BLocKADE RUNNER A. D. VANCE

THE STEAMER AD-VANCE.

By JAMES MAGLENN, Cuter ENGINEER.

? running

This steamer, formerly called the “Lord Clyde,’
between Dublin: and Glasgow, was purchased by the State
of North Carolina to carry out cotton and other Southern
products, and bring in arms and supplies of clothing and medi-
eines for the North Carolina State Troops, and was named
the Ad-Vance.*

I joined the ship on her first arrival in Wilmington, and
was with her until captured September, 1864, with the ex-
ception of one trip made from Wilmington to Nassau and re-
turn, serving in different capacities; first trip as second as-
sistant engineer, second trip as first assistant engineer, then
as chief engineer, making several successful trips, one to Liv-
erpool for repairs, returning to Bermuda in June, 1864,
thence to Wilmington.

Some of her trips were very exciting and hazardous. On
one occasion there were four steamers leaving St. Georges,
Bermuda, including the Ad-Vance, for Wilmington. But
two of these arrived in Wilmington. One put back to Ber-
muda badly disabled; the other was lost in the gale. On
I was limited to twelve revolutions per minute
or during the severest of the gale, which
was just enough for the ship to mind the helm, being head to
the gale all this time and water increasing in the hold to such
an extent that it got within six inches of the grate-bars. In
fact, I thought our time had come and, therefore, informed
Captain Wiley how matters were in the engine and fire room,
and that “we could not hold out this way much longer.” I
suggested to him the importance of turning the ship around
and running before the wind, to enable me to get the water

this occasion
for thirty-six hours,

riple significance, Ad Vance i. e. (1) To
f Mrs Vance whose name was Adelaide,

* This was said to have had a t
Vance, (2) Ad. Vance in honor of.
(3) As the advance or pioneer ship.—Ep.