The sun., 1891-05-03
SECRETS OF THE REBELLION.
~rv SHr sHHNANDOAH NIGHT HAVE
rxxu uAP1URED IN 1so5.

a. a.. Aush critics et wsshinSton, sns
GA. R.ppeA Over the Ks.ehies for Mi'
p.,.s- -Tws.sy-six Yankee whaling
vessels Aasne In ley Seas the Fensit,
.rsA. Action Of che Government.
v,,urorox. May 2.-Public interest in the
..rssrs Of the Confederate cruisers has beer
.s,ivsd By Q recent article from the Don OF the
s.",rtve oficer OF the Alabama Similar nr.
.s.,ss from the executive officers Of the Florida
srd the shen sndoah might provo even more
s.,s,estine. As they probably cannot be fur
...h.a any information concerning those
ssr,s.rs ought to be welcome. Commodore
~ mn has described vividly the cruise Of the
1,o,,ds The story OF the shenandoah has
s,.n hsso told, but there is ono incident In her
M told now for the first time. Her career
- "a destructive as that OF either the Ala
hama or the Florida.
CAN'T semmes Of the Alabama DESTROYED vss-
ala and csreoes valued at s6.547.6 7.609.s6. Capt.
Nsf1tt Of tho Florida property valued at s3.-
sos, eOs. "a, aud Cant. Waddell OF the shenan-
6oah ships and csrgoes valued ut s6.Ass32031.
And Waddell's cruise was for only few
.nntha the others lasting for years.
Much Of the destruction caused by the shenan-
xn.h vss after Lees surrender and after tho
~Ss
,sss shs captured twenty eight ships. Twenty
sour xers burned and four were ransomed. The
eovr we're bonded so as to get rid Of prisoners.
This destruction ruined the whaling feet in
~. North Pacific. Tho vessels were taken in
.onnlats triple q. and quartets. Ten captures
vsrs burned In lump above Behring's Straits.
r,va. strange sight for an Arctic latitude.
rbe icy seas wore Illuminated with the flames,
.h,.h painted the heavens like an Aurora
Boreslis
Tbe Confederat cruisers seemed to have .
sneciul spis against the Yankee whaler. They
vsrs helpless victims. The Alabama began
hsr career by burning two OF them near tho Isle
os FLORES, and tho Shenandoah finished hers
hy obliterating the whaling industry in the
Noythsrn oceans. 1t has never fairly recov-
sred froun the blow. 1t has been charged that
Mvss foul blow. The affidavit OF Mr.. Tenn
MA laid before the Tribunal Of Arbitration at
Gsnsva asserts that Capt Waddell destroyed
6fteen vessels after he knew OF the surrender
Of Lee and the suppression ofthe tnsurrcction.
Itderives moro weight because OF similar
afidsvit made by Mr.. Nye. 1t is acknowledged
that on June 2S, while burning tho ten
vhslers, tho Captain received the news OF the
ssssssiuston OF President Lincoln. This
srims was committed nearly q week after tho
surrender OF Lee.
Can't Waddsll defends his course BY saying
that from prize captured on June %. 1865. he
received q newspaper containing the corre-
spondence between Grant and Loo relative to
the surrender. The same newspaper. however.
informed him that the scat Of the Confederate
Govsrnment had been removed from Rich
mond to Dsnville. 1t also contained proola-
nation from Jefferson Davis giving assurances
Of the continuation Of tho struggle. He claims.
therefore. that he had no right to suppose that
the war was ended. or to cease his hostile en-
desynrs. 90 declares that he did not hear Of
the capture Of Mr.. Davis until Aug. 2. month
and four days after the whaling vessels were
DESTROYED. Then he dismounted his guns,
closed his ports. whitswsshed his tunnels. and
sailed for Liverpool in the guise OF n mer-
chairman. He arrived there on Nov 6. with
out having spoken . single vessel during the
long voyage from the North Pacific He saw
no land after leaving Behring's Straits, until
hs reached the Irish coast He evidently gave
everything wide berth. he had been max
Ing war on his own account after tho war Was
over. 10 manifsstly had fears that he might
not b able to mako his assumed defence
available. It must have been an anxious voy-
ase for him. It would certainly have been much
better for him to sail direct for San francisco
II hs had had entire confidence in the strength
Of his defence.
The svsntiul career Of the Shenandoah thus
closed inRloriously. Il might have had
quicker ending II the United States Govern
ment had paid heed to Q faithful Official. He
foresaw what was coming, and warned the
authorities. He got q merclless rebuff for his
vigilance. The story is now told for the first
time. The faithful official was Col. Charles
JamsA them Collector of the port OF San Fran
cisco. He 10 now IN Washington. Hearing his
action in tho last days Of the war. called upon
him, and found him In his rooms upon Capitol
Hill. Although slowly recovering from an at
tack OF the grip. he received me with charming
courtesy. COL James 10 six feet two. and in
years more than the allotted three score and
ton. Hs has long aud dishsvelled white hair.
His eye Is bright. and his body as straight as
an arrow. His face is scanned with ago and
has thoughtful expression. He has had con-
adorable experience In political life. and was
appointed Collector BY President Lincoln at
the solicitation Of Salmon p. Chase. He had
personal acquaintance with both.
Yes" he replied. In answer to my question.
know something Of the career OF the Shen-
endoah she was the last Confed edsrate cruiser
<.snd the last to destroy pre- perty uEon the high
seas The war began and closed with incen-
oialhm About tho first act was the burning
OF tho Norfolk Navy Yard. and the last was tho
oonnsgIation on the Arctic Ocean. In Janu-
~ ~ ~ " reorlary 1866. was seated at my desk
- ~ te tSe oan francisco Custom House. attending
W.a 10 me fsgular business OF the office. when q
nna msn about about % years old entered. He was slim
se $40 neatly dressed. His eyes were as bright
r., tnoso OF an eagle. recognized
a'm AZ once. He was Mr.. Hooper.
d.. Meii.knoWn shipper. 1 supposed
hs shss ne mad como to ask me some question
sEout the revenue laws. for / was daily and
S.mos! hourly tnterrOgated about them. At q
"A Jona GIance l saw that he was much ayitat-
- ~ s though impressed, with the importance
n ~, n1s mission. l knew him as an ardent and
ALL s. onion man. and warm supporter OF the
a. uDl,c Dc you know said he. that vessel load
sSsw par an5tnfscts al coal has lately cleared from
n NJ, TO. don't l replied. could not know
Il No ans Soms ne SnS % especially informed me OF
,... Well Hooper continued. such is the
:sss ss%. tnd r. Il. think y2u ought to know T.
So iso1 0nS :. before ever shipped cargo Of coal
Mn A. nrst did not catch his drift. Iknew
2 any sense . bsbbIer. His sayings were al al.
lor that N after. He had evidently b.en iooH.. ,.
rs over the cloarances Tor business purposes.
=. .snen he made this discovery. saw uothinG |
10 IL, but he did.
reRnrd thia aaid ha sas htohlw a..