The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-12-27
A HEROIC SAILOR.
i Whaling Voyage Abandoned to Save the
Victims OF Privutcer.

- =
In the court OF commissioners Of Ala.
bama claims in tho case OF VIM. Phil
lips vs.. the United States, tho opinion
OF the court was delivered by Judge
Jewell as follows: This is q claim made
by the owners OF the bark Richmond for
compensation for the usc of the said
vessel and damage for consequent loss OF
tho "catch Of tho same. It appears
that the bark Richmond WIS in tho
month OF June, 1865, in the Northern
Pacific ocean, near Behring straits, pur-
suing the whaling business. Tho Con-
federate cruiser Shenandoah had cap
tured q large number OF whalcrs, and
among them the bark General Pike.
The others had been burned and the
General Pike spared, and the officers and
crews OF the other vessels, to the num-
Der Of 252, placed on board Of her for
conveyance to tho nearest port which
they might be able to reach. The last
Of these captures was on the twonty-
eighth day OF June. On tho first day OF
July the captain OF the Richmond felt
himself compelled to tako on board OF
his own vessel n portion OF tho officers
and men from tho Genenl Pike, under
circumstances fully detailed by him in n
statement annexed to the petition, which
is rs follows. Ho also added the stato-
mcnt OF the master:
We lefl Honolulu in tho bark Rich
mond, bound on whaling cruise to the
Arctic ocean. While III the prosecution
OF such, on our arrival in the vicinity Of
Bchring straits, we camo up with n
whalcship Oh fire; not knowing the
cause Of it began saving such articles
MS could from tho wreck, rs she had
driited into the ice, ind her mast falling
over the side | found I could save many
articles valuable to the use Of my own
bark, and rs the wind was against me
was not losing much time by so doing.
While doing this n ship came to me with
oil Sail set, steering to the southwark,
hailing ME as she passed by and telling
me there was n pirate close ut hand, ut
the same time advising me to flee rs he
was doing, for probably all that remain
ed would DO destroyed. But on due
consideration | determined not to leave,
for l would ny quickly lose the ship rs
to go without oil. I came to the conclu-
sion would await sontherly storm oil
loggy spell usual at such times Of the
year and take advantage Of the oppor,
tuuity anil get through the str its in
spite OF the Shenandoah, rs it proved tt
b.. My experience in those waters
would enable Inc to do this.
While waiting for favorable oppor.
tunity 10 TO this wo riiised sIil in the
north coming toward us. A few hours
after the ind died away, and bout was
lowered from he and came in parsuii
OF lis. Coming alongside was sur
priscd to SEQ so many faces OF ship mas
tors. They had been taken by the
Shenandoah md put Oh board the Gen
cral Pike. They stated they were
crowded and suffering from want Of
room, etc. They nil joined in begging
me- for tho sake OF humanity to relieve
them. went on board OF the Genera
Pike to ago for myself, aud found they
had net misreprcsented the matter.
next returned 10 my own vessel consult
cd with my officers and came to the con
clusion that we ought to relieve them.
I then told the ship masters and pris
oners TINT If they still insisted on my
taking Il portion Of them md womb
give me the snmo in writing with thcii
signatures, which was agreed TO aud
signed by NIL the ship masters, dare
not do otherwise. Under such condi
tions I had to submit. They put OIL
beard of mo tiity.two mo, and will
those l sailed for Honolulu, thercb;
losing my season.
(signeD W. T. WEEKS, Master.
STATEMENT OF MASTERS.
Ar SRA, July /, 1Se5.-Wc, the MI
dcrsigued, do solcmnly BweHr that oul
ships were burned by the pirate Shcnan
doNh, and we are placed, with our crews
on board Of the bark General Pike, 90!
men, NIL told, aud being afraid Of sick
ness on account Of the crowded slate oil
the ship, we requested Captain Weeks,
OF the bark Richmond, to take some Of
orr men, which he kindly consented t.
do out Of humauity's sake.
Q. q. Robinson, Captain bark Gypsey,
Huson Winslow, Can't. bark Isabella,
". Fl. Phillips, bark Catharine.
I. S. Rellicld, brig Susan Abigail.
jus. NJ. Clark, lark Nimroi.
2. II. Cooley, bark VIA. g. Nyo.
Vim. Benjamin., ship Con. Williams.
II. NJ. Crowall, bark Gen. Pike.
The conudct of the master OF tho Rich.
mond, us shown in this statement, in re-
fusing to flee from the Shenandoah, soy
lug he would "as quick lose his ship a
to go without oil, u supporting his dccla
ration by his action in remaining, and in
finally yielding to the considerations Of
humanity, what te would not yield to
fear, is worthy Of the highest praise.
His desire Of making cargo OF oil Was
greater than his fear Of capture by the
Shenandoah. What fear c0uld not con,
stnliu him to do, feelings of humanity
did, After n careful examination OF the
necessity he voluntarily abandoned his
own adventure to save the lives OF the
officers and men put in peril upon the
overcrowded General Pike. Nothing
moro honorable or prniseworthy has
been shown III all onr hearings. Can
the court make compensation for the
loss thereby incurrod1 We are compel.
ed to say that under no view of tho net
of Congress creating this court can We
find authority 70 to do. The claims nd.
mis~iblo before us must be such as di.
rectly result from damage caused by the
so.callGd iusurgent cruisers. In two
cases heretofore considered by IFS where
vessels were captured by the Alabama,
mud the crews Of other vessels put on
board for transportation to port Of dis.
charge, we have awarded compensation