Part 3.
William B. Peacock's letter to New Bedford.
Albany Journal
(Albany, New York)
May 8, 1852
Ship George Howland. – A letter has been received from the cooper of the ship George Howland, seized by the convicts at Charles Island, which states that the men of the Swedish man-of war, who took charge of the ship, stole and destroyed about as much as the Spaniards. The ship is uninjured, and probably three thousand dollars will pay all damages.
New York Times
(New York, New York)
May 8, 1852
Ship George Howland.
Boston, Friday, May 7.
A letter has been received from the cooper of the ship George Howland, seized by the convicts at Charles Island, which states that the men of the Swedish man-of-war, who took charge of the ship, stole and destroyed about as much as the Spaniards. The ship is uninjured, and probably $3,000 will pay all damages.
New York Times
(New York, New York)
May 10, 1852
The Capture of the George Howland. – A letter is published by the New-Bedford Mercury, from Wm. B. Peacock, cooper of the whaleship George Howland of that port, giving particulars of the capture of that vessel by the convicts at Gallipagos Islands. From it we gather that the vessel arrived at Charles Island on the 2d March, when the Captain and part of his crew went ashore to get a supply of wood and water, for which he made an arrangement with 18 or 20 convicts who were endeavoring to make their escape. In part return for their assistance apparently, Capt. C. gave Mr. Peacock permission to repair an old whale-boat in possession of the convicts. The next day part of the crew having deserted, Capt. C. on the 4th, promised the convicts a supply of provisions sufficient to enable them to reach the coast, on condition that they should retake and deliver up the deserters. Soon after, they brought home two of the men, who were taken on board together, with one of the convicts and a Frenchman found on the Island – the convicts promising to catch the other deserters the next day. The report says:
On the morning of the 5th, Mr. Peacock accompanied Capt. C. on shore and with Mr. Milliken resumed their repairs on the boat, while Capt. C. was engaged in conversation with the natives; when Mr. P's attention was arrested on hearing the Captain exclaim "What for," "What for?" Mr. P. ran to his assistance and found the convicts had seized and tied Capt. C. and his boat's crew. The convicts ordered Peacock and Milliken to complete the repair of the boat or they would cut their throats. The convicts then put up the white flag as a signal, and in a few minutes the second mate and five seamen came from the ship, and immediately on their reaching the shore they were seized by the convicts and tied, and together with their fellow prisoners secured in a building at a short distance from the beach. The convicts again made signal to the ship, when the chief mate approached to within a short distance of the shore in a boat, when Capt. C. called to him telling him that unless he landed the convicts would take his (Capt. C's) life – but that he might land or not as he chose. After a short hesitation the mate decided to go on shore, when he with the crew were seized by the convicts, tied, and the mate was laid upon the ground and flogged with a rope, and then secured in the house.
