Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-16
w AR EPIS o D e
How the Rebel Shenandoah DESTROYED a
Whaling Fleet.
A Veteran Captains Recent Death Re-
calls the Thrilling Incidents of
the Burning OF the Vessels.

From the New York Herald.
At the extreme age of seventy-nine Capt
jeremiah Ludlow died recently at his home
in Brfdgehamptop, L. I. His death recalls
one of the stirring scenes of the war
Capt. Ludlow had been master for many
years when he was called to New Bedford
to take command of the clipper ship Isaac
Rowland, which Edward Robinson, father
of Mrs. Hetty Green, had fitted out as
whaler.
Around stormy Cape Horn, through tropic
days and nights, urged by monsoons and
baffied by capricious winds, she made her
way to the North Pacific, and on the morn
ing of June Is, 1885, stood at the entrance
of Boring strait. On one side, behind the
bank of fog, was Cape East, and only a
few miles away lay the Asiatic mainland.
The Rowland was on her way to the north,
where the white whale wars by the frozen
pole" From the strait blew cold, arctic
winds.
Then Came the Shenandoah.
The fog slowly lifted, and a league away
Capt. Ludlow saw nine ships and banks
ranged in a group about a craft flying sig
nails of distress. He was curious to see the
cause of the trouble. He learned, but it
cost him dearly.
The American ship Brunswick had been
damaged off there by an ice foe. Her bows
were stove, and she was sinking. One by
one the other ships had seen her reversed
ensign and had come to her aid. 1t was
at the beginning of the whaling season.
and these craft were going from lands Of
sun to lands of snow
The crew of the Brunswick and their eff
fects were taken off. There were eleven
craft riding at their cables ready to sail
into the frozen north. The fog lifted. and
over the sea rim to the southwark appear.
ed a black funnel and the squared yards OF
a man-of-war. The fleet of whalers made
no sign to get out of the way. The skip
pers thought they saw British man-of-
war.
The flags did not look British exactly.
The craft came nearer. Ports flew open,
and the sun, which had broken through the
fog shone glistening cannon. There
was a fluttering of bunting, quick move
whipped out from under the mizzen gaff.
1t was the rebel privateer Shenandoah.
Over her side swarmcd a hundred mep.
The davits swung, there was a rattle Of
armed sailors, were moving toward the
peaceful fotilla.
Capt. Ludlow. at the approach of The
stranger, had lowered a boat and had gone
the CLINT of rif1ed cannon and the flash Of
muskets. He came alongside. The COM
manding officer, standing on the bridge,
ordered him to return at once to his ship.
Faced Capt. Wardcll.
The skipper saw and heard enough to
know that the stranger was the privateer
Shenandoah. She was commanded Ly the
notorious Capt. Wardell. The decks of the
cruiser were cleared for action. Every gun
was manned.
The boats went among the fleet, and
men, in quick, sharp sentences, told the
shippers that they must get ready to leave
at once.
Capt. Ludlow returned to his ship. He
went into the cabin and hastily gathered
together his papers. While he was there
he heard the measured beat of oars outside
and the sound of scrambling feet over the
vessels side. He left his cabin. He was
confronted by two files Of armed men.
Capt. Wardell stood before him.
Sir" said the commander, CONSIDER
yourself a prize to the confederate ship
Shenandoah"
well, I guess not, my hearty" said