Waiting at Tampico for orders--Seized with small-pox--My old friend
the Yankee captain--Startling news--Death of Lincoln--Surrender of
General Lee--General surmises as to the situation--I leave for
Havana--Find on arrival there a United States fleet entering the
harbour--A demand on the Spanish Government by the United
States--Critical state of affairs--Total collapse of the
Confederacy--End of blockade running.
The business of consigning and disposing of the cargo being in the
hands of the supercargo, I had nothing to do with it, and after the
cotton was landed there was little for the crew to do; and as the
mail steamer was about to leave for Havana, part of the crew were
paid off, and the price of a passage allowed them, that they might go
by it to their original port of shipment, one or two being retained
to do the necessary work on the vessel while in port.
The cargo was consigned to a Mexican firm, and they had received
advices by the mail that, anticipating the safe arrival of the
_Jeannette_ at Tampico, the tubes had been sent on from Havana by a
schooner which had been specially chartered, and which also took a
supply of coal to bring the steamer up to Havana.
As soon as I got an opportunity, I went to see Messrs. G. and Co.
about the cotton I had brought out on the second trip and consigned
to them for shipment to Liverpool.
I found neither of the partners at home, one having gone to Europe,
and the other to San Louis Potosi, in the interior.
The managing clerk, a German, said that the cotton had been shipped,
about a month previous, on their own vessel, and the account of
charges had been sent with it. He could tell me nothing about the
amount of the charges--at least, he said so--or the rate of freight.
He told me, however, that the cotton was insured in Bremen for 36,500
dollars.
I remarked that this was far above the value of the cotton, and
desired to know the amount of premium of insurance and commission on
insurance; but he was rather evasive on that point, and that Mr. G.
would give me all the particulars when he returned from the interior.
In the meantime, he represented to me how much I would be a gainer in
recovering such a large sum for the cotton in event of the vessel
being lost.
When I thought of the eventuality on which such gain depended, it
gave rise to some reflections.
I had been accustomed to baffle with seas and enemies, with the
conscious certainty that, in case of capture, wreck, or other
failure, I would sustain heavy loss, and probably worse misfortune;
whereas, if I accomplished the voyage successfully, I should be well
recompensed, and no one the loser, and many benefited.
It now seemed to me strange to find, on this second, and what was
called at the time, legitimate, shipment, the case reversed.
If the voyage was successfully accomplished, and the cotton sold in
the regular way, I knew that the price obtained for it would not
amount to much more than half of the sum it was insured for, while
the charges heaped upon it by middle-men would swallow up a large
portion of the proceeds, and leave me but a small balance; whereas,
if the vessel was lost, I should be a gainer, by obtaining in the
gross for my goods much more than their value, but the consequence of
this would be unjust loss to others, and perhaps the loss of many
lives. Yet, strange to say, the former was considered as contraband,
and by some an unholy trade, and those engaged in it regarded as a
set of reckless, lawless fellows, subject to be shot or drowned for
their tricks, while the latter was entitled lawful and honourable
business.
I did not then understand what object Messrs. G. and Co. could have
in insuring the cotton for such a large amount without my knowledge
or wish; but I subsequently found this out, when in the bill of
charges appeared the percentages on that sum in the shape of
premiums, brokerage, commissions, &c.
Returning to my duties, I had now to await the arrival of the
schooner with the tubes for the boiler, and coal, and further
instructions from Havana.
In the course of a few days the schooner arrived, and with her also
came workmen to do the repairs, which were at once proceeded with.
At this time there was an epidemic of small-pox at Tampico, but as
the inhabitants were used to such things, little notice was taken of
it. One of my men, however, was seized with the disease, and was
taken ashore to a private house, where I visited him once or twice to
see that he was properly cared for.
When the next mail arrived, I received a letter instructing me to
leave the _Jeannette_, while the repairs were being done, in charge
of the captain of the schooner, and come up at once to Havana upon
the mail steamer. I understood from this that I was wanted for
another trip from Havana to Galveston, and I would have gone at once,
but for the last few days I had felt exceedingly unwell, and had
taken up quarters on shore. On consulting a doctor, he said I must
not think of going, as he feared it was a case of small-pox. This
turned out to be the fact, but mine was rather a mild case. It,
however, shut me off from all business and communication with others
for about three weeks, during which time I knew nothing of what was
going on outside.
