Part 2.
American Consul's communications to the United States.
Albany Journal
(Albany, New York)
April 27, 1852
The Capture of the George Howland.
We recorded some days since the capture of the ship George Howland, of New Bedford, by the revolted convicts of the Gallipagos Islands. The uncertainty which existed relative to the fate of the captain and crew is removed by the following letter from G.P. Game, Esq., U.S. Consul at Guayaquil, dated March 27, which is published in the New Bedford Mercury: –
The George Howland is now coming up to this port in charge of a lieutenant and men from the Swedish frigate Eugenia. It appears that while the G.H. was at Charles Island, she was taken possession of by some convicts, who escaped in her, and after committing most horrible depredations, abandoned the ship in her boats in the Bay of Guayaquil, on perceiving the Swedish frigate in pursuit of them. The Captain of the frigate informs me that the ship will be delivered up to me, upon her arrival here, and claims his salvage for capturing her.
It appears that the captain and crew of the George Howland, or most of them, are left unharmed on Charles Island. I have made application to the Government here for a small vessel of war, to send after them, but as they are preparing to repel an expedition, which has left Peru under command of Gen. Flores to invade this Republic, all their force is required for their own protection; but rest assured that as soon as the opportunity of a vessel presents, I will dispatch one to bring them here.
When the advices reached here of a piratical ship in the bay, the Government despatched a steamer of war, and the French corvette Prudente sailed in pursuit of her, but before they could arrive on the field of action, the ship had been captured by the Swedish frigate, which was coming in at the same time.
Captain Benjamin Clarke left New Bedford for this city on Friday, with the intention of proceeding immediately to Guayaquil [sic], by way of the Isthmus of Panama. His object is to adjust all matters with the captain of the Swedish frigate, and to refit the George Howland for the completion of her voyage, or send her to New Bedford, as may be deemed expedient.
Pennsylvania Inquirer
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
April 27, 1852
The Piratical Capture of the Whaleship Geo. Howland.
The New Bedford Mercury publishes the following extract of a letter dated March 27th, from G. P. Game, Esq., U.S. Consul at Guayaquil, giving some further authentic particulars of the capture of the ship George Howland, of New Bedford, at Gallipagos Islands. It is gratifying to know that the captain and crew of the Geo. Howland, – all or nearly all of them, were unharmed, and remain at Charles Island. G. P. Game, Esq., U.S. Consul at Guayaquil would send a vessel to take them to Guayaquil at the earliest moment practicable:
"The George Howland is now coming up to the port in charge of a Lieutenant and men from the Swedish frigate Eugenie. I appears that while the G. H. was at Charles Island, she was taken possession of by some convicts, who escaped in her, and after committing most horrible depredations, abandoned the ship in her boats in the Bay of Guayaquil, on perceiving the Swedish frigate in pursuit of them. The captain of the frigate has just arrived here. He informs me that the ship will be delivered up to me upon her arrival here, and claims his salvage for capturing her. It appears that the captain and crew of the George Howland, or most of them, are left unharmed on Charles Island.
I have made application to the Government here for a small vessel of war, to send after them, but as they are preparing to repel an expedition, which has left Peru under command of Gen. Flores to invade this Republic, all their force is required for their own protection, but rest assured that as soon as the opportunity of a vessel presents, I will despatch one to bring them here. When the advices reached here of a piratical ship in the Bay, the Government despatched a steamer of war, and the French corvette Prudente sailed in pursuit of her, but before they could arrive on the field of action, the ship had been captured by the Swedish frigate which was coming in at the same time.
Whalemans Shipping List and Merchants Transcript
(New Bedford, Massachusetts)
April 27, 1852
The following extract of a letter dated March 27th, from G P Game, Esq, U S Consul at Guayaquil, gives some further particulars of the capture of the ship Geo Howland, of this port, at Gallipagos Islands. – "The George Howland is now coming up to this port in charge of a Lieut and men from the Swedish frigate Eugenia. It appears that while the G H was at Charles Island, she was taken possession of by some convicts, who escaped in her, and after committing most horrible depredations, abandoned the ship in her boats in the Bay of Guayaquil, on perceiving the Swedish frigate in pursuit of them. The captain of the frigate has just arrived here. He informs me that the ship will be delivered up to me upon her arrival here, and claims his salvage for capturing her. It appears that the captain and crew of the Geo Howland, or most of them, are left unharmed on Charles Island. I have made application to the Government here for a small vessel of war, to send after them, but as they are preparing to repel an expedition, which has left Peru under command of Gen. Flores to invade this Republic, all their force is required for their own protection, but rest assured that as soon as the opportunity of a vessel presents, I will despatch one to bring them here. When the advices reached here of a piratical ship in the Bay, the Government despatched a steamer of war, and the French corvette Prudente sailed in pursuit of her, but before they could arrive on the field of action, the ship had been captured by the Swedish frigate which was coming in at the same time."
