Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-10
DefSinx the Alabama.

wHALER THAT FOUGHT NCsKErs AGAINST
CANNON TILL SHE SANK RATHER THAN SUR
RENDER.
From the Detroit Free Press
was one of the first men who signed papers
with the much-vsunted confederate cruiser,
the Alabama, and my service In her did not
end until she sailed into an English port with
the confederate flag flying. You will thus real
lie that participated In the capture OF several
dozen federal merchantmen and whalers.
There was sameness about our manner OF
making captures which We were glad TO have
broken now and then. IL was but ly tAat
vessel was overht uled during the night. Ii
We were In chase of her We simDly kept her I'm
sight, or tried To. until daylight came. While
We could not anticipate any stubborn resist
ance, the right sort oi a skipper might fire a
Voiiey into a boats crew go TO some other
uncomfortable extreme As rule we had
only TO Close in on our victim, fire "a solid shot
across his course, and he would heave too, aud
put The best possible face on "A bad matter. Toe
nrst lieutenant would be sent OF Ia him with "A
BOAT and half dozen marines, aud in the
course OF half an hour his fate would ice Ge-
cloeo IL Ii Was thought best To bond him the
PAYERS were made out and signed, and he was
permitted TO go his way. II his craft was Ia be
destroyed, the men were allowed TO bring up
their clothing and knick- knacks. the officers 10
pack up their personal Effects and inside OF AN
nour the craft would be abi.,2e. and we would
De sailing away IN search OF another victim.
W hen We ran around in search OF whaiers We
came upon \ ankce skipper VINO didn't know
What surrender meant We were just well To
Tie west oi the story Cape, when, one morning
aiter breakfast, We raised whaler. He was
headed up the coast, and about noon We over
nauleo nlm. he pad no attention 10 the first
snot, Atd II WAS onls when tue second Que
hulied hin that he came into the wind. IL was
tnen seen THAI he had fifteen sixteen men
ABOARD, and that all were armed with muskets
ana meant To defend The snip. The Ii, "a tenant
was sent Oh with his boat, but no sooner Was
ne WITHIN IaIr nlusket range than the whaler
opened on him, killing one man and wounding
two at The hrst voley The officer pushed
aheau and demanded a surTendeI. hut ne got
ahother Volley and the reply that the whaier
would go TO The bottom beIore he would sur
renuer 10 d rebelr'
lue boat was recalled and our gunners were
Instructed To hull the whairr VITA solid shot.
we approached him within rifle range ana
opened lire. Every one OF the balls pumped
thfouSh his side at anu above the water line,
anu ne answered win his nu>ketS. severely
wounding two men. He was REL e..tedly hailed
10 surrender, out in reply he encouraged his
men TO main Tain their fire. We soon had the
SEA pouring INTO his st.rUoard side through a
would soon go down we ceased hiring aud again
uehiinueu his surrender. can remember Just
now he looked as iie >prans upon the rail-tall,
eauht. half ny Ing and eyes UIi,Zing, and shouted
IN reply:
Tine Ben Scott don't surrender! Come and
take us-iI YOU can"
Five minutes later his craft settled down bow
Hrst- We lowered the boats TO save his crew
auu, su,.LSciy enough not "A man was lost.
Nheh We brought tnem aboard the YANKEE
pper walked up To Scmmes bareheaded.
oaftiooteu and coatless, and said:
~ u Only have MAO one old cannon aboard
wed have ilched ye out OF Yer butes. Here we
are, ana what are We goin. To do with us -
lie was voted a Jolly good fellow, and his
crew were better treated than any on her ever
forced aboard. In order To give tlem t.,elr
liberty the very next capture mad,i they
home.