the Sea King then went to the back of Deserta Island, and the Laurel went to the front of the island, and was chased by a vessel of war of the United States of America, and the Sea King sailed away in another direction, and that her name was then changed to the Shenandoah. That I heard the fireman of the said steamer Shenandoah, one Jackson, a native of Liverpool, say, that he came out on the Laurel together with Simpson, a native of Ireland; William a native of Birkenhead; Jim, the ward-room boy, a native of Liverpool; Bay Jones, steerage steward, a native of London; Lou Wester, fireman, a native of London; also another man, a native of London, called Cockney, to join the Shenandoah steamer; and all the said parties at different times told me that they left Liverpool to join the ship Sea King. 12. That one Guy, the gunner of said steamer Shenandoah, and a native of Plymouth, or somewhere in the west of England, told the mate of the schooner Lizzie M. Stacy, taken as a prize in my presence, that he shipped at London in the Laurel steamer to come out and join the Sea King steamer. 13. That among the officers and crew of the Shenandoah are the following persons, viz, O'Brien, head engineer; third engineer; Jim - the fourth engineer; Simpson, sail-maker; Jim boatswain's mate; Crawford, gunner's mate; Bullock, sailing-master, whom I have heard at different times remark" that we did not do so (referring at different times to the working of the guns) on board the Alabama." 14. That the said Simpson told me he was on board the Alabania at the time of her engagement with the Kearsarge, United States ship of war, and that he was a paroled priscner. 15. That at the time I was first taken on board the Shenandoah, I saw the bell of the said steamer marked or cut with the words Sea King, and also the stanchions had the words Sea King cut on them, and the words were subsequently filed out of the bell and scraped off the stanchions, and the table services and cloths of the said steamer were marked with the words Sea King, up to the time I left her in Hobson's Bay as aforesaid. 16. That after I was taken on board the said steamer Shenandoah, the following vessels were captured, namely, the Charter Oak, on or about the 5th day of November, 1864; the Lizzie M. Stacy, schooner; De Godfrey, bark; Susan, brig; Kate Prince, ship; Edward, bark; and Delphine, bark; and all the said vessels, with the exception of the Kate Prince, were either burned or sunk. 17. That a number of persons taken as prisoners, amounting in all to twenty-five, were on or about the 12th day of December, 1864, landed by the said steamer Shenandoah, at Tristan d'Acunha, an island in the Atlantic Ocean, and there left by the said steamer. (Signed) WILLIAM BRUCE. [60] *Sworn at the city of Melbourne, in the colony of Victoria, this 7th day of February, in the year of our Lord 1865, before me. (Signed) WM. BLANCHARD, United States Consul, Melbourne. [Inclosure 15 in No. 9.) Testimony of John H. Colby. I, John H. Colby, of Liberty, Maine, United States America, do solemnly declare and say: That I shipped in Boston, Massachusetts, on board the schooner Lizzie M. Stacy, bound for Honolulu, and sailed in said vessel on the 4th day of October, 1864; that on or about the 13th day of November, 1864, the said schooner was hove-to by a blank shot from a steamship, under both steam and sails; that I with the rest of the crew was ordered to pack up my things immediately and go on board said steam-vessel by order of a person in uniform, who I afterward found was acting as second lieutenant of said steam-vessel; said lieutenant said that I was a prisoner of the Confederate States; that I with the rest of the crew was then put on board of said steam-vessel; that I asked said officer before leaving the schooner what was the name of said warvessel; that said officer replied "Name unknown;" that upon being taken on board said steamer I was put in irons for the night, and the next morning released, and they tried to force me to work, but I resisted; the first lieutenant then ordered me to be triced up by the thumbs, and by these and other coercive measures I was in time compelled to join the vessel, in order to relieve myself from tortures and punishments; that I saw the name Sea King upon the bell, the wheel, the buckets, &c.; the name upon the wheel was afterward ground out, I turning the grindstone for that purpose; that the bell was taken by a person acting as carpenter's mate to the engine-room, and H. Ex. 282, vol. iii-41 the name was there filed out; that if the bell and wheel were now examined, it would be clearly evident that a name on each had thus been erased; that I served on board the said vessel until her arrival in Hobson's Bay on the 25th of January, 1865; that I came ashore on liberty on Monday the 30th of January, 1865; that while on board I learned the said vessel was called the Shenandoah. (Signed) Sworn in duplicate before me this 2d day of February, 1865. (Signed). JOHN H. COLBY. WM. BLANCHARD, United States Consul, Melbourne. [Inclosure 16 in No. 9.] Mr. Duffett to the attorney-general, Melbourne. MELBOURNE, 83 COLLINS STREET, WEST, SIR: On Monday, the 2d instant, I attended at your chambers with Mr. Blanchard, the American consul, and left certain depositions (which he had caused to be taken) with your