From the
Charleston papers, of the 13th instant, we gather the following interesting statement relative to the blockade of that port:
‘
The steam-frigate
Niagara, which it was reported some days since was coming off this port to blockade the harbor, was first noticed off here at an early hour on Saturday by
Pilot Boat No. 4, then outside the bar, and also from the steeple of the
Custom-House.
The pilot boat had observed in the offing on Friday evening what appeared to be a merchant ship bound in, and which, not being in sight on Saturday, was no doubt ordered off. Towards mid-day the
Niagara disappeared, but returned off the port in the afternoon.
On Saturday
Captain Robert Lockwood, pilot in boat No. 2, (the
W. Y. Leitch,) took to sea the schr.
Minnehaha, for
Baltimore; soon after leaving which vessel outside, he made a square rigger standing in for the bar. Being anxious to board, but not liking the
Niagara, then in sight, he concluded to send his large boat into port, and take to his skiff with a trusty hand.
He reached the vessel about 7 P. M., and found her to be the British barque
Hilja, from
Liverpool, consigned to
Messrs. R. Mure & Co. The tide being too late to get her into port, he remained on board during Saturday night, his skiff being taken on deck and carefully placed away.
On Sunday morning, it being calm, he was unable to get her under way, and about half-past 8 A. M. she was boarded by a boat from the
Niagara, commanded by
Lieut. R. L. May, who informed the
Captain of the
Hilja that the port was blockaded — the rebels inside having fired on
Fort Sumter, with a garrison of less than 100 men; gave him a Yankee paper containing the latest news, and mentioned that an army of 100,000 men had landed in
Louisiana.
The
Captain of the
Hilja informed the boarding officer that he was short of water, and requested a supply from the
Niagara, but he was informed that the frigate had less of that article than was necessary for her. The following is a copy of the endorsement of
Lieut. R. L. May on the papers of the
Hilja:
"Boarded May 12, and ordered off. The whole Southern coast of the
United States of America; it being blockaded.
(Signed)
R. L. May,
Lieutenant U. S. Steamship
Niagara."
’
The officer remained by the
Hilja for about twenty minutes, when he left.
The boat's crew had a revolver each in a belt attached to the waist.
Mr. Lockwood left the
Hilja about 10 A. M., and reached the city in a skiff, accompanied by a valuable boat hand, who remained faithful, although appearances indicated that the boy had only to open his mouth when he might have had a passage to some other place than ‘"Dixie's Land."’
The
Hilja went off during the day, and will proceed to the
British Provinces.
The British ship
Monmouth, from
Liverpool, and the ship
General Parkhill, from the same place, were seen off the bar yesterday, and were ordered off.
The Charleston News, of Monday evening, says:
‘
The British ship A and A, from
Belfast, having been chased unsuccessfully yesterday by the steam-frigate
Niagara, was fortunate enough to get into port this morning, having most successfully and fearlessly run the blockade.
Captain Hutchinson deserves credit for the fearless manner in which he stood into the shoal part of the bar, and will have an opportunity of getting a fine freight and dispatch.
The A and A was towed into port by the steamer
Gordon.
’
