The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-09-12

a sailing Vessel That Ran Away From the
Famous Alabama story Of the Race
History Of the Bark since the War Con.
signed to the Flames.
The old bark Melnnon. one Of the most
ancient craft on the Pacific coast. will
go to sell no more. She has fought her
last battle against wind and water and
will be towel to the marine crematory
at California City. where she will he con
signed to the flames.
The Memnon was built in Boston in
1858. and when she started on her first
voyage was Il of the finest vessels afloat
of her size. For several Years she was
the pride of the western ocean and could
show her heels to any craft in the trade.
She was one OF the Very few American
vessels that when CHASED by tie pirate
Alabama succeeded III making an Is
cape. The M"mnon was on her way
from Liverpool to Boston at tine time
and fell in with the Alabama when about
half way across the Atlantic.
The Alabama. concealed her identity
until she got within half "A mile of the
Memnon. when the Confederate flag was
hoisted 10 the peak and the astonisll.d
crew Of the Yankee bark began to realize
the true character Of the strange steam
er. The captain of the Meinnon called
all hands aft. and in a very few words
told them that capture meant many long
months III IA prison. and that he proposed
to escape if possible.
The crew We're no more anxious to
visit a Confederate prison than the cap
tain, and when he gave the ordert square
away the yards the command was obeyed
in a very short time.
1t WA, blowing "a gale from the north
west at the time. and the bark was under
her topsails. but as soon as the yards
We're squared tine men ran aloft. and sal!
after sail was loosed and set. The men
took no time to cast off the gaskets. Ey
erything was knife work. and in almost
less time than 1t takes to tell it the daring
Yankee w~as.hying away to the eastward
under a cloud ~f anvas that threatened
to tear the masts out of her every minute.
Captain Semlles of the Alabama had
no idea that the bark would try to es-
cape and was below when the pros
pective prize changed her course and
began to make sail. He was quickly OF
deck, however, and sent shot after shot
at the flying Yankee i'll hopes of Grip
ping her. At the saline time the Ala
bama crowded on all steam and sail. but
a stern chase is "A long one. and in u
breeze like that the Yankee bark was as
fast as the Alabama and just a trihe
faster.
In spite of everything Selnmes could
do the Niemnon slowly but surely drew
from her pursuer, and as the Ala
bama dropped further and further asterr
the hopes Of the Yankee crew revived.
The chase lasted until night. and then
the pirate steamer gave II up and hauled
off to hunt for something not quite so
But if the Alabama gave up 1.-THE
race the Memnon did NOT. for she never
taci: or sheet until she had put
hundred miles of ocean between
the Alabama Dad herself.
She then resumed her course for New
York. where She arrived after ii rough
passage of 81 days.
After the war she was placed Ill the
East India trade and then was sent out
TO this coast. She has traded to China
and the Australian colonies and when
too old for that was engaged in the coast
wise trade.
She has also made several voyages ul
to Alaska and has always made money
for her owners
Many a fine ship has ended her career
over in the marine cremstory at Cali
fornia City since Captain Boudrow be-
gan operations there, and some of them
We're once the pride Of the United States
navy.
Here the fine old steamer China of tn.
Pacific Mail company went upin smoke,
did the Antelope and Barila.
The barks Frazer, Lady Bowen. Rosie
Sprague and the whaler Shooting Sta,
also ended their careers there, and sc
did the old warship Cyane.
Captain Boudrow has been located at
City about five years. and for
10 years before that he ran the crematory
ut Tibnron. 1t was in the Tiburon yard
that tn. mail steamers Montana, Arizona
and Constitution were cremated, and
the torch was applied to the john L..
Stevens, Orifamme, Great Western, Bue-
IA Vista, Maria Murana and Colorado.
Seven of Uncle Sans old fighting ships,
the Nyack, Saco. Tuscarora, Naragan-
sett, Alaska, Benecia aud the old mon
itor Monadnock-ended their careers
and yielded up the vast amount of iron
and copper in their hulls in the Tiburon
yard, and they made a grand bonfire.
The Monadnock, being constructed al
most entirely Of iron, was Of course
freproof and had 70 be broken to pieces
with dynamite.-San Francisco ChrOni-
Gle.