The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-02
THE PIRATE SHENANDOAH.
Pho Hislory Of Her Ownsrship----ATmine Of
this British Pirate.
ENelI SH NEUTRALITY ILLUSTRATED,
&c, DC, &c.

Irroro the l.iyorpooI Daily Posi-. ]


nandoah, had commenced her depreations on the com
Of the United States by the strcton OF several
vessels OF the eoat OF Brazil Oar readers may remem
heI that stated some two months sice that the Sea
King which had cleared from london on the 9Th OF
October os Rcrhay was intended for ibis purpose; and
aha. the Laurel which cleared from this port Tor Nassau
about the came time, conveying the armament and
men The Sea Ring. The tsuth Of our statement
immediately denied by merchant OK Liverpool, ia "A
addressed simultaneously 10 ourselves and other
papers. We have our opinion Of the purpose oil
that denial, and SO hstly have most Of our
readers with something IKE authentic nc
count of III transaction, made mp from documents N
our possession and in doing 80 cannot hep s9hins
that such transactions greatly To be depored ihey
reduce boosted neutrality 10 mere sham they r
nish friendly nation with jus, ground OF complaint
agDs. VS. they create bitter cnmes between two great
kndred peoples, whose true Interests are dependent on
mutual good VIII and anty. They compromise 'he cnp,
meter Of British merchants We might say OF the brtmn
nation order that few reckless and unprincped IN
diviGua's among may dnrve iit'ie san ihcy
threaten 10 involve MS in war with powerful natoh,
The cost of which must fail not on the denqaehs p1s
the British people. There must be some way o. STOP
ping them and that way should be found IL appears,
then thai tho sca Kns bnit at Glasgow in OCTOBER
1862 ard registered as the property OF william wallace,
OF London banker and ON ri nr er eo,nhnsd
power hundred horse; framework OF IRON Win WOOD
planking. 49,
bill OF sale 10 Richard Wright, Of Liverpool county Of
Lancaster shpowner, who Is We believe, a very near
connection the Confederate financial agent IN this
town.
And here /; will be in order that the 29tb
nj the steamer laurel Of Glasgow was
transferred Mr. Horny atone, vi Liverpool county OF
lancaster, merchant, a ntleman well known 10 most
readers in connection with blockade RAINING On
the 10th Of September p 3 Corbet endorsed as master
Certificate IS $50 OF the sea King. On the I'm OF DC
tober Richard Wright executed certificate OF sale to
Peter Suthcr Co,bett the master, empowering him TO
sell the S,a King any port out Of the United Kingdom
for less 45 600 within six months from date OF
certificate she is hen entered and cleared IN ballast,
ordinary merchant vessel, al London Tor bombay
In the meanwhile the Laurel at Livcrpool takes on
board with gr al Sc recy OF course al the necessary
armament, stores and Outings, several Confedcinie
officers, and large ninbor OF men, and me sa,nc ,tay
which the sea King sails from London Tor Bombay
SHE sails from Liverpool for Nassau The Two vessels
meet at MADEIRA thence proc Ell IN co'naty 10 an istnd
near and there within Portuguese waters, the arna.
ment and men speedily transferred from The iaurc.
to the Sea King both vessels, be II observed, al The
being under the British fag the Sea King Is then
re named the Shenandoah hoif,s the Confederate nag,
and sets ont her piraiical cruise.
Tho following atdavs OF the carpenter and seaman
who we're engaged in London by Captain Corbett but
who discovering the true nature Of the engagement
ed further in the vessc aud were auded
Tener1e present with clear an account o. this
part OF the Transaction that We give them ~ erteaso-
John Wilson, carpenter residing in London, but =
native of Scotland being duly sworn says:-I am ship
carpenter and in the month Of September last aud
John JEercas were looking for ship IN LONDON, and
went board the steamer sea King then lying in Che
East India doch ard spoke 20 the mate; he told me tboy
wanted carpenter; the captain was not on board q. te
time: he coon ccns; Stopped Until be came; then
asked him IL he wanted cdrprntef he ssid yes, and
asked Il married single, and said he wanted
all sInglc menhat there woald nc no monthly money
this Captain corbet; agreed upon wages at six
pounds six slilings per month, and went 10 work the
next day; signed articles on the 9TH OF October AZ Mr.
