Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part I
Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have transmitted to Lord Russell several additional depositions of persons engaged by Mr. Humble, for the service of the rebels. A copy of my note of the 4th instant, and of the papers, is forwarded herewith.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
[Enclosures.]
1. Mr. Adams to Lord Russell, May 4, 1864.
2. Depositions of Charles Bollen and Robert Russell.
3. Deposition of George Thompson.
4. Deposition of Edwin Shaw and William Hall.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
My Lord: I have the honor to submit to your consideration copies of three more depositions, still further corroborating previous evidence as to the part taken by Mr. Rumble, an officer in her Majesty’s service, at Sheerness, in providing men for the service of the insurgents of the United States. I would further solicit your lordship’s particular attention to that portion of the evidence relating to the efforts of Mr. Rumble to obtain, by intimidation, a retraction of the testimony heretofore given against him.
Renewing the assurances of my highest consideration, I have the honor to be, my lord, your most obedient servant,
The Right Hon. Earl Russell, &c., &c., &c.
Depositions of Charles Bollen and Robert Russell.
We, Charles Bollen and Robert Russell, of the island of Guernsey, seamen, do hereby sincerely and solemnly swear, that on Thursday last, the 21st April, we were at Hot’s coffee-house, in the highway, when a man named Miller asked us if we had a ship; we answered we had. He said, if we would come with him he would ship us on a London ship, a steamer, going to run the blockade, and that the wages would be £4 8s. a month, and £10 bounty. As the wages were nearly double what we expected to get, we agreed to go with him, and took our clothes to his house, in High street, Shadwell. On arrival there he gave us two shillings to spend for the evening. We slept there that night, and on the following day, while at dinner, Miller told us we need not take our clothes with us, as we should not want them—they would find us clothes on board the ship. On the 23d April, Saturday morning, at 3 o’clock, we were taken on board the Rainbow, Calais packet; Miller went with us, and told [Page 726] us we should have a month’s pay as soon as we had signed articles. We had no food, with the exception of a little piece of bread, until after we arrived at Calais. When we had got to Calais, Miller took us and four others alongside the Rappahannock. As soon as we knew what ship she was, we refused to join, and told Miller that he had deceived us—he promised us a London ship, and had brought us down to the Rappahannock confederate ship-of-war; we demanded our passage back to London. Miller said he would send us back to Dover only, and we might get to London how we liked. We were kept without food while we were at Calais, and on coming away only received a pig’s foot and three small cakes. After landing in Dover we had to walk to London, and only had a small piece of bread that was given to us on the road. We never had any intimation of joining a ship-of-war, but were led to believe the ship was a steamer, going to run the blockade. Finding that we would not go in the Rappahannock, we were shut up in an office on the pier at Calais until an officer in uniform came to us, and Miller wanted us to sign articles, but we refused. The other four who went with us from London signed articles. Miller also wanted us to sign a paper for £2 10s. for passage and shipping, which we also refused.
CHARLES BOLLEN.
ROBERT RUSSELL.
Sworn by both deponents, at my office, No. 5 White Hart court, Lombard street, in the city of London, this 26th day of April, 1864, before me,
Deposition of George Thompson.
I, George Thompson, of Sheerness, England, engineer, do hereby truly and solemnly swear, that hearing, from a friend, an engineer was wanted for the Scylla, I went to Mr. Rumble’s house on Friday, the 27th November last, for the berth. I saw Mr. Rumble, in the presence of Captain Sheppard, paymaster of the 13th depot brigade, royal artillery. When Captain Sheppard had left, Mr. Rumble said, “Your name is Thompson?” I answered, “Yes, sir.” Mr. Rumble then said, “I see here, by this note, you have been to sea; well, this ship is gone, and you are going as 2d engineer.” I asked the wages; Mr. Rumble said, “For the second I can give twelve hundred and fifty dollars ($1,250) a year.” I asked when I was to go. Mr. Rumble said, “By-the-by, do you know of any boiler-makers?” I answered “I knew of one, if he would let me go to London for him.” Mr. Rumble said, “Oh, dear, no! I want you to go away to-night or to-morrow.” I inquired after the half-pay, as I wanted to know how my wife and family were to get on in my absence. Mr. Rumble said, “That will be all right; the half-pay would be paid all right.” I wanted some money for clothes, and asked where I was to get it. Mr. Rumble asked me how much I wanted; I answered, “about £20.” Mr. Rumble said, “The Scylla—but I don’t think that is her name now—is lying at Calais, and you will not want any clothes there; the uniform is gray, and they will supply that or anything you may want, as there, is plenty of cloth, and men to make them, on board.” Mr. Rumble likewise told me to bring my wife down to his house, about 6 or 7 o’clock that evening, and he would settle the half-pay in her presence. In the evening, as my wife was getting ready to go to Mr. Rumble’s, his messenger came, and said that I was to go to Mr. Greathead’s along with him. My wife and self went with Mr. Rumble’s messenger and Mr. Brampton, a fitter in the dock-yard factory, Sheerness, to Mr. Greathead’s, chief engineer under Mr. Rumble, at Sheerness. Mr. Greathead asked my name; and he [Page 727] said, “As Mr. Rumble is not in town at present, I want to know if you will go in this ship, the Scylla? “I said “Yes, provided they would come to my terms.” Mr. Greathead asked me what I wanted. I said, “If you will give me £20 I will go away.” Mr. Greathead answered, that he was not in a position to give £20, but he would give £10. I then said, “About the half-pay note—I suppose I can make the arrangement for that with Mr. Rumble, or the captain on board the ship?” I also said I must have more than £10, if I go away to-night. Mr. Greathead said, “I can do no more, as I am waiting for a telegraphic message from Mr. Rumble, who has gone to London—he was sent for in a great hurry this afternoon; there is time to go by the train to-night—I will go to the station with you.” I said, “Well, then, I shall not go until I have seen Mr. Rumble.” Mr. Greathead then said, “Very good; you can see Mr. Rumble to-morrow.” I then left him.
