Chapter XIV

Loading of the vessel--Yellow fever--Clearance and letter of consignment--Captain Shaeffer and the _Mary Elizabeth_--Cruising in Galveston Bay--Novel method of cleaning a vessel's bottom--An extraordinary statement of accounts--No pass out till settled--A blockade on both sides to run--Father Ryan a passenger.

At length the cotton press was in working order, and we began to get our cargo on board.

I determined to have no stevedore. On last trip the first had by over-screwing forced up the deck, started a leak, and sunk the vessel; and the second, from lack of screwing, had left the deck unsupported, causing the vessel to leak by the working of the deck from the weight of the deck-load.

I therefore determined to stow the vessel myself with my own crew, three of whom were very well used to that kind of work; and one in particular--an Irishman--whom I had shipped at Havana--an old, quiet sort of man--was a first-class stevedore, in fact, the best I ever saw. Why this man had not made a fortune at this business was what I wondered at. I afterwards learned the cause. The old weakness--drink.

This man worked hard, and showed such good judgment in stowing, that a much greater quantity of cotton was stowed into the hold than ever had been before, without the vessel being strained in any way.

I was so well pleased with the way in which this man had worked, and he was such a quiet, contented old fellow, that I resolved to pay him a gratuity if we succeeded in making the trip safe.

Towards the end of July, yellow fever broke out in Galveston, supposed to have been brought in by one of the steamers from Havana. It soon reached Houston, and one of my men was seized with it. Most of us having already had the disease, and knowing well the treatment, we soon got him well again.

At this time the schooner, _Mary Elizabeth_ (Captain Shaeffer), which had sailed out of the Brazos River with us on the former trip, was lying alongside of us, and had completed loading.

Captain Shaeffer said to me that in order to be out of the way of yellow fever, he intended to move down to Galveston Bay, and cruise about there till a good chance offered of going to sea, and he asked me if I would complete my loading--by getting on my deck-load--and go down also.

I objected, and said that by going into the salt water the vessel's bottom would get foul before we might get a chance of getting to sea.

He said one of his chief objects in going down there was to clean his vessel's bottom by hauling her over the soft shoals of shells and gravel.

I thought this rather an odd way of cleaning a vessel's bottom, but I knew it was often done in these parts; and I agreed to go if he would wait until I got on my deck-load, and got my clearance.

He said he would wait, as he wished to sail on the same night with me, as he had done on last voyage, and had good luck, and he predicted the same luck again. Poor fellow, I wish his predictions had been verified.

Captain George Shaeffer was a native of Texas, and a brother of Captain H. Shaeffer, whom I had met at Matamoras. He was quite a young man, remarkably steady in his habits, and of a kind and genial disposition. He had been employed all his life in small schooners on the Texas coast, and knew well his business. He had been married since he came in from last trip, and was in hopes that another successful voyage would give him a fair start in life.

After some little delay I got the deck-load on board, and properly secured, and all ready for sea. I got the bills of lading endorsed, and the cargo consigned to master, with an open letter from Messrs. R. and D. G. M., which read as follows:--

"HOUSTON, _August_ 6, 1864.

"_To Messrs. ----, Tampico, or Messrs. ----, Vera Cruz_.

"This will be handed to you by Captain W., of the _Rob Roy_, who takes out a cargo of 198 bales of cotton, one half of which belongs to us. Our moiety you will ship to Messrs. ----, Liverpool, advising them to cover same with their open policy of insurance.

"R. and D. G. M."

I then got a clearance at the custom house. The Consular clearance and ship's papers I would get at the Consulate at Galveston, where I would also get a passport to pass the Ports out to sea.

Just as we were about to leave Houston one of my crew--Jim Hyland, the stevedore--was seized with yellow fever.

As we were now fully loaded, and had no accommodation for him on board, I got him sent ashore to the hospital, where I knew he would be well treated. His kit was sent with him, and some money to bring him on to the vessel as soon as he recovered.

