The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-01-24
Thrilling Scene, At SOC.

DueNOS hyTes hUu Who Copsu'ou ny
the privateet jeff Davis, when about
200 miles at sea that a prize crew
was placed upon her, with orders to
take her into Southern port, and
that when near the South Carolina
coast, three f,eamen and one passen-
ger rose and overpowered the crew,
and brought the vessel to New York.
The case has recently been before
the United States Court 10 New
York, on a claim for salvage brought
by William Tillman, William Sted-
ding, Donald Mcleod, and Bryce
Mackinnon. The judgment OF the
Court has not yet been FULLY render
ed. although the share OF Tillman,
the colored man. and lealer IN The
cue, is fixed at $1,000. The esti-
mated value Of the vessel and cargo
was $4,000. 4.
/ The folio wing thrilling account OF
tho rescue and OF Tiilman's coolness
and bravery. will be read with deep
interest:
D., After parting with Jeff Davis, the
Prize Master healed the Warning
for South Carolina. When in the
latitude of Charleston, about forty
miles TO the Eastward Of the Gulf
stream, the Prize Master informed
Tillman, the Steward. that he should
not attempt to enter Charleston har'
hor, but should endeavor to run into
! North Edisto inlet, which is a con.
, siderable distance South Of Charles.
, ton, and that he thought he should
, reach there the next morning. This
, WAS on the 10Th OF July. From the
9 time of the capture down to the res
cue, Tillm III, Stediing md Mcleod
continued to do duty un Ter the Prize
Master, and at his request, aided in
working the vessel. But very soon
alter the capture both Stedling and
Tillman conceived the idea of re.
, taking the vessel. The thought
seems to have been quickened in
. Tillman's mind by the fear Of being
sold into slavery. A remark made
by one of his captors seems to have
, aroused in lie breast that appr hen
i sion. After several consultations
Tillman and Shedding came to the
: deterinin .tivn to retake the vessel il
any opportunity offered. They both
> applied to Mcleod and urged him to
Join in the enterprise /; but he de-
clined, on the ground that he was il
: no d niger; for, being British sub
iect, he would be protected by hi
Consul wherever he might be carri
ed. lie declared himself unwilling
J, to shed blood Tor the purpose Of re
y gaining possession OF the vessel. -
Nothing was said by Tiilman OF
Stedling to NJ .ckinnon. The latter
being a passenger, WAS well treated
and on familiar terms with the Prize
t. Master and his Mates, and on thi
9 account Tlllman and S,ediing had
som fears of trusting him with the
secret OF their designs.
These two men seem TO have KEEP
u their plan of retaking the vcssi
steadily in view, though deierrin4
its execution until the last moment
. hoping to fall in with some man'of
war on the coast who wJull recap
ture them, and TINS spare them th'
y peril of the undertaking On tn
70 night OF the 10th, fin ling they coul
" safely defer it no longer, they pro
~ , cesded to carry their plan into exc
u cution. Tillman had concealed hi
70 hatchet some time before, 80 that b
couli lay his hand on it the inc
D ment no needed it; and that night
when Seeding went to. the whee
VI the latter took knife and sma
5 pocket pistol with him. The CAP
~ tain. or Priz, NJ aster, and one of tn
Il Mates went into the cabin and turn
ed in. Tillman afterwards went
49, his berth in tn, cabin, as usual, q
=, ~ a. to avoid suspicion. This left o
80 deck Shedding, who WAS ut III
u wheel, one o. the Mates, AMI the tw
-. Senrnen that had come from the j 4
o Davis, - Mcleod was asleep in tf
- furecastle. Agreeabl, TO an unde
standing between TilIman and Stec
w w ing, tho latter, ~ soon as the Pri7
q" Master and Mate below had 'alIc
:, asleep. and when the Mate on dec
~ -. was also asleep, put hia wheel in
~ the rope. slipped of his boots al
"u went into the cabin to the berth
up Tillm,n, and aroused him to wor
u" and then returned to tho deck, I'll
=. man Immediately sprung ont OF h
90 berth. got his hatchet, and going
-. The Priz. Masters stateroon, stru'
~, him two blows, which were undon'
'e. edly mortal. lie immediately ",
'"' to the Saconi Mates staterooIn, Al
"A rs he WAS just arousing up, stru
~ him a blow, closed his stateroo
'"' door, and then went on de'k,
Ao he reached the deck he found Ste
m, ding aiming his pistol at the Ma
,hs and tearing that il he fired, the
-" = . port would awaken the two Seam
,ha forward, he told him not to lire.
,ar this time the Mate WAS nearly on
ana feet, and inquiring what the moi
md was in the cabin, when Tillm
NV ~ struck him blow with the hatcl
P"- Al 81 M a.. a, N, IN n,