The convicts then ordered Mr. PEACOCK to get into the boat with five of their men, threatening to shoot him if he made opposition. Before reaching the ship all the crew who had remained on board, apprehending danger, lowered the boat and made their escape, notwithstanding that they were pursued by a boat manned by convicts from the shore. On reaching the ship the convicts commenced drinking, and breaking open trunks in search of money. During the night the rest of the convicts came on board, bringing with them Mr. Albert, 2d mate, J. McClinthan, E. Milliken, two Kanakas, and three Portuguese, making in all ten of the ship's company, whom the convicts (the Frenchman acting as their captain) ordered to heave up the anchor, and get under weigh for Chatham Island. Mr. Albert said they had not killed the captain or any one belonging to the ship. Mr. Albert was commanded to paint the ship black, and had nearly completed the starboard side when he contrived to make his escape with several others in a boat – Mr. Peacock, McClinthan, and a Kanaka being the only persons of the ship's crew then remaining on board. On nearing Chatham Island, the convicts lay off and on, going on shore with boats, committing pillage and murder; and bringing on board ten Spaniards, five of whom they shot in the night after they had been on board three days. Mr. Peacock, in consequence of an intimation from the Frenchman, that the convicts intended to kill him, secreted himself in the lower hold, between the fore and main hatches, where he remained seventeen days, with no other food than black fish scraps and water, the convicts making constant search for him during nine days, and finally concluding that he must have perished from starvation. The ship was off Tombez some days, and then put into Guayaquil River, where the convicts becoming alarmed, Mr. P. heard the Frenchman order the anchor and topsail halyards to be let go; and they then lowered the boats, taking every one with them at about noon. After they had been gone about fifteen minutes, Mr. Peacock went on deck, finding his strength almost entirely prostrated, and procured refreshments. After 4 o'clock P.M., he discovered two ships at a great distance, and the next morning the ships being still in sight, he set the American ensign at half mast, union down, where it remained until 4 P.M., when despairing of assistance he took it down and set it forward. At about dark the George Howland was boarded by a boat from the Swedish frigate Eugenia, which took charge of the ship and carried her to Guayaquil, and after a few days gave her up to the American Consul. Mr. P. adds: The Swedes stole and destroyed about as much as the Spaniards. The ship is not injured, and probably $3,000 would pay for all they took and destroyed. If the captain and officers come soon, we may yet make a saving voyage.
Alexandria Gazette
(Alexandria, Virginia)
May 10, 1852
A letter has been received from the cooper of the ship George Howland, seized by the convicts at Charles Island, which states that the men of the Swedish man-of-war, who took charge of the ship, stole and destroyed about as much as the Spaniards. The ship is uninjured, and probably $3,000 will pay all damages.
North American And United States Gazette
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
May 11, 1852
The Capture of the George Howland. – A letter is published by the New Bedford Mercury, from Wm. B. Peacock, cooper of the whaleship George Howland of that port, giving particulars of the capture of that vessel by the convicts at Gallipagos Islands. From it we gather that the vessel arrived at Charles Island on the 2d March, when the Captain and part of his crew went ashore to get a supply of wood and water, for which he made an arrangement with 18 or 20 convicts who were endeavoring to make their escape. In part return for their assistance, apparently, Capt. C. gave Mr. Peacock permission to repair an old whale boat in possession of the convicts. The next day part of the crew having deserted, Capt. C. on the 4th, promised the convicts a supply of provisions sufficient to enable them to reach the coast, on condition that they should retake and deliver up the deserters. Soon after, they brought home two of the men, who were taken on board together, with one of the convicts and a Frenchman found on the Island – the convicts promising to catch the other deserters the next day. The report says:
On the morning of the 5th, Mr. Peacock accompanied Capt. C. on shore and with Mr. Milliken resumed their repairs on the boat, while Capt. C. was engaged in conversation with the natives; when Mr. P's attention was arrested on hearing the Captain exclaim "What for," "What for?" Mr. P. ran to his assistance and found the convicts had seized and tied Capt. C. and his boat's crew. The convicts ordered Peacock and Milliken to complete the repair of the boat, or they would cut their throats. The convicts then put up the white flag as a signal, and in a few minutes the second mate and five seamen came from the ship, and immediately on their reaching the shore they were seized by the convicts and tied, and together with their fellow prisoners secured in a building at a short distance from the beach. The convicts again made signal to the ship, when the chief mate approached to within a short distance of the shore in a boat, when Capt. C. called to him telling him that unless he landed the convicts would take his (Capt. C's) life – but that he might land or not as he chose. After a short hesitation the mate decided to go on shore, when he with the crew were seized by the convicts, tied, and the mate was laid upon the ground and flogged with a rope, and then secured in the house.
