The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-02-14

blockaded, we had no alternative but
10 destroy, so the Aliva was scuttled.
Of the crew of nine men, six at once
Joined us and made most welcome
addition to our slender crew.
During the next few weeks we cross
ed the equator and made number Of
captures, among them the schooner
Charter Oak, from Boston, which had
two women and child on board. We
had not expected such prisoners, and
their presence somewhat embarrassed
us so that we were glad few days
later to put them on Danish brig
and pay their passage to Rio. Later
we captured the large ship Kate
Prince, the bark D. Godfrey, brig
Susan and schooner Lizzie NJ. Stacey,
all of which were burned. From each
of these captures we received recruits
to our ships company, in one case the
captain expressing desire to ship
with us. By the latter part OF No
vember, 1864, we were pretty well to
the southwark, and early in Decem-
Der entered the whaling grounds OF
the South Atlantic, and in passing
picked up the bark Edward, of New
Bedford, with good sized whale be-
side her. We secured fresh provis-
ions at the Triston du Cubua Island,
put ashore our prisoners and shaped
our course around Good Hope.
"Ou the way to Australia the pro-
peller shaft Of the Shenandoah became
disabled, and we had to rely entirely
upon sails, being favored with fair
weather until Christmas, when heavy
storms beset us. An elaborate
Christmas dinner that had been pre-
pared was completely knocked out by
the gale. During the last hours Of
the storm we unexpectedly captured
the bark Delphine, Of Bangor, Me-,
which ran close to US to exchange
signals. At Melbourne, where we
put in for repairs, we were detained
over three weeks and came near hav-
ing serious trouble because Of the ef-
forts of the American consul and some
unfriendly officials to detain us. 1t
looked at one time as if the cruise OF
the Shenandoah would end right there,
but we finally succeeded on the morn
ing of February 18. Our crew of
twenty-five or thirty men had been
depleted from desertions during our
stay in Melbourne, and when we found
on getting to sea again, about forty
stowaways on board we gladly shipped
them for the cruise. Among these was
the captain of an English steamer ly-
ing at Melbourne.
"After cruising a few weeks on the
coast of New Zealand we steered for
the North Pacific, capturing four
whalers at anchor at Ascension Island.
We remained here some little time,
and entertained the king Of the island
on our ship. The dress Of these peo-
pie was admirably adapted to climate.
It consisted of elaborate tattooing
with dressing of cocoanut oil. On
April Is, we went to sea again, and
reached the Arctic regions on May
20. The foe ice here was very heavy
and we had great difficulty in getting
through it. We began to see pieces
of whale meat floating on the surface
"a sure indication that the whalers
were at work. The week that ensued
was the busiest of the cruise.
."Not day passed without severa
captures. In all, we took twenty-five
whaling vessels; all of them, witt
four or five exceptions, being burnec
One prize in every six or seven was
bonded, all the prisoners placed or
her, and she was started for home
One of the ships thus bonded wa'
commanded by woman, her HUSBAND
having died while at sea. Our las
capture was made on June %, whe1
we took eleven vessels, nine Of which
were on fire at one time within a few
miles of each other. One Of the yes
sells had been so badly injured in al
ice foe that she was condemned, ant
the captain announced that everything
on board would be sold. The othe
vessels had gathered to attend thi'
auction when they all fell into ou
hands.
"IYe were then in Behring Straits
and soon got into the Arctic Ocean
but the drift ice was so heavy that w
returned to the North Pacific. W.
were steering far the California coas
to get in the track of China traders
when, on August 2, 1865, we spoke al
English bark, and learned Of the col
LAPSE of the Confederacy. Weat onc'
dismantled our guns, slowed away ou
munitions Of war, and started for tn
Atlantic by way of Cape Horn. Th
voyage home was unevcntful ant
quiet. We did not meet single shll
and on November 6 we reached Liver
pool, and the cruise Of the Shenandoah
was over.
ann Oa1vord G100