The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-28 00:00:00

A GREENOCK CAPTAIN'S EXPE-
RIENCES WITH GARIBALDI.

Our townsman, Capt. Edward Scott, who com-
manded the steamer City of Aberdeen, lately pur-
chased by Garibaldi, has just returned to town, and
has kindly favoured us with an account of the
doings of that vessel while acting as a chartered
transport in the service of the liberator of Sicily.
The City of Aberdeen sailed from Liverpool in
June last for Genoa, where she was at once engaged
by Garibaldi's committee for the transport of troops
from that port to Palermo. As the open embarka-
tion of soldiers for Garibaldi was not countenanced
by the Sardinian Government they had to be
taken en board at night, and after dusk of the day
on which his vessel was chartered, Captain Scott be-
gan to embark a large band of volunteers. They came
' on board in boats in the best spirits, shouting
" Viva Garibaldi !" and singing national and war-
like songs, while from the vast crowd congregated
on the shore pealed a loud farewell. The embar-
kation was completed safely before morning, al-
though during a heavy gale of wind; and when all
assembled on deck it was found that the volunteers
numbered about 1,400. They were a motley group,
clad in all varieties of the costume of Northern
Italy, and comprising every class of society, from
the noble to the peasant. Along with them were
embarked the wife and family of Orsini, one of
Garibaldi's ministers, and his brother, whose pale
features and attenuated frame spoke in language
stronger than words of the ten years' imprisonment
in a Neapolitan dungeon, from which he had re-
cently been liberated.
The City of Aberdeen sailed next morning for
Palermo, bet Capt. Scott had hardly got to sea when
he found that he had a most refractory set to deal
with. The volunteers took possession of the vessel,
so that the seamen were unable to work her, and
Capt. Scott, finding that the officers had no authority
or control whatever, threatened to return to Genoa
,if order was not restored. This having no effect,
the helm was starboarded, and the steamer turned
towards her port of departure. The result was
magical. The idea of being unable to join Gari-
baldi had such an effect upon the volunteers that
they implored Capt. Scott to continue his voyage
to Palermo, promising implicit obedience to his
orders. The captain consented, and up till their
arrival at Sicily the promise was not broken by a
volunteer on board.
After two days' sailing the steamer arrived at
Palermo, where the troops were safely disembarked
at midnight. Next morning Captain Scott dined
at the palace with Garibaldi, who gave him a
hearty welcome, saying that he commanded the
first English vessel which had entered his service,
and that he was happy in at last receiving assist-
ance from England. Two days afterwards Cap-
tain Scott received an intimation that Garibaldi
intended to visit his vessel next morning at five
o'clock. The hands were turned up at four a.m.,
and preparations made for the reception of the
general, who at the appointed hour appeared
upon the Mole with a brilliant staff, and put off
to the ship, where he was greeted with three
hearty cheers, courteously acknowledged. He was
accompanied by an American officer, who acted as
interpreter, as Garibaldi speaks English indiffe-
rently. The general, after welcoming Capt. Scott
to Sicily, and walking the deck for some time, sent
the officer to Capt. Scott to ask when he would be
ready for sea. "In two hours," was the reply.
On this being communicated to Garibaldi he went
into the cabin and wrote several despatches, which
were sent on shore, and in an hour and a half his
troops were descried marching down the Mole,
with bands playing, and in readiness to embark.
Shortly afterwards a steamer with volunteers
entered the port, and her cargo was also transferred
to the deck of the City of Aberdeen, which got
under weigh immediately. The excitement of the
vast crowd collected to witness the departure of the
expedition was indescribable.
The destination of the steamer was unknown to
her commander, but shortly after leaving he was
sent for by Garibaldi, who pointed out on the chart
the port of Patti, 15 miles from Melazzo (the ob-
ject of the expedition), and stated that he wished
Captain Scott to land them about 10 p.m., so that
the steamer might be able to return to Palermo for
more troops during the night, and thus avoid the
Neapolitan cruisers. They arrived at Patti about
the time indicated and disembarked. Garibaldi
expressed his great satisfaction with the rapidity
with which Captain Scott had got ready for sea
on such short notice, and presented him with one
of the red shirts, which have become matter of his-
tory, as forming the chief feature of the Garibaldian
uniform.
The instructions of the general to Capt. Scott
were to return to Palmer() and embark 1,500 addi-
tional troops, to bring them close to Melazzo, but
to keep clear of the guns of the cantle. On arriving
close to Melazzo Captain Scott saw Garibaldi's flag
floating on the fort, but suspecting that all was not
right he kept out of range and landed the troops
about three miles from Garibaldi's camp. -He then
found that in hoisting Garibaldi's flag the Neapo-
litans had tried a ruse to draw him within shot of
the fort.
At this time the Garibaldian steamer Veloce (now
Torkory) had become disabled through au accident
to her machinery, and was lying in Melazzo Har-
bour, and the City of Aberdeen was ordered round
to take her out and tow her to Palermo for repair.
When close to the fort it opened fire upon the
steamer, which, being unarmed, was accordingly
obliged to desist from the attempt and keep
out of range. Shortly afterwards a boat
was seen to leave the shore, and, on coming
alongside, Garibaldi ran up the steamer's ladder
and said in his broken English, " Ah, Captain
Scott, they were not firing at your vessel, but at
your shirt, alluding to his present which Captain
Scott was wearing, and which caused the Neapoli-
tans to suppose that it was Garibaldi who was on
board. Ho then ordered the steamer to return to
Palermo for more men.
Ou her arrival all the English crew left, and
Captain Scott was obliged to ship Sicilians, with
whom he left for Faro, towing a ship laden
with soldiers, horses, and ammunition. When
reconnoitring the Point of Faro for a place to
land, two Neapolitan war steamers hove in
sight. Here was a dilemma! The City of
Aberdeen had not a single gun, and
before the muskets of the troops on board could
take effect she might be blown out of the water.
A desperate expedient, and one only justifiable in
the circumstances, was adopted. She steamed at
full speed towards the nearest cruiser, when, to the
astonishment and relief of all on board, both Nea-
politans turned tail in the direction of Messina, and
the City of Aberdeen ran close to the land and
began to disembark her living cargo. While she
was doing this a large Neapolitan frigate steamed
up the Strait and lay to within range of the steamer,
but never opened fire, and when the disembarkation
was completed the City of Aberdeen, in getting
under weigh, was drifted by the tide towards the
Neapolitan. The latter beat to quarters, and Capt.
Scott thought she was about to open fire, but instead
of sending the old City to the bottom, as she could
easily have done, she steamed out to sea. Captain
Scott followed until the frigate was close upon
Messina, when he suddenly altered his course for
Palermo, where he arrived without mishap.
When ashore at Faro he found Garibaldi seated
under the bow of a fishing-boat to ward off the heat,
and had an interview which resulted in the pur-
chase of the steamer and the termination of his ser-
vice under the gallant General, who, during the
term of the charter repeatedly and warmly ex-
pressed his thorough satisfaction with the manner
in which Captain Scott had performed the danger-
ous and highly responsible duties with which he
was entrusted.— Greenock Advertiser.

