Part 5.
Captain Cromwell's letter to Mathew Howland
Whalemen's Shipping List
(New Bedford, Massachusetts)
June 8, 1852
Ship George Howland. – Release of Capt. Cromwell and his crew. – We are indebted to Mr. MATHEW HOWLAND for the perusal of a letter from Capt. Cromwell, of the ship George Howland, of this port, giving the particulars of the taking of his ship at Charles Island in the Pacific, by Spanish convicts, a full account of which as been before published in our columns, in a letter from Mr. Peacock, the cooper of the ship. Of his captivity upon the Island Capt. Cromwell says: –
In another letter dated Guayaquil, May 2d, Capt. Cromwell adds: – "We were confined upon the Island 23 days, were 24 days in making the passage to Tombez, and 6 days to this place. I found the ship uninjured in her hull and rigging, but a great deal has been taken from her, including all the boats but two, a part of the provisions; and many of the tools, and whaling gear. Mr. Crocker and eight men are with me here, leaving 16 of my crew scattered somewhere, of whom I have no account. As it is impossible under the circumstances to continue the voyage, I shall take charge of the ship and await your orders. The ship will not be permitted to leave here until the claims for salvage is settled."
Albany Journal
(Albany, New York)
June 9, 1852
The Whaleship George Howland.
From the New-Bedford Mercury.
Letters received here from Capt. Samuel H. Cromwell, of the whaleship George Howland, of this port, confirm the accounts of the capture of the ship by pirates at Charles' Island, as previously stated in the letter from Mr. Peacock, who, it will be recollected, effected his escape by secreting himself on board the ship, while Captain Cromwell and a portion of the crew were retained upon the island. Capt. C. adds: –
"We were left under a guard at the hut, until the return of our captors from the ship, about two hours. A consultation was then held on the outside of the building respecting the manner in which we were to be disposed of. It was evident from their conversation that their original intention had been to murder us, and, indeed, one plan had been to dig a hole in the sand large enough to hold twenty-five bodies, and bury us all together; but, thanks to an all-wise and over-ruling Providence, our lives were spared. After about half an hour, spent in the most horrible uncertainty, we were somewhat relieved by the arrival of the Governor, who called aside the principal person of the gang, and had a short conversation with him. After this our bands were cut, and we were set a liberty on a desert island.
The Governor, Don Martin, and his man servant were left with us, and were the only persons besides ourselves on the island. The robbers left us about fifteen pounds of bread, and one gallon of molasses; they took from the Governor the greater part of his furniture and clothing.
"We were kindly received by the Governor at his house, and resided there while we were on the island. Here our food consisted almost entirely of meat, and frequently we had nothing but a piece of beef roasted on the coals. We were obliged to hunt the wild cattle for our food, and as we could only take them at night, and had no fire-arms, the pursuit was very difficult and sometimes dangerous. We were nearly destitute of clothing too, being only provided with one suit of working dress.
After about three weeks, passed in the most agonizing suspense, a sail was discovered approaching the island. It proved to be the ship 'Congaree,' of New Bedford, Capt. Maloy, who kindly administered to our wants, receiving us on board his ship, and supplying us with every comfort, who brought us in safety to Tumbez, where the commander of the U.S. ship Portsmouth received us on board, and brought us to Guayaquil, where we found the ship Geo. Howland at anchor."
In another letter dated Guayaquil, May 2, Capt. Cromwell states that they were confined at the island twenty-three days, and were subsequently 24 days in making the passage to Tombez, and 6 days thence to regaining the ship at Guayaquil. The ship had been stripped of all her whaling gear, tools, &c., all but two of her boats, and a large quantity of goods and provisions, and 16 of the crew had not been heard from. It was therefore impossible to continue the voyage, nor could she leave the port until after the liquidation of the claim by the officers of the Swedish frigate Eugenia, for salvage. Capt. Cromwell proposed to remain at Guayaquil, awaiting orders from her owners, – which it will be recollected were despatched hence by Capt. Benj. Clark, immediately after the reception of the intelligence of the arrival of the vessel at Guayaquil.
Sacramento Union
(Sacramento, California)
June 15, 1852
By the arrival of the brig Montezuma, from Peru, intelligence is brought that the whale ship Geo. Howland, Capt. Cromwell, of New Bedford, Mass., while lying at Charles Island, on the 1st March, was captured by the convicts transported thither during the revolution at Guayaquil. The captain went on shore, when he and his crew were seized and tied by the convicts. Eighteen of the latter then took the ship, displacing the second officer in command. The convicts afterwards proceeded to Chatham Island, where they killed the Governor and three men and plundered the Island of all the money they could find.
About twelve days afterwards, they fell in with a schooner from Tombez, bound to windward. This vessel had thirty-three men on board being part of those engaged in Gen. Flores expedition. The convicts attacked her, killing twenty-three men, taking the balance prisoners, and the schooner in tow. They afterward proceeded to the island of Puna, which they plundered, and then anchored the ship and left her. A Swedish sloop-of-war then fell in with her, taking her into Guayaquil, where she was delivered to the American Consul.
We extract the above intelligence from the "Alta."
...
