CAPTURE OF A BLOCKADE BUNNER.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 744, 18 March 1865, Page 4

CAPTURE OF A BLOCKADE BUNNER.

Among the steerage passengers of the City of Manchester, which arrived at Liverpool early in December, were the crew of the blockade runner Lady Stirling, captured on the 28th of October by the Federal cruisers, while attempting to get out of Wilmington with a valuable cargo of cotton. One of the crew gives the following intereresting particulars :— The Lady Stirling was an iron eteamer of 900 tons, built expressly for blockade running, and was launched in London but four months since. She had been successful in running in her cargo, and started out again on the night of the 22nd October on her return voyage, but owing to the darkness or the ignorance of the pilot she grounded, and in getting her off they broke one of her cylinders, and were obliged to put into Wilmington. Captain Cruikshank got the vessel repaired as well as he was- able; but owing to a lack of engineers, was compelled to defer the replacing of the broken cylinder. A week after (the 28th) he determined, disabled as he was, to another attempt to get out of Wilmington, and soon after dark weighed anchor. It was not considered aJ?3' favorable night for venturing out, and several captains of vessels in harbor urged the advisability of waiting; but the captain was determined to go. They succeeded in cleaning what is known as the Western Bar Channel without attracting attention ; but had hardy gone half-a-mile further when a rocket was seen and* denly to ascend from the direction whence' they had just come, followed immediately by others in various directions, apparently in answer to the first. On this the Lady Stirling stopped, her captain thinking it better to return to the harbor; but a glance in that direction told him how hopeless such a course would be, as two or three hitherto invisible tug-like steamers were now to be seen following rapidly in her wake. The foremost of these, the iEolus, fired a shot after her, but without dofng any damage, and was also sending up rockets, by which the attention of the entire squadron was Being drawn to the movements of the Lady Stirling. The blockade runner, however, soon distanced the jEolus, but found another Federal steamer, the Calypso, direct in her way. A chase now ensued, the cruiser keeping up a rapid fire of shot and shell, some of which passed completely through the Lady Stirling, and two of the shells exploded in her hold. On board the blockade runner, a most exciting scene was presented. A sum of money .amounting to 60,000 dollars in gold wae known by the crew and firemen to be on board; the latter, after the chase had lasted two hours, and seeing that the Federal eteamer was gaining on them, thought it was time to look after their own interests. They, left their fires, and importuned the captain for their wages and some reward-for the risk they were running, telling him the gold might as well be divided amongst them as allowed to fall into the hands of their pursuers. The captain gave each of them ten double eagles (about £40), at the same time imploring the firemen to resume the work at the fires.' A more impressive impulse, however, was here given to their movements, in the shape of a round shot from the Calypso, which whizzed by their heads as they were standing at the cabin door, sending them in their fright in all directions in quest of shelter. The officers then proceeded to conceal as much of the gold as they could conveniently carry on their persons. And now occurred a scene that baffles description. Something like 25,000 dollars were left in the cabin,, end the officers had no sooner left it than some of the stokers and crew, who had been waiting for the opportunity, made a rush into the cabin, and. an indiscriminate struggle commenced for the possession of the treasure. The keg in. which the money was placed was knocked over, the bags burst, and the large twenty-dollar pieces rolled in all directions. Men who had never before seen so much money now for the first time in their lives found themselves in possession of hundreds of. pounds. The men scattered about-the vessel, and, taking possession of any place that was light enough to see, proceeded to make rips and rents in their, clothes to conceal the money they had so hastily obtained before they were boarded by ' the cruiser; and not the least curious part of the affair now was to hear, in that moment of excitement, continued calls for needles and thread to sew up the rents they had made in their clothes. The engine fires "were neglected,' and the vessel was rapidly slackening her speed. A shell had exploded in the midst of the cotton, setting it on fire,' and the Federal vessel had so far lessened the distance between them that the voices of the officers on each steamer could be heard giving orders. .. Captain Cruikshank, seeing that it was hopeless to hold oul any longer, and believing that lie had done enough to prove his solicitude for the property of his employers, hung a lighted, lantern-astern in token of surrender, alter a chase of three hours , duration. A boat was sent from' the Calypso, and the crew of the Lady Stirling speak in high terms < of the fact that the .words uttered by the Federal lieutenant on boarding were to inquire whether any of the crew had been hurt, as he bad brought the Calypsa's surgeon: with him, who was at their service. >. Luckily, although three shells had exploded in the vessel, no body was seriously hurt. Both crews then set to work to subdue the fire on board the Lady Stirling. The captain and mates were taken on -board the Calypso, and one of ' the latter, either from'fright' or' excitement, or from the weight of gold he 1 had concealed on him, swooned away on the deck. Some of the crew took charge of him, and in a spirit of mischief* or from an idea that his-weight did not quite correspond with bis appearance; set him on* his- head and gave him a gentle ; shake. To the astonishment of the sailors out torn- - bled a score or so of United States double eagles— massive pieces of gold money, each weighing over an ' ounce. A farther search was made, when no less - than 10,000 dollars -were taken from this wfo alone. Captain Sfcnart, of the . Calypso, now 'had InV*nepicions and informed Captain 'Cruikshank that he thought it would be advisable to search all his orew : but on receiving a reply to the effect that the pTope%thecrewhadintheirposseeßionwaetheirown, he gave it up, hie ordem' from the Government' at Washington being to respect 'all private property. The mate bad the 10,000 dollars returned to him, and the< subject was not further The Lady Stirling was taken in tow to where the oreVwere discharged, highly, pleased atjthe termination of their irightfe adventure. They are now in London, and some of them who, four Months ago, were waiting about 'the - docks for a' ship, and with scarcely a shilling to help themselves, are now able to place' to their" account at a 'banker's as much a> £1000. But to shctvf, how capricious is fortune in her favors, anottie* blockade runner, the Lucy, which was leflr safe! in Wilmington when the Lady Stirling came out; jrae fcaptored the following liight, and was , actually |he ledy; Stping arrived, itscrevrm a' : moet?iorloTnand: pennfless condition, ' . bavmghad everything taken from fbem *t iSie insfibWSBA»se they bad dared ' fp lay hands on his dollars. The cargo "of the Lady was Talued at 800,000 dollars, which wiU foU ; " l s ' ' •