The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-05-15
CHASED BY A CRUISER.
ESCAPE OF THE CLIPPER ASTEROi0
FROM THE PRlvATEER ALABAMA.
or the Cape of Good Hope Early In
1884 Stern Chase and a Coming
Gale-A Summons to Surrender
The Escaps-"Good-Bye.

Aue cNOu-bycs
Our voyage continued prosperous, and
nothing suspicious was discovered until one
morning when we were oil the cape of Good
Hope, as we were sailing along with fresh
breeze ri hit aft, in sight Of Table mountain,
at the entrance OF the harbor OF Cape Town,
with Cape Legullas about twenty miles
distant on the port bow
A close lookout was constantly kept, and
before long, smoke, as if coming from
steamer close under the land, apparently
bound to the eastward, was reported. Soon
her hull appeared in sight, and by the aid
of glass | made out that she was low,
rakish'looaing craft, neither like man'of-
war nor merchant steamer, but at the
distance she was from us it was impossible
to tell definitely what she was. Under the
circumstances it made me feel very sus-
picious
In few moments she discovered us, as
was evident 10y her altering her course and
steering directly toward u.s. at the same
time hosting the American flag. talt that
it must lie the famous Alabama, and that
we would be safer out of her company. But
it was Gaze of sails and steam combined
against sails alone. The steamer was closing
up with Us, AMI presently her signals, ask
ing What ship is that" could be read.
hosted the American flag; feeling certain
that the steamers captain would not be
deceived in the bull and appearance Of my
vessel any more than | was i'll bis, and, II
was 30 be taken, | would lily my own flag
to the last. The steamer then ho.sted the
signals, "Heaye to; | want to speak you,
but instead of complying with this request,
/ hauled my ship about four points to the
southwark bringing the wind on our
quarter and made all sail which increased
our ,peed from eight to ten knots per hour
Seeing this evolut, on, the steamer threw Off
all disguise, hauel down the stars and
stripes hosted the stars and bars, and
fired shot directly at US, but the
distance was too great, and 1t fell far
short. Then the smoke commenced to pour
out of the 5 Gamers funnel in heavy black
volumes, all sail was made, and the chase
began
SLOWLY But SURELY GAINING ON Us
Slowly and surely the steamer kept gain
ing on us, sending shot after shot from
their forecast . gun, but all fell short
She was now about three miles astern,
rolling and pitching into the sea which was
every minute growing heavier and heavier,
the spray lying over at times 50 as almost
to hide her from sight. The sea striking u
alb am would wet IL, from stern to stern and
SEMI tn spray up TO the very tops The in
ten excitement and anxiety ie a. this
moment a,e more easily imagined than
described.
At intervals strong flaws Of wind be-
tokenel gal, at hand Already the wind
had increased Our di,tan { from the
81, amer hal lessenei; she was now only
about mile astcrn, occasionally shot
from her forecastle gun came over or near
us They hoped to disable the ship in spars
or rigging but their aim was uncertain,
owing to the heavy sea. However, more
than once their shot Went through sails and
rigging, fortunately doing 10 material
damage Noticing "A commoion on deck,
called the mate 20 AS ertain tho cause. lie
in orne ne that the crew were frightened,
Or pref ndcl TO be- at the shots from the
privateer, and exp. essad a determination to
take in sail and let the Alatama como up
with Us 10 prevent further risk OF their
lives Fortunately had good officers
on whom could rely. l ordered them to
get their reyolvers, and told the st toward to
get mine Thea, must ring the crew on
the quarterback, / told them they were en-
gagged in a seriou mutiny and the first man
who refus d duty or attempted to interfere
with Tia, orders OF my officers would be shot
on the spot. They realirol the situation
AMI promiso OIL obedi nee
Ha the afternoon was gone The sea
was rising all the time, and both ship,
strained heavily rs they rolled to wind
ward with the press OF canvas they were
carrying he steamer could no longer
stand the strain, and ia came her light sails
When | saw this | felt sure of our escape
if the wind would only hold It's strength
We thereon took III our skysais and
ROYALS ana the ship felt oasler-ln fact we
could not hlva carried them much longer
anyhow Tor the wind increased and blew
in .tul "a IS, Il sure sign gale was brew
ing The sea continued to RE, and | now
felt sa e in keeping the ship or co1p,e Of
points, 10 bring the wind and sea on our
uual ter The steamer followed my exam
pie, both vessels rushing through the water
at their hi hest rate of speed, and both do
ing their level best But she no longer
gained on Us.
\ SUMMONS TO SURRENDER
kept Off dad before the wind on our
course due cast This brought the steamer
abeam, ske altering her course as we did
hoping to keep Us IN sight until the wind
and sea moderated. She now closed up
with US as -Tiear as safety would permit,
and hailing us, asked where we were bound,
AMI demanding the surrender the ship to
the Confederate government answ red,
through my trumpet: "Come and take me"
Conversation being too straining for the
lungs amid the bowling OF the wind and
rolling of the hug, pillows, AMI the proxim-
ity of the ve5sel,stoo dangerous, We sepa-
rated little AMI had recourse t. black
boards TO carry on our conversation
aslel where We were bound /
without blush, Melbourne"
thinking that pos ibiy he might try to in
ter1ept me If he knew | was TO pass through
the straits of Sunda. Then no had tie
chez, to order me to haul down your flag
and surrender, escape or no escape, on
kind OF parole | SUPPOSE no meant wrote
on the board HI 81 capture, then parole"
This answer vexed him, am sure, for Ire
Immediately W. ote: Sur njsr or | will |
sink you" | wrote: That would be muir
der, not battle Call 1t what yoI will, | |
will do it, h, wrote. Attempt it, and by |
the living God will run You down, and we !
will sink toge her" wrote in repy. knew |
his threat was vain, for in that heavy sea, |
rolling his sails under, he did not dare TO /
fre his guns, which were already double |
la,hed They would have carried away !