On Saturday, 28th November, about dinner time, I went to Mr. Rumble’s house and saw Mr. Rumble. He told me to come again in the evening, and to bring my wife with me, and he would settle, and see about my going away that night or on the Sunday, and also see about my wife’s half-pay. In the evening I went again. Mr. Rumble said, “Well, Thompson, I suppose you are ready to go away?” I said, “Yes, sir, if you will settle about my wife’s half-pay.” Mr. Rumble said, “Fetch your wife in.” I did so; and, in the presence of Mrs. Rumble and another female, Mr. Rumble said to my wife, “You can receive your half-pay here, at my house, and that will be better than going to London for it, and will save you unnecessary expense and trouble.” I asked him when I was to go away. Mr. Rumble answered, “There is a train going in about an hour—you can go by that; but then, Thompson, as I am going to take some boiler-makers on Thursday next, it will be as well to wait until then, and all go together.” I said to Mr. Rumble, “Well, sir, if I am to go, I may as well go at once.” Mr. Rumble said, “Well, Thompson, you can go to-morrow, if you like; but come to my house on Monday.” On Monday, the 30th November, I called at Mr. Rumble’s house; he was not at home. I called again on Tuesday, 1st December; he was not at home. On Wednesday, 2d December, I called again, with the same result; and on Thursday, 3d December, I saw Mr. Rumble. Mr. Rumble said, “Oh, Thompson, I suppose you have come about going on board that ship, the Scylla; well, you had better call again in a few days, and I will let you know, as her tubes are in a frightful condition, and she will in all probability lie there for a month or six weeks yet, so you have time to get yourself together a little.” After that night, nothing more was said to me by Mr. Rumble about joining the Scylla or Rappahannock. I went back to work in the factory.
GEORGE THOMPSON.
Sworn by the deponent, at my office, No. 5, White Hart court, Lombard street, in the city of London, this 19th day of April, 1864, before me,
Deposition of Edward Shaw and William Hall.
We, Edwin Shaw and William Hall, hammermen, of Sheerness, Kent, do liereby truly, solemnly, and sincerely swear, that in the early part of November last we heard that the screw-steamship Scylla, of London, wanted several stokers, and that all parties to be engaged were to apply to Mr. Rumble. On the 16th of November, about a quarter before ten o’clock at night, we saw Mr. Rumble, and said to him, we hear you are engaging men for the Scylla, of London. [Page 728] Mr. Rumble said yes, and asked us to come inside. He took us into his back room, and said he knew she wanted several stokers, and asked us if we had ever been to sea. We answered no. Mr. Rumble then said the ship belonged to a friend of his, who had asked him to recommend some men for her, but he preferred men that had been to sea; he further said he knew nothing about the ship, and asked us if we knew of any men who had been to sea; he would have liked us to go had we been to sea before, but could not take upon himself to engage us then, but as we were respectable men he thought there would be no trouble to get engaged, and that we had better go on board or come to his house again on Wednesday night, the 18th of November, and perhaps the chief engineer (Mr. Ferguson) would be there. On the 18th of November we called again at Mr. Rumble’s house; saw him, and asked him if he had seen the chief engineer. Mr. Rumble said he had not, as he was poorly, but expected to see him in a day or so. On Saturday, 21st of November, we went again to Mr. Rumble’s with the same result. On Monday, 23d of November, we called again at Mr. Rumble’s request. Mr. Rumble then said, I do not know what to do with you, men; and went and wrote a note to Mr. Ferguson, chief engineer, and gave it to us to take on board to Mr. Ferguson, and told us to go to Mr. Howe’s, the Fountain Hotel, and the boat, he, Mr. Howe, had engaged would take us on board. On the 24th of November we went on board in company with William Lodge and Richard Spendiff. When we got there we asked for the chief engineer. He was not on board. We saw Mr. Ramsay, the acting master at the time, and told him we had a note from Mr. Rumble for Mr. Ferguson; and afterwards Mr. Ferguson came on board, and we gave him the note and told him Mr. Rumble had sent it. Mr. Ferguson, without reading the note, said, if Mr. Rumble sent you, get to work. We, however, wanted an understanding about the pay. Mr. Ferguson said we should have the same as the rest of the men, namely, 3s. 6d. a day and found until the ship goes away. We then wanted to know what pay we were to receive