The record-union., 1891-10-09
THE PRIVATEER SHENANDOAH.
Some Doubt Cast Upon a Very Pretty
Story.
One of the Crew of the Saranac Tells
What He Knows
About It.


rebel privateer Shenandoah during the
civil war. He starts out by saying:
Public interest in the careers of the
Confederate cruisers has been revived by
recent article from the pen of the eX-
ecutive officer of the Alabama. Similar
articles from the executive officer OF the
Florida and the Shenandoah might prove
even more interesting. AS they probably
cannot be furnished, any information
concerning these cruisers ought to be
welcome. Commodore Maffitt has de-
scribed vividly the ruise of the Florida.
The story of the Shenandoah has also
been told, but there is one incident OF
her life told now tor the first time. Her
cereer was as destructive as that OF either
the Alabama or the Florida"
Then follows an account of the Shenan-
doah's destruction of the whalers in the
North Pacific, and the inglorious
closing of her eventful career on the ar
rival and surrender at Liverpool. The
''secret' history is next impaired.
Colonel Charles James, Collector of the
Port of San Francisco at the time in ques-
ton, has, it appears, in an interview
with Mr.. Cummings, made statement
10 the following etfect In January or
February, 1865, while seated at his desk
IN the San Francisco Custom house, he
per named Hooper, who appeared to be
much agitated. DO you KNOW" said
Mr.. Hooper, that vessel loaded with
anthracite coal has lately cleared from
this port for the MarqueSaS lSlands?'i
The Collector confessed his Ignorance of
the fact. Mr.. Hooper then remarked:
Its very suspicious. No one before
ever shipped cargo of coal from here to
the Marquesas." He insisted that the
authorities at Washington ought to be
Informed of il at once, giving the follow
ing as reason:
"The rebel cruiser Shenandoah has not
been heard from for weeks. At last ac-
counts she had left Madeira for Mel
bourne. She has disappeared, and her
disappearance is ominoUs. She was
headed for the Pacific Ocean, and she is
undoubtedly in the Pacific Ocean at this
minute preylng upon our commerce.
This coal is for her. She means business.
Her object is the destruction of our whal
ing fleet. There is no other rational eX-
planation. If the Government acts
promptly it can head her off"
The Collector states that after talking
the matter over he was so impressed with
the gravity of the situation that he wired
theinfOrmationt to the department
lngton, giving full details, at the same
time reminding them that Commodore
Poor was in the harbor with the man-of-
war Saranac. After sending the dispatch
he posted off to the Saranac. then an
chored fully a mile and half away, near
Goat Island. The sun had set and it was
growing dark. The Saranac's lights
were out, and when he clambered up her
side no one challenged him.
This is the beginning Of several state
mentS which are open to criticism, and
which go far towards discrediting a large
part of the Interview with Mr.. Cum
mIngs. When the Collector reached the
;f
and after dark the order was invariably
TO challenge all approaching boats, a rule
which, if violated, would have subjected
the sentry or sentries TO punishment. 1t
was too early for any of them to be caught
mapping" The writer is speaking from
personal experience, he being a member
of the Saranac's Marine Guard at the
time. The Collector is quoted as follows:
"a man whom | took to be the officer
of the deck came forward. l asked for
the commander of the vessel. He replied
that Commodore Poor was the COM
mander. / said that desired to see him.
The officer replied that he was at dinner
in his cabin and could not be seen. |
told him that / was the Collector of the
Port and that my business was urgent
i must see him. / said. Show me
the way to his cabin and I will take the
responsibility of disturbing him.
'''Well, you'll have to take the respon-
Commodore's orders
IF you will not conduct me to the
cabin L said, point out the way
with look, as if he thought / was
about to enter lions den, he pointed to
the gangway. descended at once. l
knocked at the door and heard the words
Come in uttered in hoarse tone Upon
entering the cabin I found darkroom
plexioned man was seated alone at the
table. He was rather stout and of medi-
um hight. / never saw him before and
have never seen him since. His eye
brows were shaggy and his manner was
1orbldding. There was a bottle of wine
mt his elbow, and he was evidently enjoy
ing his meal. His stare made me feel al
most like a villainous intruder He
waited for me to speak. / did not keep
him waiting"
Regarding the reply of the officer of
the deck, You'll have to take the re-
sponsibility, for it's against the Commo-
dore's orders, there is certainly mis-
take. The officer of the deck would
hardly dare to disobey orders by letting
The collector assume any such ''re-
sponsibility." The latter SAYS he
knocked at the door and was
unquestionably breach of discipline, as
an orderly was always posted at the door
of the Commodore's cabin with positive
orders to admit no one unless he, the or
DERBY, was instructed differently by the
Commodore. The Collector further saws
he found 'dark-complexioned man."
rather stout and of medium hight" The
writer's recollection of the Commodore
is that at that time he was tall and spare,
and light-compleXioned. His eyebrows
were shaggy and his manner was forbid
ding" adds the Collector. Possibly the
Commodore might have been Just a little
rut1ied at the sudden intrusion, but his
y
dignified officer, and in his relations with
officers and crew he was respected as
gentleman.
The Collector stated his errand, and the
Commodore became intensely inter
ested." The latter ''felt abundantly able
10 take care of the Shenandoah, and evil
IDENTIFY longed for the opportunity to do
so. All he wanted was the orders TO sail"
The Collector on returning to the city
went directly TO the telegraph office and
Informed the Treasury Department that
Commodore Poor was ready to sail at
moments notice.
IT was not until late the next dav and
after second dispatch had been sent to
Washington, that reply was received.
at informed me,H saws the Collector.
that the Government knew of the
whereabouts of every pound of coal on
the Pacific Ocean, and told me that /
must not spend so much money in tele-
graphing" He was "dumbiounded. :"
and Hooper was Mortified" This dis
patch" says the Collector, killed all eff
forts 10 save the whaling feet" and 81
took malignant satisfaction afterward in
telegraphing the information / received
as to the depredations ofthe Shenandoah -
1t would appear that all this time the
Collector, according TO his statement, was
the only person on the Pacific Coast who
showed any zeal or particular interest in
The matter, or who had any regard for the
safety of our merchant marine. His as
ell = l..