Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-16

Is
Rome aroused their suspicious. and
four French men-of-war We're sta
toned in the harbor Of Cirita Vecchia
to keep Il watch upon the little Ameri-
can boat Captain Crowninshield sent
a messenger down from Rome giving
orders to prepare the yacht AT once lof
sea, saying if the night was propltious
he would sail in fifteen minutes altef
he got on board. He brought Win MN
the two officers of Napoleon'S suite,
and II being overcast, ran out of the
barhor without molestation from the
foreign fleet. The vessel was heaueo
for St Helena. The plan was, unuer
cover of night. to place ashore Napo-
Icons former surgeon. one OF ms most
devoted followers. This man was to
approach the Emperor's old BODY SER
want. who was allowed by the British
TO remain in his masters service. and
acouaint him with the expedition and
the plan of rescue. e
The following morning dawned gray
and tempestuous. 1t found the little
vessel in the Straits of st. Boniface,
between Sardinia and Corsica. and
even before Captain Crowninshield
ndu dllStl lIoiIi IliS OClt III tAC man VII
the lookout reported three large yes
sells to starboard. The captain hur-
ried into his clothes. and once on deck
saw in a moment that there was no
mistake. Three French warships We're
crowding on all sail in hot pursuit
The departure had been discovered
The American skipper and his crew
had every confidence in their little
craft. and lost no time in determining
to give the Frenchmen the race of
their lives. They knew we'll the truth
of the nautical maxim that "A stern
chase is a long one and all hands
We're jubilant
Captain Crowinshield ordered the
topgallantsail and ringsail set, and as
they caught the wind the little two
master ploughed through the waves at
the rate of fifteen knots an hour. The
race had progressed about two hours,
neither side apparently gaining any
advantage. when the boom of a cannon
sounded from the leading pursuing
vessel. The shot struck harmlessly
about five hundred yards astern of
Cleopatra's barge. 1t aroused the cap
tain's American ire. however, and he
ran up the signal Catch me first; then
I'll surrender" Little by little as the
day wore on the Frenehmen seemed to
gain bit. and again and again the
Cleopatras skipper ordered on more
sail
She'll stand no more. sir, said the
first officer. The topmast is already
bending near in two under the tremen-
dous strain" And as he spoke the cap
tain saw it was the truth.
still" he said. lit must be done.
Yankee honor is at stake
The jib was set. and there was not a
man on board but expected to see the
masts come crashing to the deck. But
still they held. 1t was blowing almost
hurricane. and the waves nearly
every moment dashed over the Cleo
patra's pilothouse.
The three pursuers We're constantly
gaining on the little yacht. and when
about three-quarterS of mile distant
a second shot was fired. 1t was aimed
Well for it did what the wind had
not done, carried away the mainmast
and rendered the little vessel helpless.
Captain Crowninshield. seeing his
plight. hove to and awaited the coming
of the Frenchmans boat. When it ar
rived alongside he shouted to the
lieutenant in command:
What vessel is that
"L'Imperatrice. eighteen guns, of the
French navy" was the reply.
What is the meaning of this pro-
ceeding?" further asked the American
captain. My country is not at war
With yours. and have | not a right To
inh a
shall suffer for this
I'VE have undoubted proof that the
object of your voyage is to provide
succor to an enemy of France" came
back the answer.
Repairs We're made to the injured
mast. and conveyed by the vessels of
war Cleopatra's barge returned to the
harbor of Civita Necchia, and. as in
the nature of things was necessary. the
attempt to rescue Napoleon was given
up.
Captain Crowinshield threatened to
bring damage suit against the French
government for injury to his yacht. 1t
was nice question of international
law as to whether the French naval
officials had the right to overhaul her
in the oDen sea, but as the captain
knew he was technically guilty he de-
cided not to press the claim. Though
still looked upon with suspicion by
French officials. he Sailed for America
| on September 20. watched by French
Warships until far out of sight of land
| He arrived at Salem on October TO-
| Ten days after his return home he
died of apoplexy.
| The yacht was converted the next
summer into merchant vessel and
| made one voyage to Rio de JaneirO
| Then she was sold to King Kane
| hame of Hawaii. who used her for a
yacht for about a year. Owing to I'M
| successful seamanship. she was run
| upon the rocks and wrecked. But she
was built so strongly and so well that
many months of rough sea failed To
| break her up. Parts of the remains
were removed to Honolulu and. being
among the personal possessions of the
| great kamehameha at his death. We're
| placed in a museum there. A portion
of the woodwork that adorned the
| cabin is in the Bishop museum in
| Honolulu today, labelled. Remains OF
| the private yacht of Kamehameha.
| Travellers look upon it. but do not
| know it's history. %
|