secretary, Mr. Chomley, for your perusal, with the view to establish that the Shenandoah is in fact the Sea King, &c. Mr. Blanchard considered it to be his duty to place the depositions above referred to › in your hands, so as to enable the government to take such steps in the matter as they may think necessary. Mr. Blanchard has instructed me to state that he will on hearing from you be happy to attend you with the further evidence he has obtained in this matter. Melbourne, February 4, 1865. SIR: I am directed by the attorney-general to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3d instant, and to inform you that he has received and read the depositions in reference to the Shenandoah, and if Mr. Blanchard desires to see him, he will be glad to receive him on Monday next, at 12 o'clock noon, at these offices. I have, &c., DEAR SIR: The attorney-general has written me stating that he will be happy to see you on Monday next at 12 o'clock at the Crown law-offices. Yours, faithfully, JOSEPH G. DUFFETT. [Inclosure 19 in No. 9.] Testimony of George Silvester. I, George Silvester, at present of the city of Melbourne, in the colony of Victoria, able seaman, make oath and say: 1. That I am a native of London, England. 2. That on the 5th day of October, 1864, I signed articles as a seaman to proceed to Nassau or the Gulf of Mexico, in the steamer Laurel, and on the following day I went on board the said steamer Laurel, then lying in the dock at Liverpool, and on the same day the said steamer Laurel went into the river Mersey, and while there I saw several cases on board as cargo, which I subsequently saw opened. 3 That on the 8th day of October, 1864, at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, (the said steamer Laurel then being in the Mersey,) I assisted in taking on board 57 barrels of gunpowder, which were stowed in the said steamer Laurel, and after the said gunpowder was put on board, a steam-tug came alongside, bringing with her all of the officers and some of the crew that were on board of the steamship Shenandoah, at the time of her arrival at Hobson's Bay, (except the first lieutenant,) who then came on board the said steamer Laurel, as passengers, and the same night two steam-tugs came alongside the said steamer Laurel, and from them were put on board her a number of large cases which I saw subsequently opened, and also shot and shell. That I assisted in storing the gunpowder put on board as aforesaid, and then saw several cases on board the said steamer Laurel, which I believe were put on board in dock, and which I subsequently saw opened on the Sea King steamer off Madeira, and cannon taken out of them. 5. That on the 9th day of October, 1864, the said steamer Laurel sailed from the Mersey, and on the 4th of the said month arrived at Madeira, where she took in coal and remained there for three days, when on or about the 18th of the said month a steamer came in and signalized the Laurel. 6. That the said steamer Laurel hove her anchor and followed the said steamer, at the same time signalizing to stand in for, as I recollect, Funchal, which the said steamer did, and at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon the said steamer and the Laurel steamer were alongside each other, and I then saw that the said steamer was a steamer called the Sea King. 7. That at this time both vessels were flying the English flag, and the Sea King anchored, and the Laurel fastened to her, and both hauled down their flags, and Waddell and all the officers brought out in the Laurel steamer went on board the said steamer Sea King, and took charge of her, and the Laurel's cargo was then transferred to the said Sea King steamer, the last of which was put on board on the morning of the 19th day of October, 1864, the crew having worked all night, when the [62] *confederate flag was hoisted on board the said Sea King steamer, and the said Waddell (who now commands the Shenandoah) then asked the original crew of the said Sea King to enlist for a cruise on board the Sea King, (the captain who brought out the said steamer Sea King having, as soon as the Laurel's cargo was transferred, gone on board the Laurel,) which they refused to do, with the exception of four, namely, Martin, store-keeper; Hutchinson, engineer; W. Clark, coal-passer; Jones, engineer, steward, who enlisted with the said Waddell, and went on board the said Sea King, and the said Waddell also enlisted several from among the crew of the steamer Laurel, and to such as joined paid them £15 sterling as bounty, and agreed to give them (the sailors) £6 sterling per month for wages, independent of prize-money. 8. That the said Waddell said in my hearing "that he was going to wage war with the Federals," and subsequently proceeded to sea; the crew of the Sea King who did not join being put on board the Laurel. 9. That I saw the words "Sea King" on the buckets of the said steamer Sea King, on the life-buoys, on two bells on board, on the wheel and stanchions, and on the harnesscasks, when I joined her as aforesaid, and I heard that the said steamer Sea King was to be called the Shenandoah, and at different times on the cruise the said words 66 Sea King" were painted over on the boats, and were erased at different times from the said other parts. 10. That the steamship Shenandoah, now in Hobson's Bay, Victoria, is the steamer Sea King I joined as aforesaid. 