--- -
LIFEBOAT SERVICE ON THE EAST COAST.—The
annual meeting of the Lowestoft and Pakcfield branch of
the National Lifeboat Institution was held a few days ago
at I,„;westoft. The Lowestoft and Pakefield lifeboats were
got out on the occasion for the inspection of the subscribers
and the publiCfafterwards made trips to sea. The boats
led south as far as Pake-
left the harbour at 11 a. 2 m,
'rain to the port, which they
field light, and then back ;:.
s were found to be in hey
made about I p.m. The two boa
Manby's apparatus
cient working order. On their retur2,
for clfecting a communication with strant2Pd ships was ex-
hibited on the south pier.
THE WHALE FISHINGS.—Ships from the Cum-
berland Straits and Grcetland whale fishings are beginning
to artiVe ,at the northern Scottish ports with the produce of
their season's labour. The first vessel from Cumberland
Straits, the Arctic, Captain Reid, reached Aberdeen on
Friday morning bumper full—her cargo consisting of 110
tuns of oil and nearly 7 tons of whalebone. She also brings
very favourable tidings of the other ships she saw previous
to leaving the ice. The two vessels Lady Franklin and
Sophia, under the well-known voyager, have again expe-
rienced their usual luck, and may be expected home soon
with valuable cargoes. Several Peterhead ships had
andso_
cured from 30 to 90 tuns of oil each • the Emma ,
Isabel, of Hull, about'so tuns; several' American\ vestsher
per tun, and
seen had 10i fish among them. The enterprise will s
season be very remunerative to the owners of the suc-
cessful ships, Oil is bringing about £35
• so that the
bone from £4lO to £420 per ton ,
bea worther. some 3
£1,2.00,,,,tn e props from
Arctic's cargo, for instance, must
She sailed only in May last, and, II the weeks' ex-
penses will probably not exceed
The arrivat, from Greenland
her short voyage are large.
are likewise of a.very satisfactory nature.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT TnE Pie DE NETHOU,
PYRENEES.—A melancholy accident has just taken place
at Bagneres de Luchon (Haute-Garonne). A party of 14
visitors to that place started in the morning, accompanied
by five guides, to ascend to the F ic de N Alma, the highest
summit of the PyTelleCS, 3,404 metres above the level of the
sea. M. Adam, a jeweller of Paris, went with i hem a por-
tionLuchootnthwealvayon a spirited horse, and on his return to
thrown, and his foot hanging in the stirrup, he
was dragged along the road for a considerable distance. He
was found lying in an almost lifeless state and conveyed to
Luchon, where he shortly afterwards expired. The de-
ceased was only 37 years of age, and had not been long
married,