The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-12-18
CAPTURE OF THE CHESAPEAKE
The Vessel Taken by Rebel Passen-
gers The officers Attacked at
Midnight.
From the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
The following telegraphic dispatch VA.
received by Mr., Cromwell this nor vning:
Portland, Me, Dec. 9.
II. B. Trom1eN & Co:
Steamer Chesapeake WAS captured t~-r.
ty miles y. N. E off C~pe Cod at l3O
A Il on Mendav morning 5y rebels who
left New York rs passengers. Second En-
gineer killed and thrown overbosrd Chief
Engineer and Mate wnnnded
Capt Wille,ts ard crew were landed At
ST.. Johns this morning
The Chesapeake carried crew consist.
ing Of csp,sin. two mates two engineers
two coal pa-sers four men hefo,e the nas'.
cook and seward TIE capture WAS made
during tie hour # midnight, and bu, one
watch was on deck and but two men in
the engine room
The captain had retired, and thus, while
hey were quietly sleeping. was thi, out
rage committed The engineer. r. Oriu
Shatfer. undoubtedly had charge Of The IN
pine. >od in all probability met his fate
through his bravery lie has been long
time in the employ az this line. and has al
WAYS won the respect and esteem Of h~
employers. He was Young man and
leaves wife and children. The chief
engineer, James ,hnsor. and chief mate
Cha. Johc.on, both OF this city, were
wounded. g..
Seven passengers obisinea their tickets
at the office. and among them ~ss one who
stated to he clerk that he was ap old ses
captain. and preferred hi. mode of reach
ing Portland on account Of lrs being the
pleasan As' and cheapest. Before she tar
ted some fif' cen persons were counted on
her deck and as il i. usual in this line for
persons to sail without having pur"haspd
their tickets. nothing was thought Of this
circumstance
She left fall Of freight, consisting of cot
ton, rags. provisions and general merchan
di<e. She only carried about thirty tons
Of coal. which is enough to last her f,r
Is round trip. and had not more thsA
three ,|svs' coal At the tiIr g ofihe capture.
so that The rebals can not ge' very far with
her She carried TWO guns. 6.p"nnl-rs
one brsss the other ron, seVerAl rsVOVerS
and some other fire arns
II is no, known ether there va. anv
powder on board. tnt it l. supposed there
WAS nor much. Her sails were small snd
can not he deaended upon. There was
no war risk and rhe value OF the vessei Us
! over sixty thousand dollars: IL is not
known whether the dsrso is insured. =
! The Captain is expecte.! 10 arrive here
TO day, and then the full particulars viii
be obtained
The steam propeller Chesapeake. wa,
owned hv IL b Cromwell. Of this ei,v. and
was \ splend d vessel in every reSh4ct.-
| She was built in 1853 bv J. A. W-.fer.
| velt-4h0 tons burih-u. and | feet draf
Of water bull, Of oak, schoone,-rgoaA
and had direct acting engine nf 900,
| horse power; one cylinder Of 40 inches
and AZ -iurh piston. Her ordinary speed
was 10 To IL knots. hn' she could he dri
ven at the rate Of IA miles per hour
She ha. always been propeller boa, o,
this route and was the vessel which cha>
ed Captain Reel. Of he Taconv at the
| time of his faneus foray in Portland har
bnr, Jun. q and snrreed-A in capturing
! his vessel, the seq oner Archer.