Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 25.djvu/132

 128 Southern Historical No, /</// Papers.

lent quality, and the Confederates lay by two days supplying their steamer with necessaries. The whaleship was then burned, and Waddill landed for a day at Tristan and made arrangements with the native Governor to receive the Edward' s crew, most of whom were Sandwich Islanders.

Soon after the departure from Tristan it was found that a serious accident had happened to the propeller shaft of the Shenandoah and it became necessary to seek some considerable port for repairs. Cape Town was nearest, but Commander Waddill preferred making Melbourne, if possible, the course thither lying nearer the more fre- quented tracks of the United States vessels. The voyage was marked by the capture of several merchantmen.

The character of the Shenandoah was known at Melbourne, and she dropped anchor in Hobson's Bay, cheered and surrounded by the steamers in the haven. The next day the work of repairing the ship was begun, and during the delay several of the crew embraced the opportunity to desert, all of them being men who had joined the Shenandoah from captured ships. The attempt of Waddell to pur- sue and bring back these men was obstructed by the United States Consul, as well as by the Australian authorities. The Shenandoah, in a fortified British port, was in no position to resist these acts, and on February i8th, the repairs and coaling having been completed, the port was cleared.

The delay of the steamer at Melbourne had operated against suc- cess for the Shenandoah in the South Pacific. The whaling fleets of that ocean had received warning of the presence of the privateer, and had departed for sheltering ports of the Arctic Ocean. Learn- ing from a passing steamer that some United States whaling vessels were to be found in a harbor of the Caroline Islands, Waddell di- rected his course thither, reaching the islands early in April.

An English pilot, who had been living there for years, volunteered his services to the Confederate, and brought the steamer to anchor in sight of four vessels flying the American flag. The flag of the Shenandoah was not yet displayed.- After anchorage was secured, four armed boats were dispatched with orders to capture the vessels and bring their officers, ships' papers, log-book, instruments for nav- igation and whaling charts to the Shenandoah. After the boats left the steamer the Confederate flag was hoisted and a gun fired. This signal, announcing the character of the warship, brought down the American flags and the seizure was immediately made. Waddell