11. That the bolts now used for fastening the guns of the Shenandoah were brought out by and transferred from the Laurel steamer to the Sea King. 12. That the said cases put on board the Laurel steamer, and by her transferred to the Sea King steamer, off Madeira, as aforesaid, were afterward opened on board the Sea King steamer, at this time called the Shenandoah, and cannon taken out therefrom; also carriages, upon which they were mounted, and put on deck of the said steamer Shenandoah, and are now there, and from others of the said cause shot and shell were taken and stored on board the said steamer Shenandoah. 13. That the said gunpowder brought out by the Laurel steamer was put on board the Sea King steamer, afterward called the Shenandoah, as aforesaid. 14. That on the said cruise we fell in, on the 29th day of October, 1864, with the bark Alina, (with railway-iron,) which was scuttled, and afterward with the schooner Charter Oak, which was burned; the bark De Godfrey, which was also burned; the brig Susan, which was scuttled; the ship Kate Prince, which was bonded; the bark Adelaide, which was bonded; the schooner Lizzie M. Stacy, which was burned; the whalingvessel Edward, which was burned; and the bark Delphine, which was burned. 15. That at the time the Sea King was left by the Laurel her whole crew, including officers, numbered twenty-three. 16. That the several seamen who joined the Shenandoah from prizes did so in order to avoid punishment. 17. That I am a naturalized citizen of the United States of America. 18. That when I first went on board the Sea King steamer from the Laurel there were two guns then on board of her mounted, which were guns throwing about a 16pound shot, and with these guns all the captures made by the Shenandoah were made. 19. That the said two guns were not brought out in the Laurel. (Signed) GEORGE SILVESTER. Sworn at the city of Melbourne, in the colony of Victoria, this 16th day of February, 1865, before me. (Signed) WM. BLANCHARD, United States Consul, Melbourne. [Inclosure 20 in No. 9.1 Deposition of Edward S. Jones. I, Edward S. Jones, at present of the city of Melbourne, in the colony of Victoria, officer, do solemnly and sincerely declare: That I am a native of Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. [63] *That on the 12th of October, 1864, said bark sailed for Akyab, with machinery on board, and that up to the 29th December, 1864, nothing unusual occurred. That on the 29th December a sail was descried, about 10 a. m., ahead, and that coming up with her about 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, I saw above alluded to vessel flying the English flag, when the bark Delphine continued her usual course, showing the United States flag. The vessel in question then hauled down her flag, and hauled to wind, as we supposed to speak us. She had no suspicious pennant about her, but I was then able to see that she was a steamer; said vessel subsequently hoisted the confederate flag, and fired blank shot, whereupon the Delphine hove-to. A boat from said vessel with five men and two officers, named Bullock and Minor, all well armed, boarded the bark Delphine. Bullock spoke to Captain Nichols, the captain took ship's papers, and at the request of said Bullock, Captain Nichols went on board the said vessel, where I was requested by said Bullock to accompany him. The boat of said vessel transferred us from said vessel, which we were told was the Shenandoah; Captain Nichols was ordered in the cabin, whereas I stopped on deck. Soon afterward Captain Nichols came from cabin, and told me the captain of Shenandoah had condemned his vessel (Delphine) and that the said captain ordered him to proceed on board her, in order to bring off his (Captain Nichols's) wife and child, as well as clothing. The first lieutenant of the said Shenandoah, Mr. Whittle, told me he had orders from his captain not to allow me to proceed again on board bark Delphine. Captain Nichols soon afterward arrived on board the Shenandoah, accompanied by his wife and child, and they brought also their clothes. Upon Captain Nichols's return to the Shenandoah, I was allowed to go to the bark Delphine, and immediately on reaching her, Bullock asked me to assist in setting fire to her, which I positively refused. The crew of said Shenandoah removed several boat-loads of stores, in which the crew of Delphine were made to assist. At about 10 o'clock in the evening I left the Delphine, and saw her set on fire by Bullock and a man Simpson. I did not see her sink. The paymaster of the Shenandoah told me I was a prisoner of war, and made me sign a parole. That while on board of the Shenandoah I noticed three boats, all buckets, all lifebuoys, and many knives and forks bore the mark "Sea King," and I was told by Mr. Bullock, sailing-master, Cotton, master's mate, Hutchison, third engineer, Minor, master's mate, and the carpenter, O'Shea, that the Sea King was her name previous to her being changed into Shenandoah. I have heard repeatedly all the officers say, with the exception of Mr. Whittle, that they came out from Liverpool in the Laurel to join this ship, meaning the Sea King, of London. I heard said officers also say that the guns and ammunition came out in the Laurel, and that it was a pre-arranged plan to