The convicts then ordered Mr. Peacock to get into the boat with five of their men, threatening to shoot him if he made opposition. Before reaching the ship all the crew who had remained on board, apprehending danger, lowered the boat and made their escape, notwithstanding that they were pursued by a boat manned by convicts from the shore. On reaching the ship the convicts commenced drinking, and breaking open trunks in search of money. During the night the rest of the convicts came on board, bringing with them Mr. Albert, 2d mate, J. McClinthan, E. Milliken, two Kanakas, and three Portuguese, making in all ten of the ship's company, whom the convicts (the Frenchman acting as their captain) ordered to heave up the anchor, and get under weigh for Chatham Island. Mr. Albert said they had not killed the captain or any one belonging to the ship. Mr. Albert was commanded to paint the ship black, and had nearly completed the starboard side when he contrived to make his escape with several others in a boat. Mr. Peacock, McClinthan, and a Kanaka being the only persons of the ship's crew then remaining on board.
On nearing Chatham Island, the convicts lay off and on, going on shore with boats, committing pillage and murder; and bringing on board ten Spaniards, five of whom they shot in the night after they had been on board three days. Mr. Peacock, in consequence of an intimation from the Frenchman, that the convicts intended to kill him, secreted himself in the lower hold, between the fore and main hatches, where he remained seventeen days, with no other food than black fish scraps and water, the convicts making constant search for him during nine days, and finally concluding that he must have perished from starvation. The ship was off Tombez some days, and then put into Guayaquil River, where the convicts becoming alarmed, Mr. P. heard the Frenchman order the anchor and topsail halyards to be let go; and they then lowered the boats, taking every one with them at about noon. After they had been gone about fifteen minutes, Mr. Peacock went on deck, finding his strength almost entirely prostrated, and procured refreshments. After 4 o'clock P.M., he discovered two ships at a great distance, and the next morning the ships being still in sight, he set the American ensign at half mast, union down, where it remained until 4 P.M., when despairing of assistance he took it down and set it forward. At about dark the George Howland was boarded by a boat from the Swedish frigate Eugenia, which took charge of the ship and carried her to Guayaquil, and after a few days gave her up to the American Consul. Mr. P. adds: The Swedes stole and destroyed about as much as the Spaniards. The ship is not injured, and probably $3,000 would pay for all they took and destroyed. If the captain and officers come soon, we may yet make a saving voyage.
Whaleman's Shipping List and Merchants' Transcript.
(New Bedford, Massachusetts)
May 11, 1852
Additional Particulars of the Capture of the Whaleship George Howland, of this port at the Gallipagos Islands. – We have been favored with the perusal of a letter received by Messrs. Geo. Howland & Sons, from Mr. Wm. B. PEACOCK, cooper on board the whale ship Geo. Howland of this port, dated at Guayaquil, April 11, 1852, from which we gather the following full particulars of her capture:
The George Howland arrived at Charles Island, March 2d, and on the following day Capt. Cromwell with the starboard watch went ashore, where they found 18 or 20 convicts, one of whom proposed to exchange an old whale boat upon the beach, for one of the ship's boats, their object being to effect their escape from the island. Capt. C. declined to exchange, but gave Mr. Peacock permission to repair the boat on his own account, and effected an arrangement with the convicts for a supply of wood and water. Capt. C. returned to the ship, about one half of his crew remaining on the island, with the understanding that when they desired to return to the ship they were to display a white flag and the boat would be sent from the ship to receive them. During the day and night the boat passed and repassed several times, and all had returned on board except Ira McClinthan, Austin Dean, Wm. Maxfield and Wm. Tilleston, they having deserted. On the morning of the 4th, Capt. C. went on shore, and promised the convicts if they would catch the deserters and deliver them at the shore, to reward them with a supply of provisions to enable them to reach the coast; to which they acceded. The mate and 3d mate also went on shore in pursuit of the deserters while Capt. C. took off from the island a part of a boat load of wood to the ship; and Mr. Peacock and Edward Milliken were engaged in repairing the boat belonging to the convicts. At about 4 o'clock, p.m. the convicts brought down two of the deserters, Maxfield and Tilleston, and set the flag, and soon after the mates returned to the ship, taking with them one of the convicts and a Frenchman, who had been on the island. By order of Capt. C. the two deserters were put in irons. The convicts promised to catch the two remaining deserters on the following day. At sundown a boat was sent for Mr. Peacock and Milliken, who returned on board with their tools.
