Trial of the Officers and Crew of the Privateer Savannah on the Charge of Piracy Part 11

_Q._ Were either of them officers?

_A._ Mr. Evans was the Charleston pilot. He gave the orders when to raise anchor and go out. He acted as mate and pilot when he was there.

I presume he had as much authority, and a little more, than any one else; he was pilot.

_Q._ What did Hayes do?

_A._ He was an old, experienced man--did the same as the rest--lived aft with the rest. He was a seaman.

_Q._ The other four, whose names you do not recollect, did they act as seamen?

_A._ Exactly, sir.

_Q._ Any of them as officers?

_A._ No, sir; if they were, they were not inaugurated in any position while I was there.

_Q._ What did you do?

_A._ I did as I was told by the captain's orders--steered and made sail.

_Q._ What time did you get off from the bar in Charleston?

_A._ We got off Sunday afternoon and made sail east, outside of the bar, and proceeded to sea.

_Q._ Do you remember any conversation on board when any of the prisoners were present?

_A._ Yes; we talked as a party of men would talk on an expedition of that kind.

_Q._ What was said about the expedition?

_A._ That we were going out privateering. The object was to follow some vessels, and that was the talk among ourselves.

_Q._ Did anything happen that night, particularly?

_A._ No, sir; nothing happened, except losing a little main-top mast.

_Q._ What course did you take?

_A._ We steered off to the eastward.

_Q._ Did you steer to any port?

_A._ No, sir; we were not bound to any port, exactly.

_Q._ What directions were given in respect to steering the vessel?

_A._ To steer off to the eastward, or east by south, just as the wind was; that was near the course that was ordered.

_Q._ When did you fall in with the Joseph?

_A._ On Monday morning, the 3d.

_Q._ Do you remember who discovered the Joseph?

_A._ I think it was Evans, at the masthead.

_Q._ What did he cry out?

_A._ He sung out there was a sail on the starboard bow, running down, which proved afterwards to be the brig Joseph.

_Q._ State all that was said by or in the presence of the prisoners when and after the vessel was descried?

_A._ We continued on that course for two or three hours. We saw her early in the morning, and did not get up to her until 9 or 10 o'clock.

_Q._ How early did you see her?

_A._ About 6 o'clock. There were other vessels in sight. We stood off on the same course, when we saw this brig,--I think steering northeast by east. We made an angle to cut her off, and proceeded on that course until we fell in with her.

_Q._ What was said while running her down?

_A._ When near enough to be seen visibly to the eye, our men, Mr.

Hayes, and the others, said she was a Yankee vessel; she was from the West Indies, laden with sugar and mola.s.ses. The general language was very little among the men; in fact, sailor-like, being on a flare-up before we left port, not much was said.

_Q._ State what was said?

_A._ Well, first the proposition was made that it was a Yankee prize; to run her down and take her. That was repeated several times. Nothing further, so far as I know of.

_Q._ During the conversation were all hands on deck?

_A._ Yes, sir, all hands on deck. In fact, they had been on deck. It was very warm; our place was very small for men below. In fact, we slept on deck. No one slept below, while there, much. It was a very short time we were on board of her--from Sat.u.r.day to Monday night--when we were taken off.

_Q._ What was said was said loud, so as to be heard?

_A._ Yes; it was heard all about deck. That was the princ.i.p.al of our concern in going out; it was our object and our conversation.

_Q._ When you ran along down towards the Joseph, state what was said.

_A._ That was about the whole of what occurred--the men talking among themselves.

_Q._ When you got to the Joseph what occurred?

_A._ She was hailed by Captain Baker, and requested to send a boat on board.

_Q._ Who answered the hail?

_A._ I believe Captain Meyer, of the brig.

_Q._ Would you recognize Captain Meyer now?