The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-02-17

uPoi 'hS OiStdut feoSeIl, ana AmeIl
can bark, the Alma, OF Seaport, Me.
bound for Buenos Ayres with railroad
iron. She was on her first voyage
thoroughly equipped, nicely copperee
and beautifully clean-a temptin,
prize. Defense on her part was out 0
the question, and the Confederate
boarded and scuttled her, after ap
propriating such Of her furnishings a
they could make use of and taking
the crew prisoners, six of whom after
ward volunteered their service a:
active men on the Shenandoah. The
Alma was valued at $4,000.
On November IS the Shenandoah
crossed the equator. The cours'
thence lay south along the coast o.
Brazil. Nothing of interes. occurred
after crossing the line except the in
terchange Of courtesies with neutra
vessels until December 4, when the
American whaIeship Edward, of anc
out of New Bedford three months
was sighted and captured near tn,
Island of Tristan. The Edward had
taken a whale and was "cuttin OUT
when captured, her crew being so oc
cupled with the whale that the Shenan
doah had come within easy range O
her unobserved. The Edwards out
tit was Of excellent quality, and the
Confederates lay by two days supply
ing their steamer with necessaries.
The whaleship was then burned, and
Waddell landed for day at Tristan
and made arrangements with the
native government to receive the Ed.
wards crew, most of whom were
Sandwich Islanders.
Said FOR MELBOURNE.
Soon after the department from
Tristan it was found that serious ac-
cident had happened to the propeller
shaft of the Shenandoah, and it be-
came necessary to seek some con-
siderable port for repairs. Cape Town
was nearest, but Commander Waddell
preferred making Melbourne, if posi-
bic, the course thther lying nearer the
more frequented tracks Of the United
States vessels. The voyage was mark
ed by the capture of several merchant
men.
The character of the Shenandoah
was known at Melbourne and she
dropped anchor in Hudson's bay,
cheered and surrounded by the steam
ers in the haven. The next day the
work of repairing the ship was begun
and during the delay several Of the
crew embraced the opportunity to
desert, all ofthem being men who had
joined the Shenandoah from captured
ships. The attempt of Waddell to
pursue and bring back these men was
obstructed by the United States
consul, as well as by the Australian
authorities. The Shenandoah, in
fortified British port, was in no posi-
ton to resist these acts, and on Feb
ruary IS, the repairs and coaling
having been completed, the port was
cleared.
Ar L Elk lttE NfALlNG VESSELS.
The delay of the steamer at Mel
bourne operated against success for
the Shenandoah in the south Pacific.
The whaling fleets of that ocean had
received warning of the presence of
the prlvateer and had departed for
shelterng ports or the Arctic ocean.
Learning from a passing steamer that
some United States whaling vessels
were to be found in a harbor of the
Caroline Islands, Waddell directed
his course thither, reaching the Islands
early in April.
As English pilot who had be en- lIv-
ing there for some years, volunteered
his services to the Confederates and
brought the steamer to anchor in sight
of four vessels flying the American
flag. The flag Of the shenandoah was
not yet displayed. After anchorage
was secured four armed boats were
dispatched with orders to capture the
vessels and bring their officers, ships
papers, log books, instruments for nav
igation and whaling charts to the
Shenandoah. After the boats left the
steamer the Confederate flag was
holsted and a gun fired. This signal
announcing the character Of the war
ship brought down the American flags
and the seizure was Immediately made.
Waddell remained some days in this
harbOr, where he made friends with
the native "king," savage.
MANY PRIZES TAKEN
The course of the Shenandoah was
thence for many days toward the
north and beset with violent storms.
Finally the snow covered kursl Islands
were sighted, and on May 81 the sea
OF Okhotsh was entered, under the
coast Of Camscha,ka. \ few days
later the whaling bark Abigail, Of
New Bedford, was overtaken, captured
and burned. The Shenandoah con-
tlnued as far nor,h as the mouth Of
ChLnsk bay, but beng forced away
by the ice she stole along the coast OF
Siberia on her still hun, amid frequent
storms and great danger from fl,ating
ice. On June a, no ships having
been sighted, Waddell changed his
course toward the Aleu;l4n Islands,
entered Berlng sea on the next day
and almost Immediately fell in with
couple Of New Bedford wha'ers One
of them, the William Thompson, was
the largest out of New England, and
valued at $50, 900. These ships were
burned.
Tn following day five vessels were
sighted near an ice foe. The Con-