Under these circumstances I have to request you to inform her Majesty’s
government that the United States will claim redress for the injuries
and losses inflicted on their citizens by the depredations of the Sea
King or Shenandoah.
Charles Francis Adams. Esq., &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Monroe to Mr.
Seward
No. 29.]
Consulate of the United
States. Rio
Janeiro,
November 29, 1864.
Sir: I am pained to be compelled to report
to the department that a new piratical steamer called the
Shenandoah, commanded by James W. Waddell, is engaged in destroying
our merchant vessels near the equator, on the highway of
communication between the United Otates and the ports of South
America. The facts presented below were obtained in part from
protests recorded at this office by the masters of the Alma and the
D. Godfrey, and in part from statements published in the Brazilian
newspapers, and believed to be reliable.
The bark Alma, Staples, master, of 573 tons burden, sailed from
Newport, England, on the 6th October with a cargo of railroad iron,
bound for Buenos Ayres. Having reached latitude 16° 40’ north, and
longitude 26° 45’ west, she was captured and sunk on the 29th of
October by the Shenandoah. The schooner Charter Oak, from Boston,
bound for San Francisco, was captured and destroyed by the same
pirate on the 5th of November, in latitude 7° north, longitude 27°
03’west.
Oh the 7th of November the bark D. Godfrey, Hallett, master, from
Boston, of 300 tons burden, bound for Valparaiso with general cargo,
was captured and burnt by the Shenandoah in latitude 6° 25’ north,
and longitude 27° 15’ west.
On the 10th of November, in latitude 4° 30’ north, and longitude 26°
40’ west, the brig Susan, of New York, bound from Cardiff to Rio
Grande, was also destroyed by the same steamer.
On the 12th of November the Shenandoah captured the ship Kate Prince,
of 995 tons burden, Libbey, master. The Kate Prince belongs in
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and was on her passage from Cardiff to
Bahia with a cargo of coal. She was captured in latitude 2° 30’
north, longitude 28° 30’ west, and having been compelled to give
bonds in the sum of $40,000; was allowed to continue her voyage.
These five vessels were all American. The officers and crews were at
first transferred to the Shenandoah; afterwards, as opportunity
offered, a part Were sent to Bahia on the Kate Prince; a part to
this port on the Danish brig Anna Jans from New York, and the rest,
so far as heard from, had been retained On the Shenandoah; of these
last, some by threats and promises had been induced to engage in the
piratical service.
In another instance, a vessel under our flag narrowly escaped
destruction. The Argentine bark Adelaide, Williams, master, bound
from Baltimore to this city, was boarded by officers of the
Shenandoah on the 12th of November, in latitude l 46’ north, and
longitude 29° west. The Adelaide was consigned to Phipps, Brothers
& Co., of this city. It was at “first decided to burn her, and
straw and tar had been brought for this object; this purpose,
however, was finally abandoned, and the pirates, after having opened
letters, destroyed furniture, and committed other outrages, retired
on board the Shenandoah, carrying a part ofthe provisions of the
bark with them. Captain Williams states that the commander of the
Shenandoah declared he would hereafter burn all cargoes belonging to
American owners, by whatever flag they might be covered.
The following statement in regard to the Shenandoah is made by
shipmasters who have been prisoners on board of her:
“The Shenandoah is a steamship of 1,100 tons burden and 250
horse-power. She carries a battery of four sixty-eight-pounders and
two twelve-pounders, all smooth bore, and two thirty-two-pounders,
rifled. She was formerty called the Sea King, and belonged to the
steam company trading between London and Bombay and Calcutta. She
was built by Stevens and Sons, of Glasgow, in 1863, and makes eleven
miles an hour. She has forty-threemen, (nearly all English,) besides
the officers, She Cleared from London for Bombay in September of
this year.”
On the 27th instant the Anna Jans brought into this port the
following officers and seamen of the Alma and D. Godfrey, who, being
in a very destitute condition, applied to this consu-late for
assistance:
From the Alma, Everett Staples, master; J. F. Peterson, first
officer; M. H. Staples, second officer; G. A. Stinson, seaman.
From the D. Godfrey, Samuel W. Hallett, master; R. L. Taylor, first
officer; Charles F. Brown, second officer; Joseph James, seaman.
I offered assistance to the officers simply as seamen, in accordance
with section 211 of my instructions.
As this despatch will be detained until the sailing of the English
packet on the 9th of December, it will be supplemented by any
further information which I may obtain in regard to the movements of
the Shenandoah.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient
servant,
JAMES MONROE, United States
Consul.
Hon. William. H. Seward. &c., &c., &c.
P. S.—December 8.—I have no further
information in regard to the movements of the Shenandoah.
