The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-31


were given free rides on the railroads to
any point From commander down "a
gray-back, all had their free passes. The
wealthiest clubs in Melbourne elected us
honorary members. Barry Sullivan, then
playing 'Othello' gave US an especial
night, when with true British gusto the
faring bills read, under the distin-
guished patronage of the officers of the
| Confederate S. S. Shenandoah There
| we looked down upon an auditorium
| packed TO sudocation as we we sat in the
! royal box. One hundred miles away at
| Ballarat, red-letter day was set apart
for our reception. Only seven of US could
attend. The entire town turned out TO
greet us, and across the main street, on a
| triumphal arch of flowers. were the let
/ ter. Welcome to Ballarat.'
AT length, on Feb. 2S, we put to sea,
| with our full complement Of men, and on
/ April l entered the harbor of Ascension
/ Island. Here in this little, almost land
! locked, harbor were four whalers, and
/ after the barelegged king of the islands
! had condescended to say where he wished
! them sunk so as not to DESTROY good an
! chorage in his harbor, we set fire to and
| scuttled the feet. Great events were go
/ ing on then at home, but we were obliv-
| ious of their occurrence. With PROV to
! the north we found ourselves on Nav q
/ in the Okhostsk Sea, off the coast of
| hamchatka., Here we destroyed the
ship Abigail, of New Bedford. We sailed
into Behring Sea, and chasing a bark
which proved to be the Robert Downs,
an Englishman with a Russian flag flying,
!. we answered to his call that we were the
Prince Petropolisky, bound for cruise
Our boatswain, broad Milesian with a
touch of Sclav upon his tongue, was our
spokesman, therefore it was easy to
imagine how this name must have
sounded through the trumpet from such
an anti-Russian source.
ION June 27, after destroying much
shipping in Boring sea, we captured the
Susan Abigail, twenty-eight days from
San Francisco. Then, for the first time,
we heard that the war was over. But
the captain could show no proof, not even
newspaper, we set it down as a smart
yankee trick, thought of to save the
ship. On July 5, occurred our greatest
days work-perhaps the greatest des-
truction ever served upon an enemy in a
single day by one ship. The morning
came heavy and thick with fog Sud
denly across our bows swept something;
In the fog we thought we could outline a
snip. A gun brought to a bark. Soon
her flaming form broke upon the fog and
told her fate. She had nearly run us
down in the thickness Of the weather
The fog now rising disclosed wide bay
or roadstead, in which were anchored
with their sails half furied large feet
OF whaling vessels of every rig They
were mostlyfrom New Bedford Before
entering upon our work we counted them:
there were eleven. Soon the work of de-
mand, surrender, debarkation and confla-
grafton began. Two were saved and
bonded to take home the other crews.
Then followed the torch and auger Never
before had these far ATTITUDES beheld
such dread scene of devastation as this,
as ship after ship went up in flame We
had been ordered to wipe out the whaling
marine Of the enemy, and now, after the
government that had so ordered had
been itself destroyed, we, unwittingly,
We're dealing the enemy our hardest
oloWS-not our enemy, If we knew the
facts, and we were making of ourselves
the enemy of mankind.
"Re-entering the Arctic seas we cruised
some days without success. Then turn
ing back to Boring sea we pointed our
PROV to the south. The second day of
August was clear and bright and the sea
smooth. The cry of "A sail brought all
minds to attention. But alas, ir was not
to revive the old scenes. The Shenan-
doah had done her last work, and the
now oncoming craft was to bring to us
tldlngs of CONSERVATION and despair
She showed the English flag, but this to
US was small matter. Half our prizes
had done this. Her double topsail Yards
IA yankee rig) were thought sufficient
Identity. She proved, however, to be the
English ship Barracoutta, two days out
from San Francisco. Her captain in
formed our boarding officer that the war
was over, and produced New York and
San Francisco papers telling US for the
first time of the great and closing
scenes of the fearful drama; the
surrender OF Lee, the capture of
Richmond, the assassination of Lin
coin and the final collapse of the confed-
eracy. Quick as thought Capt. Waddell
now swung his guns between decks, closed
the portfolios, and the Shenandoah was
again craft of peace. A council of Of
ticers was now held to decide what course
to pursue. The opinion of each was asked
and given. Some We're in favor of sailing to
Melbourne, others for Valparaiso or New
Zealand. Capt Waddell, although in the
minority, decided in favor of Liverpool
We had no flag and no country, but we
had sailed from England, and to England
we would now return We were not
aware that from one OF the bonded ships
which we had sent to San Francisco with
the crews of herself and others had gone
the word by telegraph to Washington of
our depredations, and that President
johnson had issued proclamation of out
lawry against US.
Inc crew OF the shenandoah were
now all called aft. and Capt. Waddell in
brief address told them of our altered
condition, and of his decision to sail to
Liverpool. The men gave three cheers
for their commander and pressed forward
10 their duties with a will while the
ships PROV was pointed to Cape Horn,
On our way we sighted many ships. Some
nearing us would send us signals, but
would receive no answer. We had lost
our voice and manners with our occupa-
tlon, and all we thought of now was to
get to the other side of this terrestrial
globe as soon as possible We had but
seven days coal supply, and must hus-
band this for an emergency. 1t came in
rounding Cape Horn, when we were
obliged by stress of weather to fall upon
| Its use. We now laid our course for our
destination, and every day was closing in
the miles that separated US from our fate.
On November land was deserted.
Up from the water rose the
rugged Welsh hills. Now the
clear headlands of Anglesey, rising high
out OF st. Georges channel stood more
near, and pilot swept alongside. We
say we have no flag. Then anwers this
| servant OF nations: 4 cannot go on board
| your ship A hurried consultation-an
anxious exchange of inquiring looks
! what shall we do now-we have but one
! hag-shall be raise itl 1t was the flag to
which we had sworn allegiance Shall
we lift it once more to the breeze, in de-
| fiance to the world-if needs be. and de-
/ ExffT, oil h.. . Al.