The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-11-21

n
Clyde and could steam 10 knots an hour
She carried two II FOUNDERS such as are
usually mounted upon East Indiamon and
was provi-Jupd for II months While she
was steam E away from London i'm the
most commonplace manner scene Of I'M
usual character intimately connected with
the future of the Sea King was being en-
acted ON tn" landing stage at Liverpool.
There were gathered in response to secret
summons score of gentlemen, natives of
the sunny south, who were stalking lives
and fortune, To- embark in the desperate
game of privutpuring. \ tug carried them
to "A steamer anchored in the Mersev.
The transit steamer was the blockade
runner Laurel. bound for Cuba. and each of
the mysterious s0utheruers carried in his
wallet a pr -agc receipt for G3? fare made
out i'm fc. .1us name. In the hold Of the
Laurel Nyl.. lilci q score of ordinary goods
boxes, with shipping mark correspond
ing to numbers on the fare receipts They
contained the personal luggage Of the ven
turesome gentlemen, who were not bound
for Havana at all, but for the island of Ma
delra to meet the Sea King, provided both
she and the Laurel should escape overhaul
ing by Uncle sam cruisers, who We're then
securing the seas with argus eyes and point
y
as the Laurel was clear of the coasts, all
restraint was thrown of, and the 20 south
cruerS announced themselves rs the of
ticers Of tA' Confederate priyatucr into
which the e,u King was to be transformed
rs successor TO the Alabama. Among the
bonaiide Havana passengers on board the
Laurel were many Confederate sea dogs,
some of iu,m from the decks of the Ala
bama and the other priyatecrs that had
been sunk or burned or in some ctGectual
way driven from the seas by the gallant
tars in blue. Many "A yarn those veterans
spun and many warning tale they told of
the excitement and danger OF an ocean
chase and an ocean fight to shorten the six
days voyage from Liverpool to Funchal in
the Madeira.
The sea King was two days behind the
Laurel in reaching the rendezvous, and in
order to assure the utmost secrecy in the
important work to follow II cove, sheltered
by barren, rocky island, was selected for
the place of transfer. As quickly aS posi-.
BILE heavy cannon and ammunition and
other war m...rrIals We're hoisted from the
Laurel upon the Sea Kings deck Men
who were To be officers of the new cruiser
tugged at the ropes like yeOmen, and at he
end of 10 hon's of steady toll the quarters
of the modest merchantman looked like
those Of "A nan-of-war just come out of a
battle or hurricane
Then the passengers and men of both
vessels were called to the deck of the SEQ
King, and an officer dressed in the full uni
form of the Confederate States navy steppeC
out Of his cabin to announce the mean
ing of all TIA mysterious doings since tn,
two vessels LETT London and Liverpool II,
| al l.
stoned to rule the deck of the Coufederat,
States steamer shenandoah, whose flag wa.
hoisUed a. he spoke. He said that he shoulC
at once start the Shenandoah upon a cruis,
against the commerce of the nation at wa
with the south and would receive as volun
teers under bounty and wages in Englisl
money all those within hearing who chOs
to join the venture. out of a company o
50 only - cast lots with the new cruiser
giving her. with the officers taken out il
the Laurel, - men-less than half her com
plemcut. Ma so with guns unmounted
the portfolios even uncut, with ammuni
ton piled loosely IN hold and on deck, de
pending tor fighting men upon the officer
only, Captain Waddell put boldly to sea
trusting to that fortune which favors tn
bold to save his 'timbcrs' from sudden AM
complete disaster. Every man understoo
that a meeting with United States wal
ship rs things We're would be the end of tn
Shenandoah, and all hands worked hearth
to put the merchHntman into shape for a
encounter.
At the close of October the Shenandoa
was fairly at sea, bound for Pacific water:
Every sail deserted by the wary lookou
was watched with anxious eyes until he
character was made out. Two or three We.
sells were brought round by shots acros
the bows but they proved to be sailing III
der English colors and were allowed to e
The first prize taken was the bark Alnt
Her officers and crew, excepting six sailor
who joined the Shenandoah, We're place