On the morning of the 5th, Mr. Peacock accompanied Capt. C. on shore and with Mr. Milliken resumed their repairs on the boat, while Capt. C. was engaged in conversation with the natives; when Mr. P.'s attention was arrested on hearing the captain exclaim "What for," "What for?" Mr. P. ran to his assistance and found the convicts had seized and tied Capt. C. and his boat's crew. The convicts ordered Peacock and Milliken to complete the repair of the boat or they would cut their throats. The convicts then put up the white flag as a signal, and in a few minutes the 2nd mate and five seamen came from the ship, and immediately on their reaching the shore they were seized by the convicts and tied, and together with their fellow prisoners secured in a building at a short distance from the beach. The convicts again made signal to the ship, when the chief mate approached to within a short distance of the shore in a boat, when Capt. C. called to him telling him that unless he landed the convicts would take his (Capt. C.'s) life – but that he might land or not as he chose. After a short hesitation the mate decided to go on shore when he with his crew were seized by the convicts, tied and the mate was laid upon the ground and flogged with a rope, and then secured in the house. The convicts then ordered Mr. Peacock to get into the boat with five of their men, threatening to shoot him if he made opposition. Before reaching the ship all the crew who had remained on board, apprehending danger, lowered a boat and made their escape, notwithstanding that they were pursued by a boat manned by convicts from the shore. On reaching the ship the convicts commenced drinking, and breaking open trunks in search of money. During the night the rest of the convicts came on board, bringing with them Mr. Albert, 2d mate, J. McClinthan, E. Milliken, two Kanakas, and three Portuguese, making in all ten of the ships company, whom the convicts (the Frenchman acting as their captain) ordered to heave up the anchor, and get under weigh for Chatham Island. Mr. Albert said they had not killed the captain or any one belonging to the ship. Mr. Albert was commanded to paint the ship black, and had nearly completed the starboard side when he contrived to effect his escape, with several others in a boat, – Mr. Peacock, McClinthan, and a Kanaka being the only persons of the ship's crew then remaining on board. On nearing Chatham Island, the convicts lay off and on, going on shore with boats, committing pillage and murder; and bringing on board ten Spaniards, five of whom they shot in the night after they had been on board three days. Mr. Peacock, in consequence of an intimation from the Frenchman, that the convicts intended to kill him, secreted himself in the lower hold between the fore and main hatches, where he remained seventeen days, with no other food than blackfish scraps and water, the convicts making constant search for him during nine days, and finally concluding that he must have perished from starvation. The ship was off Tombez some days, and then put into Guayaquil river, where the convicts becoming alarmed, Mr. P. heard the Frenchman order the anchor and topsail halyards to be let go; and they then lowered the boats taking every one with them at about noon. After they had been gone about fifteen minutes, Mr. Peacock went on deck, finding his strength almost entirely prostrated, and procured refreshments. At 4 o'clock p.m., he discovered two ships at a great distance, and the next morning the ships being still in sight, he set the American ensign at half mast, union down, where it remained until 4 P.M., when despairing of assistance, he took it down and set it forward. At about dark the George Howland was boarded by a boat from the Swedish frigate Eugenia, which took charge of the ship and carried her to Guayaquil, and after a few days gaver her up to the American Consul.
Mr. P. adds: – The Swedes stole and destroyed about as much as the Spaniards. The ship is not injured, and probably $3000 would pay for all they took and destroyed. If the captain and officers come soon, we may yet make a saving voyage.
[Mercury.
