The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-06-19

among the last to turn sorrowfully away
from Il cause which had no longer flag
to defend, or a Government to save Its
adherents ON the seas from the stigma OF
piracy.
On Saturday, the 9TH of October, 1864
the English steamer, Sea King" left hel
moorings in London, having cleared for
Bombay, or any other port IN the East
Indies, on voyage not to exceed two
years. She was long, rakish vessel of
100 tons register. with an auxiliary en-
CINE of go nominal horsepower. with
which she was capable of steaming 10
knots an hour She was the handiwork
of Stevens & Son, the celebrated build
ers on the River Clyde, in Scotland, and
had been launched the preceding year, at
ter which she had made one voyage to
New Zealand as a transport for British
troops.
On this, her first, voyage she proved
herself one of the fastest sailers afiOat,
her log showing at times over 30 miles
in "a hours. Such n vessel, with such 4
prestige, was not likely to escape the not
ice of the Confederate agents in England,
who We're on the lookout for suitable craft
for privateering purposes, and quietly, so
quietly in fact, that except those imme-
diately connected with the transaction, no
one was aware of it. this splendid ship
was sold TO the Confederacy. and lay in
the basin taking in coal and provisions
sufficient for u months cruise, without
awakening n suspicion in official circles,
or even in the mind of the public, as to
her ultimate destination, or the important
part she was to play in the great drama
of the American civil war.
When everything was arranged, the
Sea. King hauled out of the basin, and
proceeded to sea under the command of
Capt. Corbet an English ship-master,
and flying the English flag. ..
She carried two 12-pounders, such as
are usually mounted upon an East. In
diaman of her size, and, in brief, so well
had the whole affair been managed, that
there was nothing in her departure to ex-
cite even passing attention. 1t was only
an ordinary vessel setting sail upon an
ordinary voyage.
ELUDING VIGILANCE OF UNION SPIES.
She was scarcely clear of the ground,
However, when n telegram was flashed to
Liverpool, advising the Confederate agent
at that port, that the first part of the
great program had been accurately per-
formed. and about o'clock the same eve
ming mysterious individual was fitting
from place to place in that city, advis-
ing certain other persons that the mo-
ment they had been SO anXiously await
ing for some weeks had arrived; and an
hour later, from hotels, boarding houses,
and apartments pretending and unpretend-
ing, issued forth 4 score or more of men,
natives of the sunny South, who had
staked life and fortune on the hazard Of
a desperate game, and took their solitary
way toward the landing stage where
steam tug was in waiting to convey them
on board the steamer Laurel.
These persons were the officers of the
Confederate cruiser Shenandoah, into
which the Sea King was to be trans
formed few days later at the Island
of Madeira, and the steamer Laurel con-
faipe1 har and and y-a
to meet her there, although ostensibly
bound TO Nassau or Havana. with sup
plies for the Confederate Government.
The Laurel was commanded by Lieut..
Ramsey, and although Confederate YES
sci. she flew the English flag.
Our baggage had all been previously
sent on board packed in dry goods boxes
marked with a diamond and number
above it, by which each officer was known,
and at the msment of departure every
one was furnished with a receipt, Of
which the following, except the name Gin
all cases fctitious), is copy.
Received from Mr.. Elias Smith, 80
pounds, for his passage in the cabin of
Steamer Laurel, from this port to
Havana.
f32. HENRY LAFONE.
II was a chilly October evening, with
heavy Eiist rendering everything half in
when, after receiving the above document,
/ sailed forth from my Liverpool lodgings,
conscious that at last | was setting out
nupon the adventurous career for which
Il had so long been preparing.
No one unless he has stood in n similar
,place can appreciate the crowd of emo
tons that whiried through my mind. i
was about to JOIN, clandestinely, vessel
commissioned by a Government still in
embryo, but which | had sworn to sup
port, to cruise against the commerce Of
another Government which still claimed
me as its iieee subject. If the cause
upheld was successful, there was wealth.
fame, and glory, to be earned; If it failed,
q feions doom impcEded over NE and my
associates; but | was too young and hope
full to long contemplate the dark side Of
the case; the ship was to join was ahoat;
the ocean was before US, and, saiior-ike.
was content to put my trust IN Provi-
dence, Neptune, and the Southern Con
federacy.
1t was curious, too, as / plodicd my
solitary way down the wet, slippery street.
to see other men accoutered Ike myself,
and bound, as j well knew, upon the same
mission, without yentuIing to exchange
with them word Of greeting; but the in
functions OF secrecy were peremptory, and
too much was ut stake for orders to be
lightly disregarded.
We were obliged to be thus secret in
our movements, To avoid being detected by
some of the numerous spies employed by
the United States Consul ut Liverpool,
10 watch the movements of the Confed-
crates in that city, and prevent If posi-
BILE the shipment of munitions of war or
the fitting out Of vessels i'll the Southern
interest: consequently the Laurels pas
sengers affected TO be entire strangers TO
each other and avoided all appearance OF
concert of action until they were safe on
board. This was accomplished before
midnight, and having shown our receipts,
We Were conducted to our State-rooms aud
berths, and at 4 a. IN. proceeded TO sea
under steam.
After passing Holyhead and getting
fairly outside, all restraint was thrown off
and We warmly congratulated Capt Ram.
sey upon the admirable manner in which
he had succeeded in Guiding the lynx eyes
of Uncle Sans men, and getting to sea
with the armament TO equip ard the off
GERS TO take charge of our new cruiser
1t was, upon the whole, 4 merry com
pany that assembled in the cabins of the
Laurel that memorable Sunday morning
There We're some faces upon which ths
shadow OF parting from loved ones still
fingered, and some heavy hearts, ! doubt
not. were concealed under Il gay exterior
but there was so much that was al!urin;
In the wild romance OF the life before us
such wide range for hope, so many prob
abilities in cur favor that care sorrow
and anxiety driftcd pretty rapidly to Ice
ward. and with the first splicing of tn,
main hf.a 80 r.I