Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-07-08
CHASED BY THE ALABAMA,


rom the Dreaded Privateer.
| Our voyage continued prosperous, and
nothing suspicious was discovered until
one morning when we were off the Cane
| of Good Hope, as we were sailing along
with fresh breeze right aft, in sight of
Table mountain, at the entrance of the
harbor of Cape Town, with Cape Legul-
las about twenty miles distant on the
| port bow.
| close lookout was constantly kept.
and before long smoke, as if coming
from a 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 q low, rakish-lookino
craft, neither like man-of-war nor a
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 by her altering her course
and steering directly toward us, at the
same time hosting the American flag
felt that it must be the famous Alabama,
and that we would be safer out of her
| company. But it was a case of sails
and steam combined against sails alone.
The steamer was closing up with us, and
| presently her signals, asking "What
ship is that?" could be read. | hoisted
the American flag. feeling certain that
the steamers captain would not be de-
/ ceiyed in the build and appearance of
my vessel any more than / was in his,
and, if was to be taken, would fly
my own flag to the last. The steamer
then hoisted the signal, ..Heave to, /
want to speak to 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 speed
from eight to ten knots per hour See
ing this evolution. the steamer threw off
+ all disguise. hauled down the ..stars
and stripes hoisted the ..stars and
bars and fired shot directly at us,
but the distance was too great, and it
fell far short. Then the smoke COM
menced to pour out of the steamers fun
mel in heavy, black volumes, all sail was
made, and the chase began.
Slowly and surely the steamer kept
gaining on us, sending shot after shot
from their forecastle gun, but all fell
short. She was now about three miles
astern, rolling and pitching in the sea,
which was every minute growing heavier
and heavier, the spray flying over her
at times so as almost to hide her from
| sight. The sea striking us abeam would
wet us from stem to stern and send the
spray up to the very tops The intense
excitement and anxiety felt at this mo-
ment are more easily imagined than
| described
At intervals strong flaws of wind be-
tokened gale ut hand. Already the
wind had increased. Our distance
from the steamer had lessened; she was
now only about a mile astern; occa-
sionally a 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
the shot went through sails and rigging,
fortunately doing no material damage.
Noticing commotion on deck, |
| called the mate to ascertain the cause.
He informed me that tine crew were
| frightened, or pretended to be, ut the
shots from the privatecr, and expressed
determination to take in sail and let
the Alabama come up with us to prevent
further risk of their lives Fortunately
| had good officers. on whom | could
rely. | ordered them to get their revol-
vers. and told the steward to get mine.
Then. mastering the crow on the quarter
deck, told them they were engaged in
a serious mutiny, and the first man who
| refused duty or attempted to interfere
with the orders of my officers would be
shot on the spot They realized the
situation, and promised obedience
Half the afternoon was gone. The
sea was rising all the time and both
ships strained heavily as they rolled to
windward with the press of canvas they
were carrying. The steamer could no
longer stand the strain, and in came
| her light sails. When | saw this felt
sure of our escape if the wind would
only hold its strength. We therefore
took in our skysails and royals, and the
ship felt easier-in fact, we could not
have carried them longer. for the wind
increased and blew in ttful gusts, a sure
sign that gale was brewing. The sea
continued TO rise, and now felt safe in
keeping the ship off Il couple of points,
to bring the wind and sea on our
! quarter. The steamer followed my ex-
ample, both vessels rushing through the
water at their highest speed, and both
doing their level best. But she nc
longer gained on us.
kept off dead before the wind on our
course-due east This brought the
steamer abeam, she altering her course
as we did, hoping 10 keep us in sight
until the wind and sea moderated. She
now closed up with us as near rs safety
would permit, and, hailing us, asked
where VIC were bound, and demanded
the surrender of the ship to the confcd-
! crate government | answered through
my trumpet: Come and take me- y
| Conversation being too straining for the
lungs amid the bowling of the winds
and rolling of the huge pillows, and the
proximity of the vessels too dangerous
we separated little and had recourse
to lackboards 10 carry on our converse.
! ton. Semmes asked where we were
i bound. | answered without a blush
Melbourne" thinking possibly he
might try TO intercept me if he knew
| was 10 pass through lie Straits Of Sunda.
Then he had the check 10 order to Haul
down your flag and surrender, escape
or no escape" on kind of parole,
suppose, he meant | wrote on the
board: First capture, then parole. =
The answer yexed him. am sure fol-
he Immediately wrote: surrender or
will sink you" | wrote; That would
be murder. not battle '.Call it what
you will, / will do it," he wrote cat.
tempt it, ana by the living God will
run YOU down, and we will sink TO-
gether, | wrote in reply. knew his
threat was vain. for in that heavy sea,
rolling his sails under, he did not dare
free his guns, which were already
double dashed. They would have car
ried away his tackle and gone through
the bulwarks overheard. Conscious
that he had made empty threats, he said
no more, but doggcdly kept on our
course.
Sail was still further reduced on both
vessels, as the wind kept increasing, and
was now blowing u gale. We were
| gradually and surely drawing ahead of
/ the steamer. Ii was now growing dark
Rejoicing at my fortunate escape, | gave
the valiant Semmes a parting shot by
hosting the signal "Good-by." Dipping
the star-spangled banner us q salute, ]
! hauled it down. and the steamer was
soon lost 10 sight in the darkness. /
never saw her after our escape, but, in
| directly. She forced me TO sell my ship
| in China soon after.-B. r. s., IN he
ArgoRauL