after the ship left. Mr. Ferguson then said, Mr. Rumble told you, has he not? We answered, no Mr. Ferguson said, I don’t know, then; but if you intend to go in the ship get to work on the boilers at once; if not, clear out. We went up on the deck. After waiting some time there Mr. Rumble and Mr. Greathead came on board. Mr. Rumble came up to us and asked if we had seen Mr. Ferguson, and what he said. We told him, and Mr. Rumble said we had better wait a little while, as the owner would be on board soon, and then the wages would be settled. After waiting some time longer Mr. Pearson came on board. Mr. Rumble introduced Mr. Pearson to us, as the owner, and he said to Mr. Pearson these are the three stokers (meaning us and William Lodge) that I have got for you, and I have nothing to do with any besides these three men. One has been to sea before; the other two have not. They are respectable men; that is the reason I recommend them. The captain, Mr. Ramsay, then asked us what wages we wanted. After a little conversation, we wanted £7 a month, and £5 was all that was offered. We walked away, and Mr. Rumble, who had been talking with Mr. Ramsay and Pearson, came and said that Mr. Pearson would give £6 a month, and he thought that was very good pay. We agreed to that. Mr. Rumble said there would be other privileges and ways of making money besides our good pay. We then asked about our half-pay, and we were told we could leave half-pay behind, and that the ship was going on a trial trip and would be back in a day or two. We however, wanted to engage at once. Mr. Rumble said that would be better still. We asked what clothes would be required on board the ship, and was told that a change was sufficient, as there would be plenty of clothes on board. We went in to the captain and received £6 each. Sir. Rumble said that they were to give Lodge £7 10s., as he belonged to them; was a leading stoker, and had been to sea. Mr. Rumble then took our directions down, and said we might [Page 729] rely upon him; he would see our half-pay was settled. We then went down into the forecastle, and told the other men what we had received. After a little disturbance there, and finding that the rest, were only engaged for fourteen days, we refused to go, and gave the money back and got on shore as soon as possible. Just before Mr. Rumble’s examination at Sittingbourne, Mr. John Brampton, an engineer in the dock-yard steam factory, came to us in the shop and said it was reported about that we had been engaged by Mr. Rumble to work on board the Rappahannock, and he advised us to write a letter to Mr. Rumble contradicting it, or we should very likely get the sack. Mr. Brampton then dictated a letter in pencil as to what we had better say. Appearer Shaw wrote the note, and appearer Hall signed it. This note was altogether false, but we were afraid that we should be discharged if we refused, and hints were thrown out about how the boiler-makers had been served. After the letters were sent we went to Mr. Rumble’s house with George Thompson at Mr. Rumble’s request. When we arrived there we were called up into the parlor one by one. Mr. Rumble, Mr. Parks, and another gentleman were present. Mr. Rumble asked whether we had written the letters he held in his hand. We answered we had. He then said, you here say that I did not engage you, or assisted to engage you; the captain was the only man that engaged you; this you assent in the presence of these two witnesses. Fearing what would be the result if we denied it, we each answered yes, and left the room. Mr. Rumble afterwards asked us down stairs to take some ale, which we did. We knew that Mr. Rumble had engaged us, and that we should stand a very poor chance if we set ourselves in opposition to him, so did as he wished and denied it in the letter. A man named Henry Pearson Wilson, but that he went by the name of Jackson, at Sheerness, representing himself as a detective, met us at Lodge’s house on the 3d of March last, and showed us a letter written by Lodge, and he said how much better that read than the one we had sent. He afterwards offered to write one for each of us, copied from the one he had of Lodge’s, and that he would see us the next night about it. On the next night, the 4th of March, we saw him again, and he read the note he had written, and on the following night, the 5th of March, he brought one for each, and asked us to sign, which we did; and as he was a detective we were afraid that if we did not comply it would be all the worse for us.
EDWARD SHAW.
WILLIAM HALL.
Sworn by both the deponents at my office, No. 37 Nicholas lane, in the city of London, this the 22d day of April, 1864, before me,