Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1886-05-21

on the Cape Of Good Hope Early In
1884 Stern Chase and. n Coming
Gale-A summons TO Surrender
Tho E.cspo-"Good-Bye."
Our voyage continued prosperous, and
nothing suspicious was discovered until ons
morning when we were of the cape OF Good
Hope, as we were sailing along with a fresh
breeze right 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 II coming from
steamer close under the land, apparently
bound 10 the eastward, was reported Soon
her hull appeared In sight, and by the aid
Of q glass l made out that she was low,
rakish- looking craft, neither like manor
war nor a merchant steamer, but at the
distance she was from Us IL wa impOs ADie
W sall definitely what she was Under the
circumstances II made me feel very sus-
picious
In a few moments she discovered us, rs
was evident 10y her altering her course and
Sieartng directly toward US, at the same
time hosting the American fag. felt that
II must lie the famous Alabama, and that
we would b. safer out Of her company. But
IL was a case OF sails and steam oomhinel
against sails alone The steamer was closing
up with US, and presently her signals, ask
ing what ship Is that" could lie read
boasted the American flag; feeling certain
that the steamers captain would not II
deceived In the build and appearance Of my
vessel any more than l was In his, and, II |
was 20 be taken, would ny my own nse
% the last The steamer then boosted tbs
81 a. n .NReN a.. HaaaN
but insssad Of complying with this request
hauled my ship about four points 10 The
southwark, bringing the wind ON ouI
quarter, and made oil sail which increased
our speed from eight g. ten Knots par hour.
Seeing this evolution, the steamer threw on
all disguise, hauled down the stars and
stripes," hoisted the stars and b>rs, and
fred shot directly az Us, bus the
distance was too great, and 10 fell Tar
short Then the smoke COMMANDED 70 pour
out Of the steamers funnel In heavy, black
volumes, all sail was made, and the chass
began
SLOWLY sUT SURELY oAISiNo on ia
slowly and surely the steamer kept gain
ing on us, sending shot after shot from
their forccastle gun, but all fell short
She was now about three miles astern,
rolling and pitching into the sea, which was
WY kANNaAA 49, - -
thu spray dying over at times 90 as almost
% hide her from sight! The ga striking Us
abaan would wet Us from stern 10 stern and
sond the spray up to the very topA The In
trnss excitement and anxiety felt NJ this
moment are more easily imagined thar
Described
AT intervals strong flaws OF wind Ia
tokened a gale at hand Already tho wind
had incrcassd Our distance from ths
STEAMER hal lessonei; she was now only
about a mile aStern: occasionally q shot
from her forocaStle gun came over or neal
US They hoped 20 disable the ship In SPAR
or rigging. but their aim was uncertain,
owing 20 the heavy seA However, moSs
than once their shot went through sails and
rigging, fortunately doing no material
damage Noticing n oommotion on deck,
called the mate TO ascertain the cause he
informed me that the crew were frightened,
or pretended 10 be- at the shots from the
priVAtecr, and expressed . determination b
take in sail and let the Alabama come uI
with Us 20 prevent further risk Of theiT
lives Fortunately l had good officer
on whom could rely. | ordered them Il
get their revolvers, and told the steward 70
get mine Then, mastering the crew on
the quarter deck, told them they were en-
gagcd In n seriou, mutiny, aud the hrst man
who refus d duty or attempted 10 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 sd
was rising all the time, and both ship
strained heavily as they rolled 70 wind
ward with tho press OF canvas they werv
carrying The steamer could no longer
stand the strain, and In came her light sails
When ] saw this | felt sure Of our escape
IL the wind would only hold It's strength
We therefore took in our skysails and
royals, and the ship felt easier-in fact, ",
could not have carried them much longer
anyhow, for the wind increased and blew
in fitful gusts, q sure sign gale was brew
ing. The sea continued % rise, and | nov
felt safe in keeping tho ship of couple Of
tsoints, TO bring the wind and sea ON ouI
quarter. The steamer followed my exam
pie both vessels rushing through the wateI
at tt1eir highest rate OF speed, and both do
ing their level best But she no longel
gained on US
A SUMMONS TO SURRENDER
kept of dead before the wind on oui
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 W
with US as near as safety would permit
and, hailing US asked where we were bound
and demanding the surrender o: the ship q
the Confederate government i answered
through my trumpet: "CIme and take ma
Couversation being too straining for th'
lungs amid the bowling OF the wind ant
rolling OF the huge pillows, and the proxim
ity Of the vessels too dangerous, we sapa
rated a little and had recourse 10 black
boards 90 carry on our conversation
Semmes asked where wo were bound
answered, without a blush, Melbourne,
thinking that possibly he might try 20 in
tercept me II he knew was 70 pass through
the straits OF Sunda Then be had th'
cheek 20 order me 10 "haul dsWn your hal
and surrender, escape or no escape" on 4
kind Of parole, / suppose he meant wrot
on the board: First capture, then parole,
This answer vexed him, am sure, for h,
Immediately wrote Surrender or / viii
sink you" wrote; THAT would be muir
der, not battle" Call IL what you will,
will do it." he wrote Attempt IL, and by
the living God will run you down, and w
will sink together" l wrote in reply. Iknev
his threat was vain, for In that heavy sea
rolling his sails under, he did not dare u
free his guns, which were already double
dashed They would have carried away
l.,I.