The two vessels, the _Rob Roy_ and the _Mary Elizabeth_, now dropped leisurely down Buffalo Bayou, and soon were in the open Bay of Galveston, where we spent the time in cruising about very much like exercising and amusement.

Captain S. knew every shoal, channel, nook, and corner in Galveston Bay, which is extensive, so that in some parts land is entirely lost sight of. There was many level sandy spots where we ran the vessel aground at high water, and lay over a tide, and the weather being hot, and the water clear and pleasant, the men rather enjoyed floundering in the water while cleaning the sides of the vessel, as far down as they could reach; but the vessel being now deep loaded, there was not sufficient rise and fall of the tide to enable us to get down to her keel, as we had done last trip on the Brazos River; but there were banks of sand and shells, on to which, when the tide was low, we ran the vessel with full force, as far as she would, penetrate into the soft sand and shells, and then, getting out a warp and with all sail set, warped her over the bank as the tide rose; this had an excellent effect in cleaning her bottom, and we found a marked difference in her sailing qualities.

The bay abounded with fish, and there were some fine oyster beds, and we often landed at the small farms on the shores, where we could buy poultry, sweet potatoes, and other farm produce cheap, and also get our water casks replenished.

While talking of sweet potatoes, I may remark that the common potato had entirely disappeared in Texas since the blockade. The cause of this was the want of seed potatoes, which required to be the growth of a cold country, and although excellent potatoes were raised in Texas, they would not do to replant for another crop, but the seed had always to be got from a northern climate. These farmers, therefore, urged upon me very strongly--if I came in again--to bring some Northern potatoes for seed.

This was one of the many little instances of every one having their wants, and the numerous little confidential messages I had from parties, both male and female, to bring in certain little things not now to be had in the country, brought to my mind a true realization of the effects of the blockade.

We passed several weeks in this bay, during which I went several times with a compass in the boat, and took soundings, and made a complete survey of the small channels which branched off from the main channel leading out to sea on the east and west, under the Forts, and between the shoals and the beach, and I fixed upon the west, or Swash Channel, as it was called, to go out by.

We occasionally touched at Galveston to get fresh beef, and also to hear the last news of the war, and get any letters or communications that might be there for us.

The two steamers lay there waiting for their cargoes of cotton being compressed and sent down from Houston. They were the first steamers which had run the blockade into Galveston, but as Mobile was now said to have been attacked, and nearly all of the other Confederate ports in the hands of the Federals, it was supposed that the blockade-running steamers would now all try for Galveston.

I found at Galveston a letter from Mr. P., my partner's representative, who had come in with us, but did not intend to go out with us, and remained at Houston. He inquired about the disposition of the inward cargo, and said that from some transactions he was aware of, he feared the Messrs. M. were not acting fair with us.

I was quite aware that the cost of the cargo of cotton on the vessel did not amount to more than one-third of the proceeds of the inward cargo, but as we owned only one half of the vessel, and could get no more upon her, it was of little importance what was done with the surplus, as we could only get Confederate paper for it. I wrote to Mr. P. explaining this, but adding that he might see the Messrs. M. and get a statement of the proceeds of the inward cargo, and get what he could in the way of any cotton warrants which might fall to our share.

A few days afterwards I received from Messrs. M. the following letter:--

"HOUSTON, _August_ 27, 1864.

"CAPTAIN W., _Rob Roy_,--We have just seen Major Rhetts, of the Ordnance Department, and he refuses to purchase the cavalry swords and the Belgium muskets, so we must hold them over until some other opportunity.

"On making up the accounts of the schooner, we find that if we charge to her all the cotton we have put on board she will owe us the sum of 5993 80/100 dollars specie. Now if you and the other owners will pay your proportion of this balance, the whole of the cotton can go out on the vessel's account, otherwise that amount should go out on our account, we paying a reasonable freight. We do not send you the account, as, until we know how you wish this matter settled, we cannot make it up to a point.