"Such is the shortness of the time to form a correct detail of the accounts, that I am unable to form a correct detail of occurrences at this moment."
Capt. Benj. Clark, of this city left here on Friday last for Guayaquil, in order to adjust all matters with the captain of the Swedish frigate, and refit the Geo. Howland for the completion of her voyage, or send her home, as may be deemed expedient.
Daily Alabama Journal
(Montgomery, Alabama)
April 27, 1852
Dreadful Massacre ...
The Winfield Scott brought advices from Valparaiso to the 20th March.
An American whale ship, name not stated, was seized by a party of convicts at the Galapagos Islands, and the captain and crew murdered in the most cruel and cold-blooded manner.
The convicts then sailed towards Guayaquil with the intention of opposing Gen. Flores.
On their way they fell in with two schooners belonging to the expedition of Gen. Flores, and having seized them, murdered all on board in the most ferocious manner, including the nephew and son-in-law of Gen. Flores. On board one of these vessels the convicts cut the throats of twenty-three men.
The whale-ship was afterwards taken possession of by a Swedish frigate. The convicts were placed in irons, and the vessel anchored in the Guayaquil river.
The expedition of Gen. Flores, it was believed, would prove a total failure – though the greatest excitement prevailed at Guayaquil – partly in consequence of a Swedish frigate having been stationed at the mouth of the river to prevent vessels entering without proper papers.
Boston Daily Atlas
(Boston, Massachusetts)
April 27, 1852
The Piratical Capture of the Whale Ship George Howland. – Authentic particulars of the seizure of the ship George Howland at the Gallipagos Islands. It is gratifying to know that the Capt. and crew of the Geo. Howland – all or nearly all of them, were unharmed, and remain at Charles Island. M.P. Game, Esq., U.S. Consul at Guayaquil, would send a vessel to take them to Guayaquil, at the earliest moment practicable. Capt. Benj. Clark, of this city, left here yesterday for New York, where he will embark in the steamer for Guayaquil via Chagres, in order to adjust all matters with the Captain of the Swedish frigate, and also to refit the Geo. Howland for the completion of her voyage, or send her to this port, as may be deemed expedient. – New Bedford Mercury, 24th
New York Times
(New York, New York)
April 27, 1852
The Capture of the George Howland. – We recorded some days since the capture of the ship George Howland, of New-Bedford, by the revolted convicts of the Gallipagos Islands. The uncertainty which existed relative to the fate of the captain and crew is removed by the following letter from G.P. Game, Esq., U.S. Consul at Guayaquil, dated March 27, which is published in the New-Bedford Mercury:
The George Howland is now coming up to this port in charge of a lieutenant and men from the Swedish frigate Eugenia. It appears that while the G.H. was at Charles Island, she was taken possession of by some convicts, who escaped in her, and after committing most horrible depredations, abandoned the ship in her boats in the Bay of Guayaquil, on perceiving the Swedish frigate in pursuit of them. The Captain of the frigate informs me that the ship will be delivered up to me, upon her arrival here, and claims his salvage for capturing her.
It appears that the captain and crew of the George Howland, or most of them, are left unharmed on Charles Island. I have made application to the Government here for a small vessel of war, to send after them, but as they are preparing to repel an expedition, which has left Peru under command of Gen. Flores to invade this Republic, all their force is required for their own protection; but rest assured that as soon as the opportunity of a vessel presents, I will dispatch one to bring them here.
When the advices reached here of a piratical ship in the bay, the Government despatched a steamer of war, and the French corvette Prudente sailed in pursuit of her, but before they could arrive on the field of action, the ship had been captured by the Swedish frigate, which was coming in at the same time.
Captain Benjamin Clark left New Bedford for this city on Friday, with the intention of proceeding immediately to Guayaquil, by way of the Isthmus of Panama. His object is to adjust all matters with the captain of the Swedish frigate, and to refit the George Howland for the completion of her voyage, or send her to New-Bedford, as may be deemed expedient.
