Year: 1863

ARCHER.


I,Albert p. Bibber, OF Falmouth, in the Dis
trict and State OF Maine, on oath, depose and
say, that on the 25th day of June, A. ID. 1868,
between ten and eleven O'Clock A. NJ, l was
In my row boat about eight miles TO the south
east OF the Damariscove Island, hauling my
trawl, aided by Elbridge Titcoinb. We had
about twenty-five lines TO our trawl aud we
had underseen all but two lines. There we're
no other boats near us, except one about half
mile OIL. The nearest land was Pumpkin
Island, and that about five miles oil. |
saw fishing vessel running down to us about
half mile distant, bearing about south west.
The persons on board hailed us, "Boat ahoy
Come alongside" / replied, II cannot do it''
They ordered me alongside again. and | told
them could not come, that | was under my
trawl. They replied, "Cut it." | replied
shouldn't do 1t. The vessel then stood off a
short distance and hove to, put out a boat
with five men in it, and the boat soon came
alongside my boat. The man in charge of
the boat told me that was taken by the Con-
federate Privateer Alabama, that is, as near
as l can recolleet l think part had pistols
and all had side knives. Two of them got in
TO my boat and ordered me aud my partner
alongside their vessel, the two strangers row.
ing as well as my partner and myself. / went
aboard with my partner, and we were both
left to go about as we chose.


The vessel was fishing schooner of about
ninety tons, all fitted aud found for the Banks
l did not see more than eight or nine men on
board, besides myself and Titcomb. | don't
remember what, IL anything, was said before
was ordered into the cabin. Titcomb was
ordered in first, and he left when went in
had been on board an hour or more, when /
was ordered into the cabin. ! took a seat, and
the person l took for the captain asked me
where ! belonged. told him belonged near
by Portland. He asked me about the war, the
fishery, the steamboats, and the cutter. He
seemed principally to want to know the news
about the war. l told him had been fishing
some time, that had not heard of any late
news, and had not heard anything that was
going on. l told him all / knew about the
steamboats, and the hours they run, but told
him was not very well posted about them.
He seemed to want 10 know most about what
time English boats run. | told him | could
not tell where the cutter was, but saw top
sail schooner 60 into Boothbay harbor that
morning that took for her. told him that
the last | knew, her complement Of men was
thirty but that had not known anything about
her for long time. don't recolect that he
asked anything about her guns. He got up
and started to go out of the cabin saving.
"All want OF you is to take this vessel in aud
out OF Portland" | made no answer That
was all he said to me for the day, that recoI-
icSh VI. went upon uecN ana stayed there
most OF the time until we came TO anchor in
Portland harbor. He did not call upon me to
take the vessel in, and did not assist in the
least in taking her into Portland harbor.


We finally came 10 anchor to the eastward
OF Pomeroy's rock of Fish Point, Portland
harbor, about quarter of a mile from the
rock. 1t was, should judge, at the time we
anchored about hall-past seven or near sunset
of said Friday, and | remained upon deck un-
al ina nh ei,ol- I., az.
passed on deck, out OF the cabin, ten or twelve
clothes bags. All the persons on board were
at the time they took me and remained all the
time was with them, in ilsherinen's clothes,
except the person | have called the captain.
He had on blue or black pants aud blue
frock coat. He had nothing on that looked
like uniform, either naval or military. After
they got into the harbor OF Portland the men
put on their belts, pistols, and cutlasses. and
most OF them were SO armed before nine
O'Clock. My partner was with me most OF tile
time lie did not assist at all in plotting the
vessel into the harbor, and neither was called
upon for that purpose. About o'clock Tit
comb and myself were ordered below into the
cabin and fastened up, and one man was left
al the gangway, as near as we could Judge
From the time that ! went on board until we
were put below, no boat left the vessel and no
person left it. When we were thus put into
the cabin we laid down in the berths. man
came down and said, Men, don't attempt to
come upon deck tonight. Make no noise or
resistance, and II will be all the better for
you.' said, aye, aye, sir" From the time
we went on board the vessel until we went be-
low as Just stated, no boat came TO the vessel
ana no person communicated with any one on
BOARD. l. was on deck constantly, excepting
the tiine was in the cabin first as before stat
ed, and the time spent in eating dinner


Aiter being left alone heard noise of hoist
ing ana STIR about deck until should think
Twelve, or nalf-past twelve o'clock I should
judge. did not sleep wink. and I heard
nothing afterwards but the tread of the watch
man on deck until about daybreak. Then
heard noise alongside. Men got upon deck
and opened the companion way down and or
dered us upon deck. Titcomb and myself
both went on deck. The vessel was where
sne was when l went below at night Both
Iitcomb and myself were ordered into our
own boat alongside. / hesitated moment.
The order came, "Hurry up men; hurry up
men, and so / went aboard. Three or fonr
men got INTO the boat and rowed us alongside
the cutter. 1t was daylight, and could see
the cutter near us with all sail on and two
boats towing. She was about an eighth of .
mile east of Fish Point. When we COT along
side was ordered on board, and think one
man got out with me, an officer think


Nothing was SAID 10 me for an hour shouId
think, when one of the men said to me ..what
do you think of this? Did you think Of this
when we came in last night?" replied that
did not. He asked me If did not think II
was well done, to take the cutter out with alI
hands aboard, without any trouble. told him
thought it was very daring act. He said
he would have done good deal more, had he
had good wind when he commenced. He
asked me, If / was acquainted through the
way the cutter was going. told him / was.
he said, is there plenty of water?" / told
MN u was a very shallow place at low water.
he SAID, Il shall go out this way.' We were