SEIZURE OF THE SAXON BY THE VANDERBUILT.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 41, 10 February 1864, Page 5 (Supplement)

SEIZURE OF THE SAXON BY THE VANDERBUILT.

• ' ' ■ JTUEDEB. OF THE MATE. (From the Graham's, Town Journal, December 1.) The Cape papers gives theparticulars of theseizure^af the Saxon by the Vanderbilt 'and the murder of the mate of the Saxon by an officer of the American vessel. The following is the account of Captain Shephard, the commander of the Saxon: — I sailed from Ascension on the 26th September, and ,. .arrived at , Angra ; Pequina^ on the 16th October. ,On the : 27th I commenced, taking cargo— skins \. and wool. On" October 30, at 11 a.in., ! we finished loading. The carpenter i then. commenced to batten down the hatches, the men /being; employed in • clearing .decks and securing spars, and getting ready for sea. About 1 p.m.; we saw a steamer rounding Algra , Point, which proved to be the Federal-man-of-war Vanderbilt. ; She came to an anchor abreast of Penguin Island, lowered a boat, and sent it on board ;: ' the" 'Saxon, with 'two onicers and a;j boat's crew, all armed. At 1.30 p.m. ;j she boarded us, ■and the" officer asked; where I was from: ; I told him from' Ascension. He then asked; how long I had been at Angra, Pequina, and I told him. . lie then requested me to, show him my papers. I asked him what authority he "had to look at my papers. He said Captain Baldwin had ; sent him to look at the ship's papers, and added, "It is of ■no use, Captain, I must see your papers," I then showed rhim the ship's papers. He theri ! read them and said; " Skins and wool ! that will do," and went on deck taking the papers with him. He looked down the hold and asked me if I knew wjiere the skins and wool came from. I told him that all X knew about it was that I had come here, to. take it in. He then told me ; he must take my papers to Captain Baldwin, and would leave ail officer on board to make a si°rial in ease: I should attempt to 5 move the ship; I told the officer livas 'ready for sea and would go, papers or no papers, and take with me the. officer he, might leave. He said I had better not try it as the steamer would'go faster than we could. He'thenleffc the ship, leaving a junior officer on board. At the same time that the officer left my ship a second boat with another officer and crew, all armed, put off fi?pmthe steamer. They came on board about 2,30 p.m., and took charge, placing armed men all round the ship and driving my crew below. The- officer never reported to me that he had come to take charge, until I went to him, and asked what he had come to do. His answer was, " Who are you, sir ?" I told him I was the master of the ship. He replied, " You are no more master of this vessel, and I will thank you to go below and give no more orders, sir ; farther, I will not allow you to speak to any of the ship's company." I told him he might. as well have behaved as a gentleman. and have come to me and told me what his business was, instead of taking charge without acquainting me with his intention and before Captain Baldwin had seen my papers. He then ordered me below. About 4 p.m. the island men that were helping to load the ship, came alongside in a boat with some fish, and asked for some meat and bread, as they had had nothing to eat since breakfast. I told my chief officer he might give them some, but that he must first ask the officer in charge of the ship. He did so, and the officer in the first instance said they might have some, but afterwards changed his mind, and with impious imprecations, said they should not have a bit. I then said to the officer, '• Let us go forward and give them some." He said " No, you shall not go forward, and they shall not have anything from the ship. ' ' I then ; said "They shall have something to eat," and was going forward when the officer ordered his men to stop me and take me below, which they did, the officer at the same time saying, "My fine fellow,, if you don't go below I will very soon put you where the dogs won't bark at you." I had.been below about nine or ten minutes, with a sentry over me, when I heard the report of a pistol. I" instantly rushed on deck and was .told they had shot the mate. ; I went to support the mate in my arms. He never moved or spoke ; he was shot dead. I said to the officer in charge, " "Why have you shot my mate?" His reply was "It was an accident," I then asked the junior officer who shot the mate, why he did it. He said " Poor fellow, I am sorry for him, but I must obey orders." They then hove up the anchor and dropped the Saxon abreast of Penguin Island. The Vanderbilt at this time was in chase of another vessel that hove in sight. She returned next morning. Captain Baldwin sent me on. board the Vanderbilt. Upon m y going on board Captain Baldwin addressed me thus : — "You are Captain Shephard, of the barque Saxon?" "Yes, Sir,". I replied. "Well, Captain," he continued, " I am very sorry for you, but your papers are not satisfactory to me, and I must make a prize of the Saxon and send her to the prize authorities at New York. ¥c know that it is the Tuscalooza's carg;o that you have on board; it was brought here by the Confederates, and it is .American property. That is#the ground upon which I make prize of your ship. I must do my duty to my country and protect property." The Vanderbilt steamed into ~ Penguin Island -when I was on board of her and commenced taking in coal that • was on shore there. I told Captain Baldwin .the island was British territory ;: he replied " I cannot help it ; I want coal and I;must, have it." Captain . Baldwin,, had a coffin made for Mr. Gray, the chief officer, and he was

carried on the .main land on the 31st October, by the Vanderbilt's men. They, would not allow any of the ship's company except myself to follow him. On November 1, the^ landed me. and my crew on the main land, with a little bread, and water, not sufficient for one day, and our personal effects. "We walked along the coast to the shore opposite Halifax Island, to which we i crossed in- a ibbafe, "We arrived in the evening. On .November 3, the schooner Isabel, of Capetown, Captain .Roe, came in and took us on' board. "We proceeded to Ichaboe and \ then to Hottentot's Bay, where we ; arrived on November 10. On Novem- : berj.3; we went dn'boardthe Lord of; the 'lsles/ bdund 4b Table Bay, where; we arrived on the 21st November. i