Whalemen's Shipping List
(New Bedford, Massachusetts)
April 27, 1852
The following extract of a letter dated March 27th, from G P Game, Esq, U.S. Consul at Guayaquil, gives some further particulars of the capture of ship Geo Howland, of this port, at Gallipagos Islands. – "The George Howland is now coming up to this port in charge of a lieut. and men from the Swedish frigate Eugenia. It appears that while the G H was at Charles Island, she was taken possession of by some convicts, who escaped in her, and after committing most horrible depredations, abandoned the ship in her boats in the Bay of Guayaquil, on perceiving the Swedish frigate in pursuit of them. The Captain of the frigate informs me that the ship will be delivered up to me, upon her arrival here, and claims his salvage for capturing her. It appears that the captain and crew of the Geo Howland, or most of them, are left unharmed on Charles Island. I have made application to the Government here for a small vessel of war, to send after them, but as they are preparing to repel an expedition, which has left Peru under command of Gen Flores to invade this Republic, all their force is required for their own protection; but rest assured that as soon as the opportunity of a vessel presents, I will dispatch one to bring them here. When the advices reached here of a piratical ship in the Bay, the Government despatched a steamer of war, and the French corvette Prudente sailed in pursuit of her, but before they could arrive on the field of action, the ship had been captured by the Swedish frigate which was coming in at the same time."
"Such is the shortness of the time and the uncertainty of the accounts, that I am unable to form a correct detail of occurrences at this moment."
"Capt BENJ CLARK, of this city left here on Friday last for Guayaquil, in order to adjust all matters with the captain of the Swedish frigate, and refit the Geo. Howland for the completion of her voyage, or send her home, as may be deemed expedient.
Wisconsin Free Democrat
(Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
April 28, 1852
The Ecuadorian Convicts, stationed at the Galapago Islands, have seized an American whale ship and murdered the whole crew. They proceeded towards Guayaquil with the intention of opposing Gen. Flores, hoping thereby to gain their pardon, and on the way fell in with two vessels belonging to Flores, which they seized and murdered all on board, cutting the throats of twenty-three men from ear to ear. The ship was afterwards taken possession of by a Swedish Frigate and the convicts placed in irons.
Boston Daily Atlas
(Boston, Massachusetts)
May 3, 1852
Telegraphic Despatches.
Arrival of the Crescent City
AT NEW YORK
WITH $2,600,000 IN GOLD.
FOUR DAYS LATER FROM CALIFORNIA, ISTHMUS, SANDWICH ISLANDS, AND SOUTH AMERICA.
New York, Sunday, May 2.
The steamship Crescent City, Capt. Wardle, arrived here his morning, from Aspinwall, which place she left on the 24th ult.
She brings the California mails, San Francisco dates of April 5th, and 500 passengers.
...
From Peru. – The whaling barque Hesper was spoken in the Gulf of Guayaquil, with 600 bbls sperm oil. This vessel reported that Gen. Flores had succeeded in entering the Guayaquil river with the British steamer Chile and the brig-of-war Almarante Blanco, and one other war brig. On reaching the city of Guayaquil, a decided demonstration appeared in favor of Flores and the soldiers of Ecuador, Government spiked their own guns, to prevent their being used against the invaders.
Flores succeeded in taking the city without any opposition. The majority of his troops were Europeans and Peruvians, and there appears to be no doubt that he was but an agent of the Peruvian government, and Ecuador will be annexed to Peru. Flores, it is said, will now be appointed Vice President of Peru.
Another account of Flores' movements, published in a Panama paper, contradicts the above in all essential particulars, and that he has made any attack upon the city of Guayaquil.
There is no further intelligence of the convicts who captured the American whaler off Gallipagos Islands.
...
Daily Picayune
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
May 4, 1852
Whaleship Geo. Howland. – The U.S. Consul at Guayaquil writes to New Bedford, March 27th, that the Geo. Howland was then coming up to port in charge of an officer of the Swedish frigate Eugenia, which had captured her from the pirates, and the captain of which had informed the Consul that he should claim salvage upon her. The captain and crew, or most of them, were at Charles Island, and he had endeavored to get a Government vessel to go after them, but had not yet succeeded.
Last updated by Tom Tyler, Denver, CO, USA, Jul 3 2021
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