Correspondence of the N. Y. Evening post:
H. B. M. Steamer Swordship
Inside Sandy Hook Nov. 12
This vessel cast anchor here two hours since, after a passage of twenty-two days from the Cape of Good Hope. On Friday morning, 10th inst., latitude 35 degrees North longitude 66 degrees West. The lookout in the foretop descried a strange looking object on the lee bow, which, in nearing, proved to be a raft with a number of people on it.
So singular a circumstance threw the ship into great excitement. The Captain ordered a boat launched immediately, supposing the people to have escaped from a foundered vessel, and of course desiring to be picked up. By this time we were within hailing distance, and the steamer was nearly stationary. A jury mast was rigged on the raft, and they ran up a flag and cheered lustily. Our Captain never swears in English, but is addicted to a sort of Persian oath. By the great ox, he cried, what does this mean?
There were about twenty-five men on the raft, and they were in a very jolly humor. – Seeing the boat lowered, one of the party shouted, Send us some whisky. We don’t want to be picked up. The Captain couldn’t stand that. Where are you going, and where are you from? he shouted. None of your business; send us some whisky, and we’ll give you a despatch to take into port. The raft was now close under the lee of the ship, and a rope was thrown out to it, which they held on to while a barrel of whisky was slung off. As soon as they got it safe, they let go the rope, to which they had tied their dispatch. On opening it there appeared a list of passengers, which the clerk read aloud. The first name on it was Games Guthrie. By thunder, cried the Captain, that’s the Chicago platform! A cheer and a yell went up from the raft as the sail was spread again to the wind. The clerk went on reading the names, the list was as follows: James Guthrie, Geo. H. Pendleton, Horatio Seymour, Fernando Wood, C. L. Vallandigham, S. S. Cox and nineteen others.
When last seen the raft was making south-east, apparently on a bee-line for the cost of Africa.
Respectfully,
BULLJACK
– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Friday, December 30, 1864
H. B. M. Steamer Swordship
Inside Sandy Hook Nov. 12
This vessel cast anchor here two hours since, after a passage of twenty-two days from the Cape of Good Hope. On Friday morning, 10th inst., latitude 35 degrees North longitude 66 degrees West. The lookout in the foretop descried a strange looking object on the lee bow, which, in nearing, proved to be a raft with a number of people on it.
So singular a circumstance threw the ship into great excitement. The Captain ordered a boat launched immediately, supposing the people to have escaped from a foundered vessel, and of course desiring to be picked up. By this time we were within hailing distance, and the steamer was nearly stationary. A jury mast was rigged on the raft, and they ran up a flag and cheered lustily. Our Captain never swears in English, but is addicted to a sort of Persian oath. By the great ox, he cried, what does this mean?
There were about twenty-five men on the raft, and they were in a very jolly humor. – Seeing the boat lowered, one of the party shouted, Send us some whisky. We don’t want to be picked up. The Captain couldn’t stand that. Where are you going, and where are you from? he shouted. None of your business; send us some whisky, and we’ll give you a despatch to take into port. The raft was now close under the lee of the ship, and a rope was thrown out to it, which they held on to while a barrel of whisky was slung off. As soon as they got it safe, they let go the rope, to which they had tied their dispatch. On opening it there appeared a list of passengers, which the clerk read aloud. The first name on it was Games Guthrie. By thunder, cried the Captain, that’s the Chicago platform! A cheer and a yell went up from the raft as the sail was spread again to the wind. The clerk went on reading the names, the list was as follows: James Guthrie, Geo. H. Pendleton, Horatio Seymour, Fernando Wood, C. L. Vallandigham, S. S. Cox and nineteen others.
When last seen the raft was making south-east, apparently on a bee-line for the cost of Africa.
Respectfully,
BULLJACK
– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Friday, December 30, 1864
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