The National tribune., 1902-07-03

people passed over the railroad from Mel
bourne TO cambridge, en-, route for the
Shenandoah. that day. besides hundreds of
others who came by other, modes of con-
vcyauce. -
Our ship was simply packed with men
and women from top 10 bottom the live
| long day, and many were prevented by the
pressure from getting on board. Indeed.
| so great was the curiosity we excited that
| had we been content to stay for six
months in Melbourne, and charged an adj
mission fee of 81 to visitors, l believe we
could have paid a large ihstalment upon
the Confederate debt.
1t had Eeen determined to make that
day the last of our receptions. as it was
imperative to proceed with our refitting.
n gang of caulkcrs were procured and
went to work upon our decks with pitch
and oakum, and preparations were hur-
RED forward to remove from the ship her
stores and such pOndcrous furniture us
could be readily gotten out to lessen her
draft preparatory TO placing her upon the
slip. where her propeller could be in
spectcd.
y couple of lighters were hauled along
side, and into them We're hosted such ar
ticles as we desired to be rid of for the
present, and this accomplished we pro-
ceedcd to the slip, where we remained for
10 days. though the work was expedited as
rapidly rs possible, alternate gangs Of
men working day and night.
ATTEMPT TO SEIZE THE CRUISER.
The work was nearly completed, when
an order came from the Governor to seizr
the ship..a rumor having been widely cir
culated and believed that we mad il num-
Der of men on board, intending to take
them to sea and enlist them. in violation
of the well-established rules of Inter
national Law.
lis Excellency dispatched force of
about 100 armed men, about half of whom
belonged to the regular city police, and the
rest were of the Royal Artillery. to en-
force his order, but 1t is much easier to
direct Il party of land lubbers to seize IN
armed vessel than for them to execute the
mandate.
Capt. Wad,lell percmptorily refused to
permit his ship to be searched. or one OF
the Governor men to come on board. and
i'll doing this he simply stood upon his
rights and dignity az the commander of a
cruiser, it being contrary to all precedent
TO search Il man-of-war for any purpose.
He also wrote to the Governor, informing
him that if the ship was not released
within II hours he should pay off his
crew, return to England with his officers
and report the outrage to his own and the
English Government.
An officer was dispatched with this mis-
sivc. which had the desired effect.
The following day the police and artii-
lery were withdrawn and we were for
mally notified that we were at liberty to
proceed to sea whenever we desired.
AS an Offset to this untoward little cpl
scdc, an invitation came the same evening
from Ralarat, for our officers to attend Il
ball given in their honor by Mr.. Bray
ton, formerly Il resident of New York, but
then one Of the largest mining spectators
Of that auriferous neighbor OF Melbourne.
at.
distant from the last-named place, With
which it is connected by.a railway. Al
most the whole Of the area it occupies has
been so thoroughly perforated and under
mined by shafts sunk in pursuit of the
precious ore. that if the whole town tum-
blcd through some find day, it would be
no matter OF especial surprise to anyone.
The invitation came, most OPPORTUNITY.
After our little diplomatic escapadt with
the author tiles we were III the mood for
something III the legitimate merry making
line, and 1t was unanimously accepted.
As the afternoon wanel, each repre-
sentative CO the COnfeiieracy, dressed in
his best gala trim, sailed forth, and after
Il pleasant railway ride of about two
hours duration, We landedI ut Balarat in
safety, and took our way to Craig's Hotel,
Il most admirably conducted hostel, where
the entertainment was to be given.
1t. was decidedly Il recherche affair. The
wealth, beauty, and fashion ofthBalarat
were out III full force. fully intent upon
honiZins and doing honor to Il few of the
unpretead!ng supporters of young Gov
erImGnt battling for existence with the
lusty giant of the Western world. Every
attention that kindness and courtesy could
suggest WAS shown us, and more than one
heart beat quicker at such convincing cYi-
daEce Of the existence of sympathy i'll this
country Of the Antipodes for the service
III which we were engaged. Many gray
uniform coat lost its gilt buttons that
right, sat We saw them again ere we babe
a hnal adieu to Australia, suspended from
watchgnards depending from the necks OF
DrIsht-eyed women, and we appreciated
the compliment thus paid, not to Us, but
to orr country.
From that time forward until the end
nj OR soJGurn III Australia, it was little
else than one continuous fete. Every
place of public amusement was not only
open to us, but our presence was earnestly
solicited by the managers thereof, prob
ably because we were curiOSiticS, and drew
wei. Balls, SOIreeS, and receptions fol-
lowed i'll such rapid succession that the
memory of one was lost in another.
Occasionally there was little break in
this delightful round of pleasures. Once l
recall, Il Jovial party had assembled at
Scott :, one Of the principal hotels of Mel
bourne, where, if there was not Il feast of
reason, there was an immense flow of
soul. There were perhaps IL or 20 col
lected III the large parlor, and among them
Il few of the officers of our ship, who were
ndulSing III an occasional patriotic toast.
We were just sitting down to sump-
tuouS rcpaSt when an individual entered.
invited himself to join us, and forthwith
commenced a TRADE upon rebels and the
Southern Confederacy, making use of such
language as gentlemen seldom submit TO
in silence.
He had not proceeded in this manner
many minutes ere our Assistant Surgeon
sprang 10 his feet, and dealt him Il blow
between the eyes that laid him SPRAYING.
In another instant the fight was general;
glasses and decanters We're diverted from
their legitimate use and turned into mis-
siles of oifense; knives were drawn, and
one or two shots were fired, but fortu nate
ly without any serious results, though for
few moments there was such a scene of
excitement and confusion as | have sell
dom witnessed; but the Shenandoah men
We're victorious, drove their antagonists
from the field, and then marched off to the
theater in a body, to conclude the evening
III Il less eXhilarating pastime.
Our repairs Were at length effected, and
by the aid of steam-tug we left the slip
amid the cheers of quite cOncOurSe
who had assembled to see us off, and
ships We're saluting in every direction as
we moved along toward our former
anchorage. i-"'
Before reaching it, we hauled alongside
the John Frazer, a merchant ship from
Liverpool, and took in 800 tons of coal,
which with the 400 we already had nm