I had recovered, but was not yet allowed to go out, and one day was
sitting in a balcony overlooking the street, looking out for some
English-speaking personage, from whom I might learn the latest news,
when I saw, coming along the street, a person having the appearance
of an American seafaring man; and as he came nearer, I recognized the
captain of the Yankee brig, whom I had met nine months before at
Havana, from whom I had purchased the boat and other articles.
I hailed him, and he looked up, but he did not recognize me at first,
but I called his recollections to our meeting at Havana. He was
quite pleased to meet me, and started to come up, but I warned him
not to come in case of infection, but asked how he was, and where he
had left his brig.
He said his vessel was anchored in the roads taking on board
dye-wood. He was just about to sail, and was getting his clearance;
glad he was to get away, as it was a bad place to lay, and a poor
chance for trade in this place.
I said I had been shut off from the world for about three weeks, and
had heard nothing of what was going on, and I asked him what was the
latest news.
"The latest news!" said he. "Have you not heard it? Why, Lincoln
has been assassinated!"
"What?" I cried; but before I could say more, he added that General
Lee had surrendered with about 40,000 men.
I was struck with astonishment, and asked first the particulars about
Lincoln's assassination.
He could not tell me much about it, but said that gold had fallen to
150 in New York; and he asked if I knew of any one in this place who
would be likely to have any greenbacks, as he might buy them.
I directed him to a certain ship-chandler who, I knew, had some,
having got them from American seamen, and he had offered them to me
at a low figure.
The Yankee noted the address, and started off with the view of doing
a little trade.
The characteristics displayed by this Yankee I found to be general
among many of them throughout this war. While patriotic and zealous
as a nation, and indomitable in their determination to maintain the
Union, their individual proclivities for trade were so dominant, that
one thought at times their actions must be rather a strain on their
patriotism. They could, however, generally meet this with some sound
argument. Many of the keenest blockade runners were Yankees; these,
however, professed great sympathy with the South. Many of them had
resided in, or had been connected with, the Southern States before
the war, and I have no doubt they were often sincere.
I could easily account for the desire to buy up greenbacks. The last
reports I had heard of the price of gold was that it had reached 270
per cent. premium in New York, and in Havana and the other Gulf
ports, United States currency--or greenbacks, as the notes were
called--were at such a discount that three dollars of it was readily
given for one dollar in gold.
The news was rather startling to me, and I hastened to ascertain the
truth and full particulars. There was no dispute about it; the
report of the assassination of Lincoln was confirmed, as also the
account of the surrender of General Lee and his army.
As I have already observed, the seaports of the Bahamas, Cuba, and
Mexico were at this time thronged with temporary sojourners,
consisting of Yankees, Southerners, British subjects, Germans, and
other nationalities--all intent on doing a stroke of business in
connection with the war. Many of these speculated in currency,
bonds, cotton, and other commodities, of which the market value rose
or fell according to the success of either of the conflicting forces.
It may, therefore, be well imagined that rumours from reliable
sources, of great victories, crushing defeats, and important
successes of the one or the other side, were constantly being
manufactured and circulated by way of bulls or bears.
The news of Lee's surrender, however, was so authentic that no room
was left for doubt. Although many still adhered to the belief that,
disastrous as it was to the Southern cause, it did not, as a
consequence, involve the overthrow of the Confederacy; and the
Proconfederates strove to maintain that it was only a move of
expediency or strategy, whereby the greater part of Lee's army would
be transferred to General Johnson's army, who was then in such a
position, that with re-enforcements he would be able to strike a
fatal and decisive blow, which would at once turn the whole fortune
of the war in favour of the South.
Among other reports was one got up by the Proconfederates in Mexico,
that it was the determination of Generals Kirby Smith and Magruder,
commanding the forces west of the Mississippi River, that, rather
than submit to the authority of the United States, they would claim
for Texas, as a part of Mexico, the same right to sever her
connection with the United States, and again become independent, or
annex to Mexico, as she had in 1837, when she severed her connection
with Mexico, and joined the United States, and to effect this they
would form an alliance with Maximilian's Government in Mexico.
As I had but little faith in such reports and propositions, I took
passage by the mail steamer to Havana, in order to find out with more
certainty the true state of matters.
On the steamer were many passengers from Tampico, Vera Cruz, and
other places, on their way to Havana. They were mostly of the
speculative class I have referred to, and many and animated were the
discussions as to the truth of the reports, and whether the war would
or would not be terminated, and what might be the issue.
