The morning call., 1892-02-13
ANOTHER SURVIVOR.
A jamestown Volunteer Living
in This City.
Z. c. Eousley Was a Member Of the Historic
Crew-His Recollection Of English
Encouragement

Some few weeks ago an article appeared
10 the columns of THE CALL concerning
the trip of the United States sl0op of war
jamestown to Ireland in l847, when she
carried a cargo Of provisions to the famine
stricken people OF that country. In it a Mr..
Davis, now a resident OF the State of Maine,
was credited with being the sole survivor Of
tie crew who volunteered to man the ship
On that occasion.
That statement is now cOntrOverted by
E. c. Housley of this city, who has vivid
recollection Of being one of the crew MINI
self and Of many of the incidents connected
with that historic and mercIful errand
A CALL reporter met Mr.. H0usley yester-
day and got the following facts Of the trip:
When the news OF the terrible sutferings
of the Irish people reached New York the
merchants Of the city quickly donated sup
plies Of provisions, and before many days
the gifts became so liberal that it was
question how they should be conveyed to the
starving people. In this contingency the
Government was applied to and at once
placed the slOOp Of war jamestown al the
disposal Of the committee, provided that
sufficient crew could De obtained to work
her. Notice Of this was hardly posted be-
fore volunteers enough TO man fleet offered
their services gratuuOuSiy, and OF these
tfty-tw0 were selected. Officers and men
we're alike volunteers, the officers, OF course,
being naval men.
QUICKLY LOADED.
Tie loading Of the 400 or 1890 tons OF
cargo was effected in an incredibly short
space of time for those days, and the snip
set sail Immediately. Il was Sprngtlme,
aud the voyage across was quick and
pleasant one, though, as well as the ola
volunteer could remember. about five or SIX
weeks were consumed in the passage.
When the sl00p put into Cork harbor
she was received with every NANTES tatlon
Of JOY by the people and those who were
abe layiSbeG every hospitality upon the
crew. The officers, of course, were taken
care Of by The wealthy class, but the masses
took possession Of the others and trips 10
Shandon, Killarney and the banks of the
picturesque BlackwateT we're OF daily &C.
CuUence during the nye weeks tie ship re-
manned IN LaTb0r
Il am a native Of Hull. Yorkshire" said
Nir. HOusley, "uut though an EngllShman,
l cannot help blaming the English Govern
meHt at that time for Its action regarding
the provisions We brought They were the
voluntary offerings Ot the New \ ork mer-
chants 10 the Iris people yet tie Govern
Tent stepued ID, and through their Custom
house officers took possession 81 the cargo,
which was placed in Government ware
houses ami distributed among people who
were not IN need Of it. There was great
complaint on that score during our stay,
md, so far as ] had an opportunity OF learn
ing, The complaint was just one.
PRINCIPALLY FLOUR.
"The popular belief that the cargo con
sisted Of maze or Indian meal Is Incorrect
We had more flour aboard than anything
else, and there was also a good supply Of
bacon and some canned goods
ION tile return trip We took a very south
eTly course, so that 1t was four months from
the tine We started until We cast anchor
again ia New York harbOr."
subsequent 10 this voyage Mr.. HouSey
followed the sea Tor many years working
his way up from the fOreCastle to the cabin.
He came 10 California in 1861, and has been
Il resident Of the nOTthwesteTly slope Of
Bernal Heights for over quarter of a CEN
fury. During bis sea-faTng life he saw
much Of the world, and, singular TO relate
OF one Of bis nationality, he thinks there is
no place ike the city OF Dublin for q home.
He doesn't know the Whereabouts of any
other member Of the jamestown crew, nor
il any of them IS living. Davis he does not
remember at all.
on THE MACEDONIAN
Chief Crowley, VINO was n The time a boy
Of Is, was also a volunteer Tor the service,
but he and me 800 or 400 others
were assigned to the United States fTig-
ate Macedonian, frigate Of The first
class, which had been captured from the
English in the war of 1872 Il was differed
for the trip by United States naval officers,
but the rest Of the crew were all volunteers.
The fTigate sailed with & fun cargo Of the
best American provisions. including pOta-
toes, onions, -four, hams, bacon, oatmeal,
Indian-meai and even tea and wearing APP
paTel Everything was Of the finest quality
and Il was this fact which afteTW8Td gave
rise b the TumOT that the English officials
turned them over In the warehouses and
substituted inferior articles IN their stead.
The Macedonian was ordered 10 Kings
town, the haTDOr Tor the city Of Dublin, but
owing 20 her deep draught % feet she was
Obliged to put into Queenstown, where she
found the slO0p jamestown unloading. On
her arrival the English Government put
detachment Of marines and sailors aboard
and relieved the crew Of all trouble in un-
loading.
When such portion Of the cargo as was
intended for Ireland was discharged the
fTigate sailed for Glasgow, where tie relief
for the starving Scotch peasants was handed
over to the authorities. When this was aC-
eOmDlshed she returned 20 Queenstown and
from there TO New York, where she cast
anchor October -, 1917, Just five months
following her departure
THE CHARGE DENIED.
Chief Crowley denies that there is any
truth In The charge OF a substitution Of infe-
TIOT goods for those delivered by the James
town and Macedonian. Being a bright,
handsome young fellow al The time he was
not long In making aCquantances in the
town, and among hls neW-fOuud friends
were the daughters Of a prominent harb0r
official Through this gentleman no was
frequently enabled 10 20 through the ware
houses when the goods were being dis
tTibuted and saw the very packages which
came in the Macedonian broken and diYiled.
Neither in Ireland nor Scotland did he hear
any complaint and IL was not Until he had
arrived home IN New York that the rumOr
reached him.
Commodore George Coleman de Kay, by
whose efforts the permission Of Congress
was obtained allowing the Government
vessels to carry the supplies, was in COM
niand Of the Macedonian. lie died in Wash
inglOn January u, 1919, just fifteen months
after bis return from MS meTciful mission,
His first lieutenant was Charles d. Wallace.
who, after many turns Of fortunes wheel, is
now a special officer in this city.