Green s Sailors Home in London, Tor voyage 10 BON.
bay, thence TO amy port ports the Indian Ocean
China Seas Japan Australian colonies Pacific or Atlantic
Oceans, aud back to port OF Discharge IN the
United Kingdom, voyage not to exceed Two
years received note at the time
signed for months wages in advance;
got this note cashed by man by name OF Thompson;
ssnk lis name Is James, he Is q tool merchant his
place OF business is 81 Georges Street Fact, london
missed the vessel when she sailed from LONDON tie
M VI q October
took small boat from The shore and with the cook who
was with me- went on board of tho Sea X g the came
day; when goi board the Soa King found her
under the command of Peter y COrbet the captain who
engaged me- M Edmond was FIRST officer aud sir. Smith
second officer; MIR Wright te owner Of the vessel
also board ut the time, hut let after reached
The vessel; then made steam and sail and went
fart they would cary us nntiI We got out Of tia
Channel; VIC then shortened rail and pul her under
double rcefcd lopsl and hoted the screw and put
The fires Out IN The furnaces, AMI mad" towards he
Island OF Madeira under easy saIl we remained ia
this way for Ave days. until Monday morning. the 18th
NJ October, when the tires again lighted in the
furnaces lowered and the vessel put under
steam; that evening We OF Madeira; We beat
and OIL during the night; IN the morning went up
of the town and s,snau d a s,nall stramer tying nj
anchor with her steam UP could this al the time
she answered the signal and came immediately out 10
and proved 10 he the LAUREL She took the lead and
followed Der % the Island If Porto Ssnto the Iauri
anchored within aquar,e' OF mile from the shore in
Yevcnteen fathoms water: ny 10 her; she gave
the soundngs and told us a. let 20 anchor and
she would draw up 20 did 81, and she up
alongside and made fast 10 ny fore aud All this was
about two O'Clock on Tuesday, the 18th of October,
1864; We were then ordered by Captain Corbctt TO
get tackng aloft, pare for hosting Ia large
from the steamer Laurel, L. with all hands
sisted in this then commenced taking IN from he
Laurel guns sun carrisge sho shell powd clothing,
goods, 6c. look in SIX guns: four sixty-cgbt
FOUNDERS and Two thirty two FOUNDERS with carriage To
mount them the deck Of the sea King; there
very large quantity OF shot aud shell and some ATTY
sxiy barrels Of powder There were also three four
small brass swivel guns; should say three -four
FOUNDERS and great many and bales IL clothing
goods, &c. and many eases market glass; with care
DO not Know what 'hcy contained me last ming we
took IT, ssfc very heavy; Captain Corbeti, Of The
Sea King, aud his officers and Capais Ramsey of the
steamer laurel superintendent aud assisted IN the trans
fer Of ting armament from one vessel 10 the other we
continued work ing until two O'Clock On Wednesday
mornne when We were Knocked on for two hours
we went aesn continued about ten O'Clock
when Finished during the whole of this time the Sea
King remained at anchor within quarter oi mile from
che shore the fires we've kept IN the furnaces and steam
up on both vessels FROM the time arrived st
Porto santo until left; about hour after
we came 10 anchor Mr. Edmond the first officer Of the
Sea KIpg cahe a. me and told me 10 have Of the
shackIe pins started and ready to slip the the cable
moments notice: did ana had 10 all in rosdncss
during the whole of The lime we we're there the Sea
King had two guns on board, mounted her decks
when she left LONDON, they Were about twelve
sho had also very large quantity OF PROVISIONS and
about hundred tons OF coal after had FINISHED
taking In the things from the Laurel, the mate aud
called all hands ait aud sad the captain wanted
as; We all went and gathered around cabin doors
and captain Corbeti came ont and said, well, men,
have sold the ship 10 The confederaeshc " 10 belong
10 their navyt0 be cruiser, 10 burn aud destroy
fight but merely TO take pzus; aud there viii be htst
rate chance for any of yoryogng men who viii stop
the vessel, and ! should adtise Won all 10 do
AZ" the general reply made by the
That did not want anything 10 do with her;
the new captain then came ont OF ibe cabin, and
asked II would not join he was dressed m gray uni
form Captain Corbcit introduced the man when he
out as American officer who was 10 have the com
snand ehip did mention his name; said he
would pay tue sealncn a. per month and clio bounty;
one Of the engineers Of the rcmon aud Two 81 the
seanen consented 70 ,oin, and took the bounty aud
signed the articles the officer IN uniform when he
out 10 US, announced thai the Sea King was now the
Shenandoah Of the Confederate navy liquor served
among The men, during the time we were making the
transfer, ~ provision under its influence; ~
was brought around twice after we got through and
offered To The men they made great efforts 10 induce ibc
men TO JONI they Inised the wages ~ CT and cl5
bounty Tor ablc scnmon they offered me S. per
month and flh bounty ] declined TO accept 10
or ~ stop Win thon ON any terms; bucket
with sovefcigns was brought IN the deck ~ tempt
lbe men 10 join; q portion Of the of the Laurel
Joined the person whom Captain tCofbe,i introduced
the commander OF the Shenandoah came out In The
Laurel there were nnrnber of Others who also came out