The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-31
A HISTORICAL BARK.
THE OLD MEMNoN HAS REACHED THE
END OF HER CAREER.

a Sailing Vessel That Ran Away From tho
Famous Aiabama-Story of the Race.
History of the Bark Since the war-Con-
signed 10 the Flames.
The old bark Memnon. one Of the most
ancient craft on the Pacific coast, will
60 to sea no more. She has fought her
last battle against wind and water and
will be towed to the marine crematoryI
at California City, where she will be CON
signed to the flames.
The Memnon was built In Boston in
1858, and when she started on her first
voyage was one Of thefinest vessels afloat
of her size. Far 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 the pirate
Alabama succeeded in making an es-
cape. The Memnon was on her way
from Liverpool to Boston at the time
and fell in with the Alabama when about
half way across the Atlantic.
The Alabama concealed her identity
until she got within half n mile of the
Memnon, when the Confederate flag was
hoisted to the peak and the astonished
crew Of the Yankee bark began to realize
the true character Of the strange steam
Ell. The captain Of the Memnon called
all hands aft, and in very few words
told them that capture meant many long
months in prison, and That he proposed
is escape if possible.
The crew We're no more anxious TO
visit Confederate prison than the cap
tain, and when lie gave the order TO square
away the yards the command was obeyed
in very short time.
1t was blowing gale from the north.
west at tho time, and the bark was under
her topsails, but as soon as the yards
were squared the men ran aloft, and sail
after sail was loosod and set. The men
took No time TO cast off the gaskets Ev
erything was knife work, and in almost
less time than it takes to tell II the daring
Yankee was flying away to the eastward
under n cloud of canvas that threatened
to tear the masts out of her every minute
| Captain Semmes of the Alabama had
no idea that tho bark would try to es
cape and was below when the pros
pective prize changed her course anf
began to make sail. He was quickly OF
deck, however, and sent shot after shot
at the flying Yankee in hopes of Grip
ping her. At the same time the Ala
bama crowded on all steam and sail, bu
stern chase is long one, and in {
breeze like that the Yankee bark was a
fast as the Alabama and just trih,
faster. .a0"..
In spite of everything Semmes coult
!, do the Memnon slowly but surely drew
away from her pursuer, and as the Ala
|, bama dropped further and further asteri
/ the hopes of the Yankee crew revived.
The chase lasted until night, and thel
the pirate steamer gave it up and haule'
/, off to hunt for something not quite s.
speedy. But if the Alabama gave up tn
race the Memnon did not, for she neve
: started tack or sheet until she had pu
, several hundred miles of ocean between
, the Alabama and herself.
h She then resumed her course for NeN
: York, where she arrived after u roug
passage of 81 days.
II After tho war she was placed in tn
Il East India trade and then was sent on
to this coast. She has traded to Chin
! and tho Australian colonies and whe
:, too old for that was engaged in the coast
!. wise trade.
Il She has also made several voyages IL
to Alaska and has always made none
B. for her owners.
Many fine ship has ended her caret
over in the marine crematory at Cal
II fornia City since Captain Boudrow b.
gan operations there, and some of thel
were once the pride of the United Stat,
navy.
! Here the fine old steamer China Of IL
= !, Pacific Mail company went upin smoh
Il as did the steamers Antelope and Barilt
ii Tho barks Frazer, Lady Bowen, Ros
} Sprngue and tho whaler Shooting ST;
:, also ended their careers there, and
/ did the old warship Cyane.
= Captain Boudrow has been located ;
! California City about five years, and f.
!. 10 years before that he ran the crematoI
Is Mt Tiburon. 1t was in tho Tiburon yal
T. that the mail steamers Montana, Arizol
:. and Constitution wero cremated, al
,o the torch was applied to the John
M Stevens, Oritiamme, Great Western, Blu
!! ma Vista, Maria MurHna and Colorado
Seven of Uncle SANS old fghting ship
the Nyack, Saco, Tuscarora, Naraga
III sett, Alaska, Benecia and the old mo
1t itor Northumberland their caree
s and yielded up the vast amount of ire
a and copper In their bulls in the Thur,
ne yard, and they made u grand bonfire.
= The Monadnock, being constructed t
5 T. most entirely OF iron, was of cour
r.. fireproof and had to be broken to piec
rl with dynamitc.-Sa Francisco Chrol
L Gle.