"Let us know by return mail, stating your views of the subject, and what you would consider a fair rate of freight for the cotton, which would go out on our account.

"R. and D. G. M."

It is an unpleasant thing to have to record in a narrative business controversies of a disagreeable nature, but as this incident caused a change in, and somewhat controlled, my after movements, I cannot avoid referring to it; besides, it was one of the many instances where advantage was taken of the desperate state of the times to make, or attempt to make, gain by whatever means it might be attained, without regard to honesty or principle.

I scarcely knew what to think of this letter. What they stated as a balance of 5993 80/100 dollars was just about the total value of the cotton they had put on board, without regard to the proceeds of the inward cargo.

What appeared to me most strange about it was, that they should bring up such a claim after everything had been adjusted a month previous, on the understanding that the cargo on board belonged one half to them and one half to us, and their endorsing the bills of lading consigned to master, and giving me a letter of consignment to that effect.

Not knowing very well what to do, I directed Mr. P. to consult with H., a prominent merchant in Houston and Galveston, who was some relation of my partner in Brownsville, and with whom Mr. P. was well acquainted.

Mr. H. did much business with the Quartermaster's Department, and most of the goods brought in by blockade runners and bought by that department passed through his hands, or were inspected and valued by him. He knew precisely what part of the inward cargo of the _Rob Roy_ was purchased by that department, and the amount paid for it in cotton warrants.

Mr. H., having read the letter, said in a blunt way that the whole thing was a right down swindle--an attempt to get me to sign some document assigning over to them a further proportion of the vessel and cargo, and they expected that by intriguing at the Provost Marshal's Department the vessel would not be permitted to go to sea until I acceded to their terms. General Magruder not being now at Galveston, but gone to join General Kirby Smith in the field with his troops, corruption and speculation had become rife in the departments. He would advise me to go at once and apply for a pass to go to sea, and if it was refused, to appeal to General Magruder, even if I went to the field to see him. He knew I stood in favour with the General, and he would see me righted.

I may here observe that most of the offices in the departments were filled by men who had formerly been planters, merchants, or men of business in the place, or members of firms still retaining an interest in the business, though, for the time being, holding an appointment which not only exempted them from service in the field, but also gave them power and opportunity to work matters for their own interests, which some of them did not fail to take advantage of.

I sent Messrs. R and D. G. no reply to their letter, and in a day or two afterwards their manager and book-keeper, Mr. R., came to see me.

This gentleman came on board with some hesitation, and seemed half ashamed of his mission. He said he had come to treat with me in regard to the subject which they had written to me about.

I said that before I could treat with him I must know if he understood the agreement between myself and Mr. B. M., made at Havana.

He said he did not know the particulars of it.

I then desired to know if he was conversant with the making up of the accounts of the schooner, as referred to in the letter, and if he considered them correct and honest.

He said that was not a question for him to answer, but suggested that I should come up to Houston and see the managing partner, Mr. J. M., on the subject, who was also the representative of Mr. B. M., of Havana.

I said I should not leave the vessel, but this was the answer he might take from me to Mr. J. M.:--

That he, as representative of Mr. R. M., must be aware that the conditions on which Mr. R. M. became half-owner of the vessel was, that he should put on board a cargo which he guaranteed to be more than sufficient to purchase a cargo of cotton in Texas, and pay all expenses thereon. If, therefore, the proceeds of that cargo turned out to be insufficient to purchase a cargo of cotton, then he, Mr. J. M., as representative of Mr. R. M., would understand that his part of the contract had not been fulfilled. Therefore the agreement would be cancelled, and they would retain the whole of the inward cargo, and I would retain the whole of the vessel. I would charge them nothing for the freight of the cargo into Texas, and I would return the cotton which they had put on board.

I knew that at the time I could get a cargo of cotton to carry out bale for bale; that is, one half of the cargo for the freight.

Mr. R. looked rather abashed at this, and said he feared they would not accept it, as they did not wish to relinquish any part of their claim on the vessel.

