Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-11
CIVIL WAR MEMENTO
GOES TO JUNK HEAP
Large Mirror Which Adorned
British Vessel Seized as
Blockade Runner.
BITTER CONTROVERSY
FOLLOWS THE CAPTURE
Relic to Be Placed in Storage to
Await Formal Condemnation
and Sale.

A relic of the civil war. memento also
or controversy with Great Britain IS
about to go to the junk heap. \ large
plate glass mirror. framed in gold. with
a royal coat-of-arms surmount ng i:-cnce
piece of furniture OF the British mer-
chantman PeterhofT. seized as a blockade
runner in February. 1StS;-which long
adorned. the walls of the Navy Depart
ment. has been taken from its place. re-
poses now in the corridor. and presently
will go into storage to await the time it
will be regularly Condemned and sold at
public auction.
The seizure of the Peterhoff provided
the occasion for long-continued diplomatic
exchanges between the United States and
Great Britain even after her cOndemna-
ton by the prize court. but the right of
seizure ton suspicion of carrying contra
band) of neutral ships by a power at
war was finally admitted by England.
The Peterho1f. sold for sSu.'fo by the
prize court, afterWard flying the United
States flag. did patrol duty IN the block
AIDE OF southern ports. and was finally
sunk 10y the Monticello. ''-Albemare :
Cushings little yacht, in Az accidental
collision off Wilmington. y. 4.
On Way to Matamoras.
Matamoras Mexico. was the dest ma ton
of the Peterhoff when she set sail from
England. early in 1863. At that time
Matamoras was notoriously receiving
point for supplies intended TO be convey ed
across the Rio Grande into Texas for the
use Of the Confederate government. Many
nations were bringing their merchandise
to this Mexican port. among the craft
being those which hailed from New York
city. fre'ghted by unpatriotic northerners.
England's ships began to take part in
this trade. and the Peterhoff was on the
list of suspected ships.
The Peterhoff was propelled by both
sail and steam. type peculiar to the
period. She was a ship of $50 tons dis
placement and 21O feet long.
She arrived from London in due time
at the port Of ST Thomas. Danish West
Indies, where the West India squadron
of the American navy was then cruis-
ing. Rear Admiral Wilkes of Trent
fame directed the Vanderbilt. Lieut..
Baldwin. to follow the Peterhof she
overhaul her and search the ship.
Lieut.. Baldwin found her of doubtful
chara cter, and SO reported to his SUI
porior.
The papers of the Peterhoff. accord
ing to Lieut.. Baldwin. were irregular.
Her certified manifest called for a
cargo of tea. but a large number of
kegs, boxes and cases were afterward
found to contain munitions OF war. and
there was no tea. There were seven
passengers and no passenger list.
While the Peterhoff was cleared for
Matamoras. there were no official
papers except bill of health from the
Mexican consul in London. A member
of the crew told Lieut.. Baldwin that
there were a number of field pieces and
much ammunition aboard.
Seizure Is Ordered
Lieut.. Baldwin left a subordinat e
officer in charge of the Peterhoff while
he proceeded with the Vanderbilt to st.
Thomas to report to Admiral Wilkes
In his absence the attitude of the pas
sengers became SO threatening that
this junior officer feared he would have
to use force. Admiral Wilkes directed
the seizure of the ship. that a prize
crew be put aboard and the vessel
conveyed to Key West.
Officers of the Peterhoff and her pas
sengers made complaint TO the Brit
ish consular officers in the United
States and to the British ambassador in
Washington. The matter was taken
up between the foreign officers of the
American and British governments For
a time it was feared that the seizure
of the Peterhoff might become the
cause of war
The mirror was saved from the
wreck of the Peterhoff and brought as
a memento to the Navy Department for
the room of the Secretary of the NAVY.
1t held that post of dignity for many
years. then. becoming al adjunct of the
offices OF the navigation bureau, was
put In the room of the chief clerk.