Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-08-17
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, DC, Aug. IL, 1870.
TRIP ON CHESAPEAKE BAY.

ent, in company with several other gentlemen
connected with the Departments, left this city
bv the early morning train for Baltimore,
where they were joined by Collector Thomas
of that port, and about noon went on board
the Revenue Cutter "Northerner," where we
were welcomed by Capt. MCGOWAN, one OF
the best of men to take sea journey with.
He has been in the service of the United States
about forty years with the exception of few
wears in command of the California steamers.
"THE NoRTHERNER"
is a fast side wheel steamer of about 800 tons,
and was built by the Treasury Department
about ten years ago. She has had the honor
of carving Ex-President johnson, EX-Secre-
tary McCulloch, Ex-Secretary of State,
Washburne, etc. She is one of the very fast
est boats in the service of the Government
and when she gets in her steel boiler, which is
something new in marine engineering, she will
probably be able to outstrip almost anything
on the sea- She had the honor of being
chosen by the Government on the occasion of
the visit of Queen Emma of the Sandwich
Islands, and also of the Japanese Embassy to
take them around from Washington to New
York. Her full complement Of officers and
men consist of thirty-six: the Capt, first
second and third lieutenants, Chief, and first
and second Asst engineers, pilot, gunner,
boatswain, steward and two assistants, and
twenty three seaman. She is the only Rev
enue Cutter which carries a colored crew
They make excellent sailors and give better
satisfaction than white men. As oarsmen they
cannot be excelled. The Cutter makes two
round trips month on the Bay, starting from
Baltimore and going south to the Capes, then
returning. She cruises about from point to
point. boarding all incoming vessels from for
eign ports, examining their manfests OF cargo
and keeping one copy, which is forwarded to
the Collector at Baltimore or whatever port
they are bound for on the bay or rivers, and
there compared with the original manifest
given by the Captain. The Cutter is also re-
CURED TO give assistance to all vessels in dis
tress. These are the duties of Revenue Gut
tiers generally. The "Northerncr" carries an
armament consisting ola brass "a h. howitzer,
and a 80 lib. steel Parrot Rife gun, besides
quantity of muskets and cutlasses. The Gut
ter is under the immediate control of the Col
lector at Baltimore, who can command her to
seize any vessel for an infringement OF the
revenue. She went to Newburn, n. c., and
captured the Cuban Privateer Hornet alias
"Cuba," etc.
FoRr CARROLL.
Eighty miles below Baltimore we stopped at
Fort Carroll, an immense unfinished granite
Fertilization, in deep water, commanding all
the approaches to the city. The Government
has expended a million and half and the fort
is not half completed. No work is now 60
ing on, and the only persons there are an old
Sergeant of Artillery, who is in charge, with
his family, and the light house keeper and
family. A light house is situated within the
fort Strangely enough nearly all the guns
which are mounted, are pointed toward the
city of Baltimore, which was (and still isl at
the time they were placed there, bitterly rebel
in sentiment.
The BREMEN STEAMERS.
As we passed out from Baltimore we noticed
one of the new line of Bremen steamers lying
up dismantled, as the underwriters will not
allow her to go to sea during the Franco-Prus-
sian War. This will be very considerable
injury to the city as this line was great sue
cess. Yet while we were in the bay the
"Leipsic," another steamer of this line, very
unexpectedly arrived from Southampton
where she had been detained by the Insurance
Companies, but had managed to slip out and
evade the French cruisers, one of which she
saw in the English Channel, but it seemed not
to notice her, while the other gave her chase
off our coast but was unable to overtakc her.
BOARDING ''DUTCHMAN."
About three o'clock, as we were bowling
along down the Bay at good speed, and en-
joying ourselves after capital lunch, we saw
fine full-rigged ship ahead which upon closer
approach we deserted as the albert" She
showed no colors and had nothing to designate
where she came from, but the quick eye Of
Capt. MCGOWAN pronounced her Clutch
man." and upon boarding her she was found
to be German vessel, direct from Liverpool
with mixed cargo of hardware, earthenware,
soda, etc. She was commanded by a German
or Dutchman and had Dutch crew. After
we boarded her she showed her flag which we
supposed she had neglected to raise before,
fearing that she might be captured. She was
sailing up under a stiff breeze and did not stop
or change her course. Our steamer turned
about and accompanied her up the bay until
the boarding boat left the ship, when we again
started down and steamed as far as the mouth
of the Wycomico river, where we anchored
for the night at about 10 o'clock. We passed
the mouth of the Potomac about shutdown.
FIsHISG.
The next morning early boats crew went
ashore and drew in seine, catching quite a
number of fish and crabs. After breakfast
we started in boat and went to buoy, lying
over the wreck of the revenue Cutter
"Nemaha" which was burned and went down
about two years since with loss of two of the
crew. Fish always congregate about wrecks