meet the Sea King and proceed on a cruise. I also heard said officers state that the guns on the Shenandoah, as well as the ammunition, were transshipped from the Laurel on the Shenandoah off Madeira. I also heard them say that the Laurel awaited the Sea King at Madeira for some days, and that on the Sea King rounding a certain point, she was cheered by the crew and passengers of the Laurel, that the two ships signaled to each other, and that the Sea King, without coming to anchor, proceeded out again to sea, and was soon afterward followed by the Laurel. I heard Mr. Hunt, master's mate, say that the Sea King was bought in London for the confederate government for a sum, to the best of my recollection, of £45,000, (say forty-five thousand pounds.) I heard third engineer say that he shipped in her in London for Bombay. The carpenter of the Shenandoah, Mr. O'Shea, told me that when he went on board the Shenandoah, she had no bolts to lash the guns, but that the bolts now serving, and which were made for that purpose, came with the Laurel from Liverpool, and that he fixed them. The reason why I was not confined was, because the captain was in hopes that I would join his ship. The first day of my stay in the Shenandoah, the first officer, one Whittle, wanted to put me in irons, whereupon Captain Waddell told him not to do so, as I might probably volunteer to become one of the ship, as he liked my broad shoulders. I was frequently offered to join the ship, and promised $75 a month, payable in gold, if I did so. That two days before arriving in Hobson's Bay, I had to sign in duress, a parole, and on reaching Melbourne placed myself under the protection of the United States consulate. (Signed) EDWARD S. JONES, First Mate late Bark Delphine. Subscribed and sworn to in duplicate before me this 6th day of February, 1865, as witness my hand and seal of office. (Signed) WM. BLANCHARD, United States Consul, Melbourne. I, the undersigned, James Ford, of New York, United States of America, now residing in Melbourne, hereby declare: That during the month of June, 1864, I shipped on board the United States brig Susan, at Philadelphia, as a seaman, and remained on board her up to the time of her capture by the so-called confederate steamer Shenandoah. That said ship Susan sailed on the 29th September, 1864, from Cardiff, bound for Rio Grande, under Captain Hanson. That nothing unusual occurred on said ship until the 10th November, when we sighted a sail ahead of us at about half past 3 o'clock a. m., making an eastward course. At about half past 5 o'clock same day, I was told by one of the crew below, the vessel we sighted before was running up astern. I then went on deck and saw said ship running toward us, flying the English flag; thereupon the captain gave orders to hoist our flag, after which the said vessel fired a blank shot and hoisted the confederate flag. Not heaving-to immediately, a second blank shot was fired, whereupon the said ship Susan hove-to. A boat with five men arrived, with two officers named Chew and Brown, boarded us, and took the captain and first mate on board the Shenandoah, one officer accompanying them; whereas the other took possession and command of the said vessel Susan. The same boat, accompanied by another, again came to the said ship Susan with about ten men, armed; they lowered the boat to the ship Susan, and ordered the crew to put their clothing, allowing only one bag per man, on board said boat. The crew from the Shenandoah then took such stores from the Susan as they thought most desirable, and made crew of Susan give assistance in taking stores off. I was asked on board the Susan to join the crew of the Shenandoah, which I declined. The crew from the Shenandoah then scuttled ship Susan, as I heard them knocking off planks in the hold. I, with others, then went on board the Shenandoah, and was again asked by officers and crew to join the ship, which I did, being unwell at the time. I then signed the articles for a cruise; the mate and second mate, who would not join, were put in irons, whereas the captain was left at liberty. When on board the Shenandoah, I noticed that two 12-pounder guns, the bell, the wheel, and some buckets bore the marks Sea King, and on the bow I noticed the letters "ING." That while sailing I was told by Warren, boatswain's mate, to assist in taking down the bell, which I did, and it was taken in the engineer's room. Subsequently I noticed the said bell hung up, but the name Sea King erased, and the marks of files or some instrument of that description were visible when I landed. The name Sea King was also erased or taken off from the guns and wheel, all of which bear marks to that effect. That I overheard frequent conversations to the effect that the Laurel and Sea King met at Madeira, arriving to a prearranged plan, the former having ammunition, arms, and officers and crew on board for the latter. I cannot swear to the parties I overheard telling above. That out of a crew of about fifty sailors (officers excluded) no more than four or six born or naturalized Americans were on board, the majority of the others being of British origin. That the above four to six born or naturalized Americans were captured prisoners, and in preference to torture enlisted, but that the original crew of sailors is of entirely foreign descent. |