Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-05
THE RICHMOND DIsPATcH-sUNDAY. AUGUST s. 1888


busband. and wondered what they could
posSibly mean. Here wassu English gem
t,eman ia the nineteenth century coolly
ayowine he had lately been pirate, ana Z,
evidently meaning what hesaid wen,
/ said :. j give the riddle up; pray tell
me you will have deeply interested
listener"
every well, he replied, 81 have had
nv Joke. 80 here goes. "Minc, how.
ever" he continued, "it is true several
millions Of English-speaking people have
described ne, and would now, as pirate,
but my fellow countrymen and the rest
OF the world do net use SO harsh term.
/ am. or rather was, the chief officer. next
the captain, OF the Confederate priVateer
Stars and Bars"
/ nearly jumped out of my chair.
What that famous vessel that had swept
the whole of the northern commerce oil
the face of tho earth The scourge OF
the Yankee; the ubiquitous daredevil
yessel-at one time here, at another time
there. in the uttermost parts OF the globe. /;
the DESTROYER of United States memo
war the audacious solitary cruiser that
had defied the navies of nation the
wholesale wrecker and plunderer. lie
could see and thoroughly enjoyed my
amazement.
Now, Bostock, for my explanation.
As Won are aware, l was retired
British commander on small pension
after the wound | had received in skir-
mish in the East. On my mothers slde
was a member OF one of the best families
in South Carolina my late father, who,
like myself. had been in the royal navy,
hal fallen in love with her when with
his ship ut Charleston, and married her
there. She always brought me up with
an intense love fer the South and the
southern people, and visits had PAID to
our relations on their plantations had
filed my heart with love for them ana
their ways. As youknow, the war between
North aud South broke out, and all the
sons Of the Southralli to her hag-hrst
the Lone star OF the South, alter
ward tho Stars and Bars. | need not tell
you of her gallant struggle against the
overwhelming numerical superiority oil
the North, nor the final surrender At
Appomattox Courthouse. Those things
are matters OF history. As soon as
heard that hostilities had commenced l
had but one aim and object left IN this
world. and that was to fight for, and II
needs be, die for my mothers country.
! at once rendered my sword and SER
vices TO the Confederate Commissioners
in London. My technical naval know
ledge as an officer OF the English navy
and nv relations to the first families OF
the South made them gladly accept me.
I was made a citizen of the Confederate
States and sworn to secrecy. / was then
appointed. under the gallant Llewellen,
chief officer OF the Stars and Bars, the
vessel YOU saw. When | swsan from
her shottO and sinking deck IN her
last gallant battle with the Yankees, l
supported my wounded captain till we
were picked up by British yacht that
had viewed the fight. We had captured
/ Union prizes in all parts OF the world,
aud az ! received my share banked the
money at tho nearest ports, forwarding
/ it to Messrs. Chisholm. Fraser 4 CO.
whom YOU remember-whO were iinanc-
ing the South ut the time and acting as
nv agents. / have made $4,000 alto
pether. Pass the wine, old fellow and
we will drink to the fallen flag.
81 dared not tell Ada, for fully ex-
pected to be killed before the year was
out. and also her loving heart might
| have induced her to throw obstacles IN
nv WAY SO deemed it best to leave all
nv money to her as if | were really
about to die, and devote myself to my
country.
"When the southern flag had gone
down in a cloud Of glory and fire found
myself once more q free man. ! traced
Ada from city to city aud then
ooh, / shall not forget-snd then. u
said Mrs. Eustis. merrily fancy, Mr..
Bostock, a great big bearded man coming
into your neat little sitting-IoOm and
lifting you up in the air and saving: At
last, my darling 1t is wonder L did
not screan.
with a loving look at her nc con-
tinued:
at was not like ordinary warfare.
Had l been captured hanging or life
long Imprisonment in a northern dun
geon awaited me. The South had no
beuigercnt rights, and the stars and
Bars had TO escape from the vigilance OF
the British Government secretly, swift
! ". and silently Vow You see why
went away as did. was bound by ms
oath to reveal nothing. Northern spies
abounded in Liverpool, and 1t Is a mat
Ter Of history that we barely escapeC
from England. My tale Is finished.
have lost 4 ship and a nation | have
gained fortune and wife.