As the steamer approached Havana, a large flotilla of United States
war-vessels--among which were several powerful monitors--were seen
passing the Moro and entering the harbour. What the meaning and
object of this formidable warlike demonstration could be was now the
general conjecture.
The flotilla entered the harbour, and anchored in front of the town;
and about the same time our steamer came to an anchor; and shortly
afterwards her passengers got on shore, each one eager to learn the
cause of this great display of United States naval force in Havana
harbour.
The cause of this demonstration soon got to be known. There had been
for some time previously a formidable ironclad ram, named the
_Stonewall Jackson_, built by some foreign nation for the Confederate
Government. She was brought to Havana, and placed at the head of the
bay, alongside of the _Harriet Lane_, with the object of the two
vessels being taken to sea together, armed and commissioned to act
against the United States. These vessels still lay there.
The United States Government, on the grounds of the Confederacy being
now defunct, had--perhaps a little prematurely--despatched a
formidable fleet to Havana, to make a peremptory demand upon the
Captain-General of Cuba to deliver up these two vessels to the
commander of the fleet, in the name of the United States.
It was in the morning when this fleet entered the harbour; and
throughout the day exciting rumours were flying about, as to the
probability of an immediate rupture between the United States and the
Spanish authorities, and a conflict between their respective forces.
The first rumour that was noised around was that the United States
commander had made a peremptory demand for the immediate delivering
up of those two vessels, and adding, in a menacing tone, that he was
there with his fleet to enforce these demands.
To this the Captain-General had replied that there was the Moro
Castle and other forts commanding the harbour, and there was his
fleet of good ships, and when he had silenced the Moro Castle and
other forts and sunk his ships, he might take the vessels.
It must be understood that the general feeling in Havana was rather
in favour of the Confederacy, and there was in it a large Confederate
element of a class particularly well fitted to get up such
sensational reports; therefore such reports might be taken for what
they were worth.
There was, however, some colour to be given to those rumours by a
considerable display of activity on board of the Spanish war-vessels,
which consisted of three large frigates and some smaller vessels,
some of which were moved, and placed in position in front of the two
Confederate vessels. There was also seeming preparations on the Moro
and the other forts which commanded the harbour, and matters looked
somewhat threatening; and I suppose that a good many of the same
class and calling as myself were eagerly looking on, with the
expectation--and perhaps hope--of seeing war break out in this new
quarter.
The day passed over, however, without any event, and on the following
morning the newspapers gave an account of the affair. The statement
in the _Diario del Marino_ was that the United States Consul,
accompanied by the Commander of the United States fleet, called upon
the Captain-General, and demanded the immediate delivery of the two
Confederate vessels, on the grounds that the Confederacy, as a power,
did no longer exist, and all property which had pertained to the late
Confederacy was now claimed by the United States, and that the
Commander was present with a powerful naval force to enforce this
demand.
To this the Captain-General replied that, if he might believe the
reports of certain newspapers, the Confederate States had ceased to
exist, but he could not act on such reports, and that he must have
official instructions from his Government before he could accede to
the demand; and if force were resorted to, he must make use of what
force he had at his command to resist it, and maintain the honour of
the Spanish nation.
It must be remembered that in those days there were no marine cables,
and the quickest means of conveying intelligence from Havana to
either Washington or Madrid was by the ordinary mail route.
The position was somewhat awkward. The United States commander could
not fail to see the justice of the position taken by the
Captain-General, but his orders were imperative. The Captain-General
was firm, and his resources for defence were sufficient to warrant
him to maintain his position.
For a few days matters looked critical, and among the foreign element
there was considerable excitement, and each side had their respective
partizans.
The feeling of the North had been somewhat embittered against Havana,
owing to the sympathy which was supposed to exist there in favour of
the South, and its being the haunt of some swaggering loafers, who
had fled thither to be away from danger, and where they might boast
in the Confederate cause, and avail themselves of any opportunity
which might offer, to insult any United States officer or citizen,
where they might do so with impunity.
Among the staid old Spanish merchants there was very little
excitement. They had no fear of any conflict, but wondered whether
the United States, while claiming the assets of the Confederate
States, would not also assume the liabilities.
