Chapter XXIV

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.

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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.]