Affidavit of G. W. Robbins.
[707] To all to whom these presents shall come:
I, Henry Penketh Fergie, notary public by royal authority, duly
authorized, admitted, and sworn, residing and practicing in the city of
Melbourne, in the colony of Victoria, do hereby certify that Winfield
Attenborough, before whom the affidavit of George Washington Bobbins, on
the other side written, purports to have been sworn, is a commissioner
of the supreme court of the said colony for taking affidavits duly
appointed in that behalf; and that the name W. Attenborough subscribed
thereto is of the proper handwriting of the said Winfield Attenborough;
and that to all acts by him, the said Winfield Attenborough, done in his
said capacity or office, *full faith and credit are due, in judicature
and thereout.
In faith and testimony whereof, I, the said
notary, have hereunto subscribed my name and set and affixed my seal
of office, at Melbourne, in the said colony
of Victoria, this
twenty-fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
[
seal.]
HENRY PENKETH
FERGIE,
Notary Public,
Melbourne.
I, George Washington Robbins, of Sandridge, near Melbourne, in the
colony of Victoria, stevedore, make oath and say as follows:
- 1.
- I have been in business in Sandridge (port of Melbourne)
as a stevedore ever since June, one thousand eight hundred
and fifty-three.
- 2.
- I saw the vessel Shenandoah in the port of Melbourne in
one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five. The name
Shenandoah I perceived had been painted over the name Sea
King; the paint having worn off, the original name was
plainly disclosed. The vessel was popularly known in this
port as the confederate ship of war Shenandoah.
- *3.
- [708] I knew the paymaster of the
Shenandoah and one of the engineers; I first became
acquainted with them in New Orleans, in the United States of
America. They told me the Shenandoah was originally the Sea
King. They asked me to take in the coals for the
[Page 183]
ship, bat I
refused, on the ground, as I told them, that there was one
American flag flying when I left the country, and I didn’t
recognize any other flag.
- *4.
- [709] I saw the Shenandoah on the
government slip at Williams-town, near Melbourne; I saw
working-men going backwards and forwards whilst she was on
the government slip.
- 5.
- I saw coals being put on board the ship when she was lying
at anchor in the bay.
- 6.
- 1 know that several men, residents of this port, went on
board the Shenandoah, in this port, as additions to her
crew, and went away in her. Thomas Strong and Henry Riley
were the names of two of the men who so went away. Thomas
Strong left my employ for the purpose of so going away.
Thomas Strong returned to Melbourne afterwards and applied
to me for work, which I refused, on the ground that he had
gone away in the Shenandoah against my desire.
- 7.
- I reported to the water police at Williamstown the
shipping of the men, but they said they were powerless to
interfere without directions from the head authorities in
Melbourne.
- 8.
- It was well known in the port that the so-called
Shenandoah was being coaled, repaired, and her crew
strengthened here, and without objection on the part of the
government.
Sworn at Melbourne, in the colony of Victoria, this twenty-first
day of September, 1871.
[710] * Before me,
W. ATTENBOROUGH,
A Commissioner
for taking affidavits in the Supreme Court of the Colony
of Victoria.