After a few days' negotiation, the Powers came to an understanding,
and there was no further danger of any conflict. The excitement
passed over, and about the same time came the news of Johnston's
surrender, and the total collapse of the Confederacy; and of course
blockade running, which was now being carried on upon an extensive
scale between Havana and Galveston, was all at once brought to a
termination; and the large number of swift steamers recently brought
to Havana to run the blockade were left without occupation, many of
them never getting a chance to make a trip; others, expressly built
at great expense, newly finished and fitted out, arrived at the scene
after all was over. This is what Mr. Weller senior would have called
"a rather sudden pull-up"--and so it must be with my narrative.
The exciting trade was now over, and those who had been engaged in it
had to betake themselves to other occupations. As for the large
fleet of blockade-running steamers thrown idle at Havana, it would be
difficult to say what became of them all; some returned to the ports
they came from, others were sold and fitted out for various trades,
and some lay long without being utilized for anything; and I
apprehend that there must have been considerable loss occasioned by
this sudden break-up, which would somewhat counterbalance the profits
that had been previously earned.
As regards my own losses and successes, I had now to settle up with
my partner, and that could not be done until we got the account of
the sales of our cotton at Liverpool. When these were received, we
found that the lot brought out on the second trip to Tampico, and
shipped from thence to Liverpool, and insured, as I have already
said, for 36,500 dollars (equal to £7,600 sterling), had, according
to the account sales, been sold for £1,576 1s. 10d., and the charges
upon it for freight, insurance, and commissions alone amounted to
£560.
We had expected to see a high bill of charges, but this quite
exceeded our calculations. But how the cotton, which was of a
superior quality, had been sold for such a small sum--far below the
market price--was what we could not understand. It seemed the more
strange, as some small lots, which were shipped from Havana by
Messrs. A. and Co. on our account to another firm in Liverpool, and
sold about the same time, produced a very different and more
favourable report, and when compared with the return from Messrs. G.
and Co.'s correspondents, the net proceeds were just about three
times the amount in proportion to the quantity of cotton.
Upon summing up the whole result of the three trips of the _Rob Roy_,
we found that we came out just a little better than when we began.
We had, no doubt, been lavish in our expenditure, personal and
otherwise, but as that might be called a rule of the trade, it could
not well be avoided. The disasters and losses in Texas on the first
trip threw us much behind, and it took some time to make up the
leeway.
On my own part, I found that I realized more from my wages and
bonuses for my services as master than from any trade speculations,
and I was just about that amount better in pocket than when I had
sailed out of New Orleans two years before.
As to the trade in general, it is difficult to estimate what gains or
losses accrued to those who invested in it in a business way. To
those who ventured on a large scale in steamers, the enormous price
of cotton, and the great demand for it, brought immense returns when
the voyages were accomplished safely. On the other hand--leaving out
altogether the risk of heavy loss in case of capture--the large
amount of capital invested, and the great expense of working the
business, was a considerable counterbalance. In the case of smaller
ventures in schooners, there was less at stake, but the progress was
slow, the voyages protracted, and attended with more risk and danger.
The class which I thought had the best side of the business, in a
pecuniary point of view, were the commission merchants, who acted as
consignees, agents, and brokers, at both ends of the trip, who bought
and sold the inward and outward cargoes, furnished stores, and did
the general business on commission without risk or danger.
To those who took the active part, it was--although attended with
some privation, danger, and anxiety--on the whole a rather enjoyable
occupation, with something of the zest of yacht-racing--a kind of
exciting sport of the higher order, in which the participators
regarded with more satisfaction some successful elusion of the enemy,
a chase and escape, or other adventure, than any other emolument.
THE END.
UNWIN BROTHERS, THE GRESHAM PRESS, CHILWOLTH AND LONDON.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ADVENTURE SERIES.
Illustrated. Crown 8vo, 5s.
1. Adventures of a Younger Son. By E. J. Trelawny.
2. Robert Drury's Journal in Madagascar.
3. Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp.
4. The Adventures of Thomas Fellow, of Penryn, Mariner.
5. The Buccaneers and Marooners of America.
6. The Log of a Jack Tar; or, The Life of James Choyce.
With O'Brien's Captivity in France.
7. The Voyages and Adventures of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto.
8. The Story of the Filibusters.
9. A Master Mariner. The Life and Adventures of
Captain R. W. Eastwick.
10. Kolokotrones, Klepht and Warrior.
11. Hard Life in the Colonies.
12. The Escapes of Casanova and Latude from Prison.
13. The Adventures of a Blockade Runner; or, Trade in Time of War.
(_OTHERS IN THE PRESS._)
[Transcriber's Note: Odd or unusual spellings are as printed.]