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

Of the overthrow Of the Confederate,
government all attempts to destroy
shipping or property Of the United
States will cease from this date, in
accordance with which First Lieuten-
ant w. C. Whittle received the order
from the commander to strike below
the battery and disarm the ship and
crew.
1.-The next step vas to seek asylum
with some strong nation, strong
| enough to maintain the ruling of the
law of nations and resist any demand
for our surrender to u enemies, SO
| hat we might have a full and fair
trial.
And so Waddell determined to sail
| for England. No longer did he have
legitimate authority, for his commls-
| sion expired with the collapse OF the
| Confederacy; yet so well olsclpliheo
had his crew become, that to the very
end the conduct of his crew was re-
markable.
On the 18th of September, running
at the rate of Is miles an hour, the
Shenandoah turned Cape Horn, ana
! took her course northward for Liver
| pool. we passed many Sails" says
Whittle, but exchanged no ignals.
| We were making no new acqua1nt-
ances." They crossed the equator for
the fourth time on October IL, 1865.
On October 25th, in the afternoon,
when about 500 miles south OF the
Azores, they sighted a supposed Fed
era cruiser. Their courses converg-
ed. The stranger was apparently
waiting for the approaching vessel.
Quoting now from Captain Wad-
dell: 1.-The situation was one of anx-
ious suspense. Our security, if n
remained, depended on a strict adher-
ence to our course. Deviation would
be fatal; boldness must accomplish
! 1aoantinn Still Wa fnrDn6 ftnDya rdS
the sail, and it would be madness to
stop. Darkness finally threw her
friendly folds around the anxious
hearts on the little ship and closed the
space between the vessels. What a
relief. We could not have been four
miles away"
The Shenandoah's head was then
turned southwark and steam ordered.
1t was the first time she had been
under steam since crossing the III
tor on h Pacific side; indeed, the
fires a not been lighted for a dis
lance of more than $4,000 miles. The
Shenandoah ran fifteen miles to the
eastward and then steamed north for
100 miles, when a strong southwest
wind dashed her to within 700 miles
of Liverpool. A calm then ensued,
leaving the Shenandoah in sight of
eleven sails during daylight, but the
ship vas continued under sail until
o~ oo1ii Iooh llCl Ill I1ClI
embraces. After furline all sails, the
vessel was put under steam and push
ed her way towards the desired hav-
en-.
The Shenandoah entered St.
Georges Channel on the morning of
November 5th, just 1872 days from the
Aleutian Islands W. saw no and
saws Captain WaddelI, latter leaving
the Aleutian Islands until the beacon
Ight in st. Georges Channel was seer
exactly where it was looked for. We
had sailed $4,000 miles without see
ing land and still saw the beacon ex-
actly where we expected"
The daily calculation of the ships
position was very accurate, when that
fact is considered. 1t was indeed a
most remarkable record in naviga-
ton. They received a pilot after
night. and when he was informed of
the character of the vessel, he said:
Il was reading a few days ago of her
being in the Arctic Ocean" Asked
Tor American news, he said the war
had gone against the South. That
was in November. Lees surrender
was in April.
The quiet satisfaction seen in all
countenances," says Captain Waddell,
for our success in reaching a Euro
pean port was unmistakable."
Indeed. there was cause. The chief
danger was now past. On the morn
ing of the 9Th OF November, 1865, the
Shenandoah steamed up the Mersey
bearing aloft the Confederate flag. A
Few moments after she had anchored
a British naval officer boarded her
to ascertain the name of the steamer
n he gave Captain Waddell official
information that the American wal
had terminated. No longer was
l there any Confederacy! The Southern
States were again a part of the United
States.
The Confederate flag, representing
neither people nor country. an emblem
Of an era that had closed in the his
tory of mankind, was then sorrowfuily
lowered. this historic act taking place
at 10 a. m. on the 9Th of November
! 1865. The vessel was then given in
, charge to the British government.
For a day or two some correspon-
dence was in progress between the
!. British and American authorities in
, regard to the Shenandoah, her OFF,
GERS and crew. But on the Sth OF
4 Nrvorhor tho orow Uara cnForad RI