Public Ledger
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
May 11, 1852
The Capture of the George Howland – A letter is published by the New Bedford Mercury, from Wm. B. Peacock, cooper of the whaleship George Howland, of that port, giving particulars of the capture of that vessel by the convicts at Gallipagos Islands. From it we gather that the vessel
Arrived at Charles Island on the 2d March, when the Captain and part of his crew went ashore to get a supply of wood and water, for which he made an arrangement with eighteen or twenty convicts, who were endeavoring to make their escape. In part return for their assistance, apparently, Captain C gave Mr. Peacock permission to repair an old whale boat in possession of the convicts. The next day part of the crew having deserted, Capt. C. on the 4th, promised the convicts a supply of provisions sufficient to enable them to reach the coast, on condition that they should retake and deliver up the deserters. Soon after, they brought home two of the men, who were taken on board together, with one of the convicts and a Frenchman found on the island – the convicts promising to catch the other deserters the next day. The report says:
On the morning of the 5th, Mr. Peacock accompanied Capt. C. on shore, and with Mr. Milliken resumed their repairs on the boat, while Capt. C. was engaged in conversation with the natives, when Mr. P's attention was arrested on hearing the captain exclaim "What for," "What for?" Mr. P. ran to his assistance and found the convicts had seized and tied Capt. C. and his boat's crew. The convicts ordered Peacock and Milliken to complete the repair of the boat or they would cut their throats. The convicts then put up the white flag as a signal, and in a few minutes the second mate and five seamen came from the ship, and immediately on their reaching the shore they were seized by the convicts and tied, and together with their fellow prisoners secured in a building at a short distance from the beach. The convicts again made signal to the ship, when the chief mate approached to within a short distance of the shore in a boat, when Capt. C. called to him telling him that unless he landed the convicts would take his (Capt. C.'s) life – but that he might land or not as he chose. After a short hesitation the mate decided to go on shore when he with his crew were seized by the convicts, tied and the mate was laid upon the ground and flogged with a rope, and then secured in the house.
The convicts then ordered Mr. Peacock to get into the boat with five of their men, threatening to shoot him if he made opposition. Before reaching the ship all the crew who had remained on board, apprehending danger, lowered the boat and made their escape, notwithstanding that they were pursued by a boat manned by convicts from the shore. On reaching the ship the convicts commenced drinking, and breaking open trunks in search of money. During the night the rest of the convicts came on board, bringing with them Mr. Albert, second mate, J. McClinthan, E. Milliken, two Kanakas, and three Portuguese, making in all ten of the ships company, whom the convicts (the Frenchman acting as their captain) ordered to heave up the anchor, and get under weigh for Chatham Island. Mr. Albert said they had not killed the captain or any one belonging to the ship. Mr. Albert was commanded to paint the ship black, and had nearly completed the starboard side when he contrived to make his escape, with several others in a boat. Mr. Peacock, McClinthan, and a Kanaka being the only persons of the ship's crew then remaining on board. On nearing Chatham Island, the convicts lay off and on, going on shore with boats, committing pillage and murder; and bringing on board ten Spaniards, five of whom they shot in the night after they had been on board three days. Mr. Peacock, in consequence of an intimation from the Frenchman, that the convicts intended to kill him, secreted himself in the lower hold between the fore and main hatches, where he remained seventeen days, with no other food than black fish scraps and water, the convicts making constant search for him during nine days, and finally concluding that he must have perished from starvation. The ship was off Tombez some days, and then put into Guayaquil river, where the convicts becoming alarmed, Mr. P. heard the Frenchman order the anchor and topsail halyards to be let go; and they then lowered the boats taking every one with them at about noon. After they had been gone about fifteen minutes, Mr. Peacock went on deck, finding his strength almost entirely prostrated, and procured refreshments. At about dark the George Howland was boarded by a boat from the Swedish frigate Eugenia, which took charge of the ship and carried her to Guayaquil, and after a few days gave her up to the American Consul. Mr. P. adds: The Swedes stole and destroyed about as much as the Spaniards. The ship is not injured, and probably $3,000 would pay for all they took and destroyed.
Last updated by Tom Tyler, Denver, CO, USA, Dec 1 2021
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