He then asked if I had got a permission to pass the Forts out to sea.

I said I had not.

He said he expected that I would have to get that through Messrs. R. and D. G. M., and he thought I would do best to come up to Houston and see them and arrange the matter.

It was now my turn to be abashed. I saw my position and the trouble they might give me. However, I put a bold face on it, and said that I intended to get that by applying to General Magruder. In the meantime I had given him my answer to their letter, which he could lay before Mr. J. M., and I would await his reply. I did not, however, like the looks of matters, and I determined to try and get to sea if possible. It was now into September, and there was a chance of getting wind.

The man, Jim Hyland, whom I had left at Houston with yellow fever, sent word to say he was not able to join the vessel, but sent another man to take his place in case he did not get down before the vessel sailed.

I went to the British Consulate and got the vessel's papers and clearance from there, and applied at the Provost Marshal's Department for a permission to pass the Forts out to sea.

On giving my name, and the name of the vessel, I was told to come back in a few hours when somebody else was in.

When I called back and found this official, he asked me if I had brought a certificate from my consignees.

I said I did not know that such a thing was necessary. I had a certificate from the collector, and a regular clearance from the custom house at Houston, and I asked if a certificate from the consignees was compulsory, as I had never heard of such a thing before.

He said it was not compulsory, but it was the general rule to prevent mistakes; but in any case, he said he could not give a passport at present, as no schooners were to be allowed to leave until a requisition had been made to take possession of some vessels to bring wood and water across the bay from the mainland to the town.

"But," said I, "you don't intend to press into service my vessel. She is all ready loaded and cleared for sea."

He said he did not know what vessels they would impress.

This seemed strange to me, as I knew that Captain Shaeffer had got his passport on the previous day without any trouble.

"When will you let me know?" said I. "When will I call back?"

"In three or four days," said he; "and you had better bring with you a certificate from your consignees, it may save you some trouble."

I saw at once the truth of what Mr. H, had told me, and that the Messrs. M. had now some influence at the Provost Marshal's Department, and they meant to exercise it, and General Magruder was not now here for me to appeal to.

I said I would bring such certificate when I came back. I did not, however, say when that would be. I saw the drift, and resolved what to do.

Galveston was not like the Brazos River; the entrance was wide, and I had made a complete survey of it, and saw that it was quite easy for a small vessel to run out past the Forts on a dark night. I therefore said nothing, but pretended to wait patiently.

While we had been lying at Galveston an elderly gentleman, a Roman Catholic priest known as Father Ryan, applied to me to give him a passage out. He wished to go to Havana, but if he could get to any of the ports in Mexico he could easily get from thence to Havana.

I said I could not take him. I had no kind of accommodation, every part of my vessel being blocked up with cotton, besides, being so long in Texas, I was short of provisions, and I advised him to apply to some of the steamers, which would take him direct to Havana.

He said he had done so, but they had not the least idea of when they would sail, and could give him no kind of promise. He pressed me very hard, said he would bring his own provisions with him; he asked no accommodation, he would lay on the deck, on the top of the cotton, or anywhere, and would pay me for his passage whatever I would ask.

I said the money was no object, and tried to dissuade him, and told him of the discomforts, the dangers from the seas and enemies, and the exposures he would be subject to.

He still persisted, till I got a little impatient, and remarked that surely he must have some very strong reasons for getting away from Texas, when he would seek to get away from it in a way that would scarcely be adopted except by a fugitive. The old man seemed exceedingly hurt at my remark. He looked to the ground, said he had a duty to perform, and I thought I saw a tear drop from his eye.

I felt sorry that I had made the remark, and would have liked to have recalled it.

"Never mind me, Father Ryan," said I, "I was only joking. Come along, get your kit on board; we will do the best we can for you."

I told him, however, that sailors had sometimes strange superstitions about clergymen as "Jonahs" on board vessels, but I did not think my crew were much of that school. However, he had better maintain a happy, cheerful manner with them.

