The National tribune., 1902-08-07

merce. My orders directed me to visit
certain seas in preference to others. In
obedience thereto l found myself in May,
June and July of this year in the Ochotsk
Sea and Arctic Ocean. Both places, if
NOT quite isolated, are still so far re-
| moved from the ordinary channels of
| commerce that months would elapse be-
fore any news could reach them as to the
progress Or termination of the American
war.
LIN consequence of this awkward cir
cumstance l was engaged in the Arctic
Ocean in acts of war so late as the 2Sth
| Of June, in ignorance of the series of re-
| verses SUSTAINED by our arms in the field,
and the obliteration of the Government
under whose authority l had been acting.
This intelligence l received for the first
time on communicating ut sea on the I'd
of August with the British bark Barra-
couta of Liverpool, IA days from San
Francisco.
Your Lordship can imagine my sur
| prise at the receipt Of such intelligence,
and l would have given TO it little con
| sideration il an Englishman's opinion did
not confirm the war news, though from
| an enemy's port.
Il desisted Immediately from further
acts of war, and determined to suspend
! further action until l had communicated
with European port, where l could
| IL litcIiScHGe NdS true. IL
would have not been intelligent in me 10
convey this vessel to an American port,
simply because the Master of the Barra-
| couta had said the war was ended.
| Il was in an embarrassing position.
diligently examined all the law writer's at
my command, searching for a precedent
for my guidance in the future control,
management and final disposal of the YES
| sci. l could find none. History is, l be-
lieye, without Il parallel. Finding the au-
thority questionable under which | con-
sidered this vessel a ship of war, l i'm
mediately discontinued cruising and
shaped my course for the Atlantic Ocean.
As to the ships disposal, do not con
slider that l have any right to destroy
On the contrary, l think that as all the
property of the Confederate Government
has reverted by the fortune of war to
the Government OF the United States of
North America, that therefore this YES
sci, in 50 much as it was the property Of
the Confederate States, should accompany
the other property already reverted.
Il have, therefore, sought this port as
a suitable one to learn the news, and if
| am without a Government, to surrender
the ship, with her battery, small arms,
machinery, stores, tackle and apparel
complete, to Her Majesty's Government
for such disposition as in its wisdom
She Id be deemed proper.
james l. WaddeIl. Commander"
We had now to await an answer to this
letter, which would advise US whether we
were to be held as prisoners by the Brit
ish Government, turned over to the
United States authorities, or set at lii-
erty, and there was enough in the uncer-
tainty involving our fate to depress the
most buoyant spirits. But sailors seldom
quite despond. They generally discover
some bright spot in the darkest horizon,
and are prompt to take courage IL their
situation is anything short Of desperate.
As night closed round US one Of the
Past Midshipmen, with half dozen OF
the junior officers at his heels made his
, appearance in the steerage, and having
taken the general ground that so far from
having done anything to be ashamed OF
we had every reason to be proud of our
exploits, he, proposed that care be kicked
to the wall, and all apprehension drowned
in a general jubilee.
1t was just the kind of proposition
: to strike fayorably sailors ear, and er,
long a frolic was inaugurated that grad
! ually extended through almost the en-
tire ships company. A stranger drop
ping down among them would have beer
justified in thinking, from the boisterou,
hflarity everywhere observable, that We
had returned in triumph from some grand
expedition and were celebrating our vic
: tories; and had he been told that that
noisy, rollicking company were waiting
, to learn whether they were to be set fret
or handed over to the United States au
thorities to be tried for their lives, hs
!! would have considered the informer either
insane or endeavoring to practice upOr
his credulity.
The next day passed without bringing
any response from Earl Russell to the
: Captains communication, and among the