The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-13

Idepart. and soon the British govern
lment turned the vessel ever to the
limited States authorities. by whom
she was sold to the Sultan OF Zanzi-
bar, and later she was lost at sea-
She was the only vessel that carried
the Confederate flag around the world.
and she bore 1t at her mast head
seven months after the surrender OF
the Southern armies and the oblitera-
tion of the Southern C~onfederacy-
In her cruise Of thirteen months.
she ran $4,000 miles and net with no
accident; and for a period OF eight
months she did not drop her anchor.
she destroyed more vessels than any
Iother ship Of war known In history.
Except alone the Alabama, and in
Ificted heavy loss on the commerce
lof the United States.
The feeling OF the United States
was so intense against Captain Wad-
dell that he fingered sometime in
Europe before v~enturing to return TO
america Finally he came. and In
1875 the Pacific Mail Company. owned
largely by Engiishmen. running lines
of steamers from San Francisco to
Japan n Australia. engaged him as
CONN. ander OF one OF its fine steam
ships. For some years he continued
lin h a service. but on one Of his re-
turn trips. as he was nearing the
coast. HIS vessel struck a rock or BAL
mot laid down in any chart, some
thirteen miles from shore. which
had doubtless been thrown up by a
recent earthquake He had 42o pas
tsengers on board, many being women
and children. He a. once took per-
lsonal command. and by the perfect
discipline he had maintained amons.
the crew. he controlled til excited
passengers. Indeed his wa a per-
fSOnahfV that Ur0vld fnSnfra nT-.Gdanr
under all circumstances. Thrc n an
opening fifty feet lone, water ! sured
into, the vessel. He put all N, at
tne pumps, turned toward the S. re
and 1T his boats and life RATS res :.
HE got within three miles of land lie
fore he found ii necessary to abandon
1.-THE sinking vessel. Rapidly he had
the women and children transferred
ito the small boats, and then the men,
and then the crew-until at length he
lalone remained the sole human being
upon his fated ship. Then hurrying
the boats away, he himself stepped
upon a life raft, I'M when not more
Ithan nifty yards away. the great YES
Isel plunged into the waves, creating
la vortex of waters from which he
barely escaped. But no soul was lost.
His perfect self-command, his perfect
discipline, secured the safety of every
passenger. They were landed with
lout Duh on the neighboring shore,
and the admirable conduct OF Captain
lWaddeli won the highest praise.
But after that he determined to
abandon a career upon the sea, and
eventually returned to Annapolis.
Later, there being much trouble I'm
controlling the fleet of oyster boats
ION the Chesapeake that set at def
lance the laws Of Maryland, the COVER
nor or that state invited Captain wad-
laedl to take charge of the state guard
iboats In the Chesapeake. He soon es-
ltabhshed order and made the OYSTER
men respect the law.
he continued in this service at An
lnapoI1s until his death, March Is.
1855, being then in the 62d year of his
lage. The Legislature of Maryland
was in session at the time and ad-
lJourned to do him honor. The old
Confederate soldiers formed in line
land marched to his residence. Cen
Ieral George H. Stuart acted as mar
lshal and the pall-bearers were Cap
tain Morris, Captain Murray. General
bradley Johnson and other distin-
Iguished Confeders"es, while the escort
lof honor was commanded by Colonel
William Morris. The governor and
state officers participated.
Indeed it was a state funeral-the
ionly one, that we remember. ever &C.
lcorded to a Confederate in a state
north of the Potomac.
Thus was laid to rest this brave son
lof the Cape Fear, who never ceased
Ito love his native soil and his friends
land kindred in North Carolina. His
life was fu'l of vicisSitudes. but his
lguiding star was honor, and he was a
lshinin~ example of all that is admir-
liable in human character and all that
lis meritorious in human conduct.
Like many other heroes of the great
drama. he has passed away n his
grave is adorned with flowers by the
flowing hands of patriotic women
confederate wOmen. who suffered fol
1.-THE lost cause and who perpetuate
tits sacred memories. In the time OF
sorrow, the" INC their Confederate
sisters throughout the Southland
Ibore themselves with unsurpassed
lfortitude, and in these later days
they treasure the hallowed past and
keep bright the fame Of our fathers
land brothers. and tenderly pay de
lserved tribute to their honored dead
duty, Christian duty, is their watch
lword, and the people of North Caro-
lima and of the South in the ages tt
lcome-the descendants of our people
there to remote posterity-will bless
them for their noble. patriotic ant
devoted work in preserving the unsul
lied records Of the heroes of the
lS01Ithern Co~nfederacy.