The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-16

II ot1uillS tuem aQleu, ne was denuded OF
his bright confederate navy buttons. they
being kept as menentOes by our fair prison.
ers During the night, while ia company
with the Ariel, We sighted a ship and gave
chase. She, however. proved TO be q for
eigner, and upon our return to our prize, in
| stopping the engine, q part Of our machin-
cry snapped, totally disabling us from NOV
ing by steam. At daylight Capt. Semmes
sent for the captain Of the Ariel TO come on
board took him at oncs TO the captains
cabin, guarding him from entering into any
conversation with the officers or crew, that
he might not learn OF our disabled condition
Capt. Semmes then told him "that the
chase we had boarded that night had re-
ported to him that the yellow fever wos
raging in Kingston, Jamaica, at which port
he had intended TO land his passengers and
crew and then burn the steamer, but he
could not carry out this plan. Humanity
forbade that he shoold land helpless women
and children in Q pes5-stricken city. If.
therefore, he would give hlm "A proper ran
SOM bond, he would allow him to proceed
on bis voyage and return the machinery we
had taken out"
To this proposition the captain gladly as
sented, aud papers we're drawn out to that
effect.
He returned on board the Ariel and COM
municated the good news 70 his passengers
that they were 70 proceed on their way
without further detention or molests ton
The ladies at once called for "three cheers
for Capt. Semnes and he Alabama - which
were heartily given. with the waving of
hanckerchiefs aud adieus. In few days our
repairs were made complste and we we're
again ready for the vicissitude3 OF our peril
Gus cruise. As we we're not, however, in
great haste and were besides. a little de-
slrous OF oyerhauling California steamer
on home Ward-bound passage, we con-
tnued under soil, falling into the track she
would most likely take, and continuing il
until we reached Cape San Antonio. But
the fates were against US end we failed to
light the hoped-for steamer
we now gave up our search for gold, and
turned our attention To the more important
matter OF carrying out our plans for the en-
counter with che Banks expedition. Steer
ing TO the southwark and westward and
carefully feeling our way along the Yucca
tan Banks. we entered the Gulf OF Mexico.
While approaching our appointed rem
devious for taking In Goals we sighted a
bark standing in the same direction as our
selves. Upon her nearer approach sle
proved to be the old Scotch captain and the
good ship Agripinna, We had made the
voyage from the east point OF Cuba without
sighting SAIL aud thus We're we favored In
making our secret approach on Gen. Banks
expedition.
BULLY FUN FOR SAILORS.
On the following day, after sighting the
Agripinna. we stood in to the anchorage
together. The Areas KEYS consist of three
sand islands, little above the surface Of
the sea, forming triangle, in the center of
which Is well-protected anchorage. Here
we came to anchor near together and pro-
ceeded to overhaul ship thoroughly before
taking in coal. 1t was also very good
opportunity, which we took advantage of,
to let our mon have q run on those barren
keys and enjoy surf-bathing. The sea birds
resorted here in great numbers. and the isl
ands were literally covered with birds nests
the seagulls. and gannuts.
To secure fresh eggs the men resorted TO
the plan Of destroying all the eggs within
given space the evening before, and the fol-
lowing morning they were sure of fresh
eggs to gather. They found them edible,
but of somewhat fishy flavor They
cooked them in various ways and made
numerous dishes. On the largest of these
islands we found an old shelter used as
tent with a seine in tolerable order, with
other convenisnceS laid by for the con-
venience Of fishermen. These islands are no
doubt resorted to at the proper season Of
the year by fishermen from the maitland.
especially at the time for catching
tur ties Our men would go off with our
ships seine and return with good supply
of fish for the ships company. After put
ting our ship in thorough repair below aud
aloft, we took the AgripInna alongside and
filed our buukers with coal, taking all she
had on board, then with our launches set to
work re6allastiuR her with coral rock
which we gathered on the shore in great
quantities. After cleaning our decks and
thoroughly washing of all the coal-dust, we
proceeded to paint, reflt sails, and then at
our quiet anchorage we placed buoy at
proper distance and exercised our men daily
at target firing. So passed week in pleas
ant recreation. as we'll as in preparation for
an encounter with Gen. Banks off Calves
ton.
On Dec. we got under way with the
Agripinna-she under orders to proceed to
England and report to Capt. Bulloch, who
had arranged for supplying US with coal at
various points specified, while we pro-
caeded under easy sail for Galveston. the
papers ha g announced that Gen. Banks
would disellbark his army there on or
about Jan. 10.
On Jan. IL we sighted the shipping Off
Galveston, but to our surprise and disap-
polutment our lookout reported i've ships
only, and they Enthusiastically men of-war
from their square-yards and general ap-
pearance We were at q loss to account for
this change of programme, end while care
fully studying out the nature Of procedure
Iu6 lOOkOub al lu6 T6u6N0u OUR
anxiety by bailing that "s steamer from
the feet was standing out for u.s."
We were now about twenty-five miles
distant when we wore ship, placing her
head off shore to gradually decoy her off to
greater distance. as Capt. Semmes at once
decided TO engage her. We continued un-
der topsails until the steamer showed her
hull to be Of some size, although not OF the
build of the ship OF war of the present date.
Up to this time we were, laying
under banked fires, the water sut-
fioiently warm to get up steam in
fifteen minutes, which we proceeded to do,
lowered our propeller, furled our topsails
singly and cleared ship for action. The
sun wes setting, and peculiar feature OF
these low latitudes Is that Immediately
after sunset it grows dark, their being
little or no twilight. The steamer was
now appro aching us very rapidly, and
shaped her course so as to round under our
starbosrd quarter heading in the same
direction that we were. When securing this
position and about 100 yards dis
tant. both ships stopped their engines. She
hailed in clear and distinct manner
through q trumpet, What ship is thatf"
Capt. Semmes said in reply, "Her Britain
mic majesty's ship Petrel.n got up In the
rigging and in clear tone Of voice through
my trumpet replied as directed. also asking,
"What ship that wasp' He replied in a
studied and uncertain voice. repeated,
What ship" Icould only make out the
United States ship -, and not the name.
He then said clearly, II will send boat on