally paid for her cost and voyage expenses, and left a handsome sum in addition.

Among many daring and successful exploits was that of the steam-