Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/421

Rh down to the cabin, where he saw the captain of the Alabama, who was enjoying his cigar and wine, but unmindful of the forms of hospitality to his visitor. He took Capt. Simes's papers, and asked many questions about the ship, her cargo, owners, &c, and her value, where the cargo was owned, &c. Among the papers attached to a bill of lading was a certificate of the British consul in New York, showing that the goods on board were the property of John B. Spence, of Liverpool. When this was shown Semmes, he declared it to be "bogus," and that it was "prepared by the owners for the purpose of saving their vessel."

The rebel commander then asked the Yankee many questions about the armies and their movements, how many vessels were being added to the navy, their whereabouts, and sought information of this character with much apparent interest.

He told of his having burned eleven whale-ships off the Western islands, and that he had landed one hundred and ninety seamen in that vicinity, and then had fifty-four on board in irons. He informed the captain that he was retaliating for the harsh treatment his purser had received on board of a Federal vessel, by putting everyone he captured in irons;—indeed there was a bag of irons brought on deck with which to decorate the Emily Farnum's crew, when they should be sent below.

After consulting with his clerk, Semmes doubtless reflected that it was hardly the proper exhibition of gratitude for him to burn a vessel containing a cargo consigned to and owned by John Bull, and destined for the port from which he had fitted out, and he asked Capt. Simes how long it would take him to reach Liverpool, and if he were willing to take all his (Semmes's) prisoners who were on board, and the crew of the Brilliant, as he intended to burn that vessel, if he would let him (Simes) proceed, though very much against his will, as he would have liked to have destroyed the ship. Capt. Simes was not long in accepting Semmes's offer, and after parols were signed the former returned to his own ship. The next day the Emily Farnum received on board seventy-eight of Semmes's prisoners, being captains, officers, and crews of three vessels previously captured. Captain Simes then got under weigh with his ship and proceeded toward Liverpool, a happier man.

As his ship slowly sailed away from the spot where she came near being destroyed, he saw the flames rise from the Brilliant, the pirate steamer lying a short distance to the windward, as if contemplating the deed with Confederate satisfaction.

It is probable that the wise precaution of the Portsmouth owners in having attached to the bill of lading of a part of the cargo of the Emily Farnum the certificate that these were British goods, saved the ship. Capt. Simes's passengers were cared for on board, and all save the three captains, mates, and one man, who were a few days after placed on board of the brig Golden Lead, of Thomaston, bound to New York, landed at Liverpool in about a fortnight. There the captain escaped without even going through the slim formality of bonding his vessel, and the Emily Farnum survived the fortunes of the war, to find afterward a watery grave in another part of the world. Captain Simes's private log in which these events were recorded at the time affords entertaining reading, and in future years will doubtless be prized as one of the rare relics of the war of the rebellion.