Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-10-29


schooner OF 140 tons-she got under weigh
and we pulled back to steamer; after tow
ing schooner out from land-about miles
OH when took hold Of her towed her te
about miles-this was about midnight
schooner didn't anchor-we anchored and
commenced discharging schooner
laid alongside ill noon following
day (Snndsy)-water smooth-took
about guns in cases marked diamond G.
finished about midnight. Am quite sure
when we took hawser from schooner We
towed from land. Land was to eastward oil
schooner. The ports were already cut for
guns, but none mounted that day. Capt.
Esling had pilot in steering into No.
schooner anchored at what / understood tc
be No-Man's Undetermined there from
morning to evening day before met schoon
er-3 times anchored there altogether
After going aboard thought We we're going
to run blockade-idea first entered my
head when saw arms first come aboard ship
thatwere going to run blockade to Cuba in
stead of going to Queenstown. Steamer laid
there till took arms aboard and went after
coal-next vessel coming up with was
coal steamer-saw tug or
miles off-no signals set on schOon-
er-took schooner in tow to Mon
tauk Point-anchored round point at
night. Schooner had been in tow or 3
hours before hawser broke--streamer let go
anchor within or miles of shore when she
anchored outside Montauk Point-came in
| for smooth water-I never saw coast be-
fore-were from Saturday morning to Sun
day morning coaling. Schooner while
here parted cable and went ashore about
miles off. Steamer remained till after
noon and following day some gentleman
and few men came aboard-then steerod
along coast-met a steamer off light ship
some one came on board-we then sailed
towards here-I signed no articles sea
was offered place us Ensign-accepted and
received commission-all officers received
commissions same day. Had 4 or 5 tons
coal aboard steamer when came in Cape Fear
was told there was about 10 TONS Paid no
attention while loading to dates and dis
tances. Was not aware I would be made a
witness. Re-examined, witness stated that
he was not familiar with the coast where
Hornet loaded-thought that off Montauk
Point distance was 3 or miles.
Capt. Geo. l.. Reed examined by Mr..
Davis-I reside in Brooklyn, Me. have
been in Wilmington since Saturday
on brig AltaVela as master-haye followed
soundings and coast about Marthas Vine
yard and No. Mans Land-have run there
4 or times year and been my own pilot.
Was once driven ashore at Gay Head-re-
NAMED ashore l month, and was wrecking
and sounding from No-Man's Land to Gay
Head during that time. There is no an =
chorage within miles of No Mans Land
it is my impression that any Capt. who
would anchor there unless driven by stress
OF weather, either wanted to lose his ship
or get an Underwriters job. Have sound
ed we'll between Gay Head light ard No
Mans Land and there is no anchorage that
any prudent man would use. Never saw a
ship anchor there. In rough weather no
ship is safe within 3 miles of No-Man' 8
Land anywhere. L know the soundings at
Montauk Point-there is no anchorage
within miles of shore with gale from
North East for any ship drawing more than
6 feet water. The buoy lays 81 miles to
the south of Montauk Point-~no safe an
chorage within 5 miles of Shagwarp. A
cross examination failed to disturb this
testimony.
Court adjourned to Wednesday morning
10 O'Clock.
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 81.
On the opening of the Court, Jas. Den
nison was examined by Mr.. Davis. Wit
ness testified that he was native Of En-
gland-by occupation an engineer had fol-
lowed sea 9 years-never was in .. S., till
he arrived in Wilmington Joined Hornet
at Halifax, n. S., and came there from St.
Johns N. g., having been shipwrecked of
| the coast of New Brunswick in the Cleo .
patra. Had heard of no military or naval
exhibition when he joined the Hornet, and
had been there but 2 days-was not &C.
quainted with coast of =. S.-shipped
Sept. 7 or s, and left Halifax Sunday
night or days afterwards. Hornet had
been examined there, nothing found and
she was discharged. Remember that
schooner came up at sea and put men on
board, then 7 or9 miles from land
remember heavy guns were taken on
board-ship then about same distance
from land. We're about 3 or 4 miles of
the coast when taking in coal-nearer 4
than miles.
! Cross Examined by Mr.. Phelps-Were
| at sea when met first vessel had communi'
| cation with, in sight of land-she was a
| schooner; didn't know her name or how
many men taken Oh board. | shipped
from Halifax for Queenstown or any port
on other continent-Capt Esling was in
| command when we left Halifax. I was