Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-03


from New Bedford. Before entering upon |
our work we counted them; there were
eleven. Soon the work Of demand. sur
rehaer, oebarkation. and conhagration be- |
Sah' Two were saved and bonded to
take home the other crews. Then fol- |
Io"eu me torch and auger. Never be-
iore mao these far attitudes beheld such
dread scene OF devastation as this, as
snip after ship went UP in fame. We
had been ordered 20 wipe out the whaling
marine OF the enemy; and now. after
."e government that had 30 ordered had
Deeh Itself destroyed, we. unwittingly,
were dealing the enemy our hardest
oiows-not our enemy. IL we knew the
facts. and we were making Of ourselves
the enemy OF mankind.
GOING SOUTH.
"ke-entering the Arctic seas, we cruIsed
some days without success. Then turn
ing back to Boring Sea, we pointed our
Prov 10 the South. The "a day of Au-
gust was clear and bright, and the sea
smooth. The cry OF a sail brought all
minds to attention. But, alasl 1t was not
20 revive the old scenes. The Shenandoah
had done her last work. and the now
onooming craft was 10 bring TO US tidings
OF CONSERVATION and despair. She showed
the English flag, but this to us was a
small matter. Half our prizes had done
TINS. Her double top-sail yards "a Yankee
rlS) were thought sufficient identity. She
proved, however, TO be the English ship
Barracoutta, two days out from San
francisco. Her captain informed our
boarding officer that the war was over.
and produced New York and San Fran
CISCO papers. telling us for the first time
or the great and closing scenes OF the
FEARFUL drama: the surrender Of Lee; the
capture OF Richmond the assassination
OF Lincoln, and the final collapse OF the
Confedoracy. Quick as thought Captain
Waddell now swung his guns between
decks. closed the portfolios. and the
Shenandoah was again craft of peace.
council OF officers was now held 70
decide what course 10 pursue. The Opin-
ION OF each was asked and given. Some
were In favor of sailing to Melbourne;
others for Valparaiso. or New Zealand.
Captain Waddell, although in the mi
nority. decided in favor of Liverpool.
We had no flag and no country, but we
had sailed from England, and 70 Eng
land 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 10y telegraph TO
Washington Of our depredations, and
that President Johnson had issued pro-
clamation OF outlawry against us.
ALTERED CONDITION.
The crew Of the Shenandoah were now
all called aft, and Captain Waddell, in q
brief address. told them OF our altered
condition. and Of his decision to sail 70
Liverpool The men gave three cheers 10
their commander and pressed forward TO
their duties with a will. while the ships
prov was pointed TO Cape Horn. on our
way we sighted many ships, some near
ing us would send up signals but would
receive no answer. We had lost our
voice. and manners with our occupation.
and all we thought OF now was to get
10 the other side OF this terrestrial globe
as soon as possible. We had but seven
days coal supply, and must husband this
for an emergency. 1t came in rounding
Cape Horn. when we were obliged by
stress Of weather 10 fan upon its use.
We now laid our course for our deStl-
nation, and every day was closing in
the miles that separated us from our
fate. How far the world had gone In the
last few months we did not know. we
had been beyond its pale And now.
wanderers without a home. we had not
even that which usually follows success
ful privateering- for We had
called against the flag Of the United
States. not 20 piundcr its citizens, but
TO destroy its commerce. We were I'm
bued with no gTasping thoughts Of
what we had sailed for, and now that we
had no cause, we were poor indeed.
What we had done was all under the
open mandate OF honorable warfare. re-
cognized as such by the Oldest and most
powerful OF the maritime and naval
nations when she declared we were
belligrents thus recognizing that the nag
We bore was a national flag. But on the
other hand. we knew the United states
had never recognized the southern States
10 be in secession. and, inasmuch as We
were unsuccessful we could hardly know
what TO expect. But the VastnesS OF
the movement, greater in extent and
completion of design than anything IN
history, embodyng within itself mil
lions OF men who had sprung fun armed
and a. IN one step to war, was beyond
the pale of international or of national
precedent.
THE LOST CAUSE.
Then, too, we felt something must be
expected of the great nation that had al
lowed It's people TO enter heart and soul
into our cause Would she stand by us
now in our day of trial? These were our
varying thoughts and hopes against the
uncertain fu,ure, when on the OH OF No
Vcmber land was deserted Up from the
water rose the Welsh hills distance
lending her charm to their purping
terror as they rose from the water bright
In the autumn sunlight. Now the clear
headlands of the Anglesey, rising high
out of St Georges channel stood more
near and a pilot swept alongside. lie
asked us to show our flag. We say we have
no nag. Then answers the servant OF the
( nations, Cannot 20 on board your ship.
\ hurried consutati0n-an anxious eX-
change OF inquring loOks-what shall
! I'm NnR-Cnall
We raise It? II was the flag 10 which
we had sworn allegiance. Shall we lift 1t
once more to the breeze, in delance o!
the world-if needs be-and, denying all,
be constant 10 that cause which We had
sworn to maintain until we knew there
was no Confederacy, ana that ours IN
truth was Il lost cause? We VIII say
all hearts with one acclaim, ana let
this pilot or any other refuse 20 recog-
nlze us If they will. Then, for the last
time. was brought mp from its treasured
place below the sacred banner Of the
fair South, TO wave its last defiant wave
and flap us last ensanguined flap against
the winds of fate. before going forever
upon the page of history. out upon the
free day It flashed. and the far shores OF
England seemed TO answer its brave APP
peal-that the banner that had led 100000
men 10 many victorious battles should
now have one more and final recognition.
should once more be recognized a flag
among the flags of nations The grim.
old sea-dog, tossing his boat at stern,
beholds so up the outlawed banner! lie
sees 1t floating in the wild. free air, and
anticipates his England's decision that it
shall be recognized for this one last time.
He calls for a line, swings himself over
the old war-ship's side, and UP the noble
Mersey, thirteen months after the depar-
ture from the Thames and just six
months. lacking four days, after the war
ended. sailed the Confederate ship-ofwar
Shenandoah"
TURNED OVER.
'Half way up the river feet Of Eng
Ish men-of-war lay anchored in the chan
mel The pilot was directed to bring his
vessel alongside the fiagship-her Majes-
| tvs frigate Donegal. Captain Painter.
Surrendering 10 that officer. Captain
| Wadden Immediately dispatched a note
to Earl Russell at that time Premier,
stating his situation; that at the close
| OF the hostillties he was engaged in
omen war far away from any means OF
| a.,,,,oupica tion with the world. and that