He said he knew one of them, Hagan by name, who had been a member of his flock.

"Oh, then," said I, "you will be all right."

The old man was not long before he had his slender store of baggage on board, and showed me his passport to go out on any vessel, and I set Hagan to fit up a little bunk for him abaft the cabin steps, with which he was highly pleased.

I had some suspicion that the Messrs. M. were keeping an eye on the vessel, and planning some device whereby they might get her detained until I acceded to their demands; and as there was at that time some vessels wanted at the Quartermaster's Department to bring wood and water to Galveston,[1] although it was not supposed or intended that vessels loaded for sea would be impressed for that purpose; yet vessels going to sea could be, and were often, stopped upon a very small pretext, and what I had been told at the Provost Marshal's office confirmed my suspicion.

In talking with Captain Shaeffer I related to him what had been told me at the Provost Marshal's office, and that I feared there might be an order served upon us that no vessels should be allowed to go to sea until further orders, and I suggested that we should slip away from the wharf before they got any chance to serve any order upon us, and go away to the other side of the bay and dodge about so that they could not find us, and, as the dark moon was coming on, put to sea the first good breeze and dark night.

"But," said he, "how will you do? You have not got your permission to pass the Forts."

"Confound the permission," said I. "A good breeze and a dark night is all the passport I want. And I am not going to ask a passport. I have made a complete survey of the entrance, and on a dark night we can easily pass both the guard-boat and the Forts without them seeing us; besides, I don't think they would take the trouble to try to stop us if they did see us."

"I believe you are right," said he. "When do you think of going?"

"Well, as I think this order is directed more against me than against you, I think I shall slip off to-night. They will think I have gone up to Houston to arrange with the consignees. But I will not suggest to you to come so soon, as you have got your young wife in Galveston," I added, laughing.

"All right," said he, "I will follow you in a day or two. Where will I find you?"

"I will go up to the shoals, give the vessel another scrubbing, and gather a lot of oysters. This is September, they will now be good."

"Very well," said he, "I will meet you there."

We slipped away quietly from the wharf that night, and got up to the shoals on the following day. We here gave the vessel another cleaning, and gathered two or three barrels of oysters. At night the water was alive with fish, of which we caught a good many. We landed at a farm, where we purchased some sweet potatoes and vegetables and poultry.

In a day or two afterwards the _Mary Elizabeth_ came and joined us.

I asked Captain Shaeffer if he had heard any remarks about us leaving the wharf at Galveston. He said not from any official source, but one man seemed to have missed the _Rob Roy_, and was inquiring very earnestly where she had gone to.

"I told him," said he, "that you had sailed, which of course you had, but I did not say where to."

My crew gave a hand to the _Mary Elizabeth_ to clean, and gather a store of oysters. Then both vessels stood away to the east side of the bay so as to be ready to run out to sea the first good wind and dark night, the strongest and steadiest winds being now from the eastward.

A little incident occurred here, scarcely worth relating except as touching the superstitions of seamen. On the morning after we left the shoals it was discovered that a small cat was on board, and how it got on board no one knew. At first it was thought that it might have been some pet of Father Ryan's, and he had thought to make a stowaway of puss, but as he disclaimed all knowledge of it such an apparition caused some surprise, and was a slight temptation to superstition.

The men, however, guessed the source from which it had come. The _Mary Elizabeth's_ boat had been often alongside on the previous day, and it was supposed that some of her crew, in order to get rid of it, had secretly slipped puss on board of our vessel. It seemed to have been a cherished superstition among sailors that putting a cat ashore from a vessel was always followed by some bad luck, and the cat, being a nuisance on board, they had thought to evade the consequences by smuggling it on board of another vessel.

[1] Galveston, being situated on a low sand island, was at that time very badly supplied with water, the inhabitants having to depend mostly on the rain water collected in cisterns. Many of these cisterns had been destroyed or damaged by the cannonading during the attack upon the town, and in the event of a long drought water became exceedingly scarce.