The Sun
(Baltimore, Maryland)
June 10, 1852
The Capture of the Whaleship George Howland by Pirates. – We mentioned some days since that the whaleship George Howland, Capt. Cromwell, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, had been captured by pirates, at James' Island, in the Pacific. Captain C., who, with a portion of his crew, was held upon the Island as a prisoner, has written a letter home, in which he says:
"We were left under a guard at the hut, until the return of our captors from the ship – about two hours. A consultation was then held on the outside of the building respecting the manner in which we were to be disposed of. It was evident from their conversation that their original intention had been to murder us; and indeed, one plan had been to dig a hole in the sand large enough to hold twenty-five bodies, and bury us all together; but, thanks to an all-wise and overruling Providence, our lives were spared. After about an hour spent in the most horrible uncertainty, we were somewhat relieved by the arrival of the Governor, who called aside the principal person of the gang, and had a short conversation with him. After this our bands were cut, and we were set a liberty on a desert island.
"The Governor, Don Martin, and his man servant were left with us, and were the only persons besides ourselves on the island. The robbers left us about 15 pounds of bread, and one gallon of molasses; they took from the Governor the greater part of his furniture and clothing.
"We were kindly received by the Governor at his house, and resided there while on the island. Here our food consisted almost entirely of meat, and frequently we had but a piece of beef, roasted on the coals. We were obliged to hunt the wild cattle for our food, and as we could only take them at night, and had no firearms, the pursuit was difficult and sometimes dangerous. We were nearly destitute of clothing, too, being only provided with one suit of working dress."
After about twenty-three days, passed in the most agonizing suspense, a sail was discovered approaching the island. It proved to be the ship "Congaree," Capt. Maloy, which took them on board and carried them to Tombez, where they were received on the United States ship Portsmouth and conveyed to Guayaquil, where they found the George Howland at anchor, nearly dismantled, a large quantity of goods and provisions having been stolen, and sixteen of her crew missing.
The Daily Picayune
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
June 19, 1852
The Capture of the Whaleship George Howland by Pirates. – It has already been mentioned that the whale ship George Howland, Capt. Cromwell, of New Bedford, Mass., had been captured by pirates, at James's Island, in the Pacific. Captain C., who, with a portion of his crew, was held upon the island as a prisoner, has written a letter home, in which he says:
"We were left under a guard at the hut, until the return of our captors from the ship – about two hours. A consultation was then held on the outside of the building respecting the manner in which we were to be disposed of. It was evident from their conversation that their original intention had been to murder us; and indeed, one plan had been to dig a hole in the sand large enough to hold twenty-five bodies, and bury us all together; but, thanks to an all-wise and overruling Providence, our lives were spared. After about an hour spent in the most horrible uncertainty, we were somewhat relieved by the arrival of the Governor, who called aside the principal person of the gang, and had a short conversation with him. After this our bands were cut, and we were set a liberty on a desert island.
"The Governor, Don Martin, and his man servant were left with us, and were the only persons besides ourselves on the island. The robbers left us about fifteen pounds of bread, and one gallon of molasses; they took from the Governor the greater part of his furniture and clothing.
"We were kindly received by the Governor at his house, and resided there while on the island. Here our food consisted almost entirely of meat, and frequently we had but a piece of beef, roasted on the coals. We were obliged to hunt the wild cattle for our food, and as we could only take them at night, and had no firearms, the pursuit was difficult and sometimes dangerous. We were nearly destitute of clothing, too, being only provided with one suit of working dress."
After about twenty-three days, passed in the most agonizing suspense, a sail was discovered approaching the island. It proved to be the ship "Congaree," Capt. Maloy, which took them on board and carried them to Tombez, where they were received on the U. S. ship Portsmouth and conveyed to Guayaquil, where they found the George Howland at anchor, nearly dismantled, a large quantity of goods and provisions having been stolen, and sixteen of her crew missing.
Natchez Courier
(Natchez, Mississippi)
June 22, 1852
Capture of the Whaleship George Howland by Pirates.
It was mentioned some days since that the fine whaleship George Howland, Capt. Cromwell, of New Bedford, Mass., had been captured by pirates, at James' Island, in the Pacific. Captain C., who, with a portion of his crew, was held upon the Island as a prisoner, has written a letter home from which the following extract is made:
"We were left under a guard at the hut, until the return of our captors from the ship – about two hours. A consultation was then held on the outside of the building respecting the manner in which we were to be disposed of. It was evident from their conversation that their original intention had been to murder us; and indeed, one plan had been to dig a hole in the sand large enough to hold twenty-five bodies, and bury us all together; but, thanks to an all-wise and overruling Providence, our lives were spared. After about an hour spent in the most horrible uncertainty, we were somewhat relieved by the arrival of the Governor, who called aside the principal person of the gang, and had a short conversation with him. After this our bands were cut, and we were set a liberty on a desert island.
"The Governor, Don Martin, and his man servant were left with us, and were the only persons besides ourselves on the island. The robbers left us about 15 pounds of bread, and one gallon of molasses; they took from the Governor the greater part of his furniture and clothing.
"We were kindly received by the Governor at his house, and resided there while on the island. Here our food consisted almost entirely of meat, and frequently we had but a piece of beef, roasted on the coals. We were obliged to hunt the wild cattle for our food, and as we could only take them at night, and had no firearms, the pursuit was difficult and sometimes dangerous. We were nearly destitute of clothing, too, being only provided with one suit of working dress."
After about twenty-three days, passed in the most agonizing suspense, a sail was discovered approaching the island. It proved to be the ship "Congaree," Capt. Maloy, which took them on board and carried them to Tombez, where they were received on the United States ship Portsmouth and conveyed to Guayaquil, where they found the George Howland at anchor, nearly dismantled, a large quantity of goods and provisions having been stolen, and sixteen of her crew missing.
Last updated by Tom Tyler, Denver, CO, USA, Jul 3 2021
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