Here both vessels arrived in the course
of the afternoon; the Alabama, which was a far swifter sailer than her
merchant tender, being the first to drop anchor, and the Agrippina
following her in.
As the two vessels neared the shore, a schooner was discovered at anchor
in the little bay, and on the approach of the strangers she hoisted the
Stars and Stripes. On being overhauled by a boat, despatched for that
purpose from the Alabama, she proved to be the United States whaling
schooner, Clara L. Sparks, of Provincetown; and great was the grief and
astonishment of the unlucky master when the white flag of the
Confederacy was discovered floating at the new comer's peak.
The temptation was great to seize her, and devote her to the flames, but
Captain Semmes was anxious for nothing so much as to avoid all possible
ground of complaint with regard to any infringement of neutrality. It
happened, fortunately for the Clara Sparks, that a few herdsmen from
Venezuela were supporting a miserable existence in the barren island off
which she was anchored, and to make prize of the vessel under these
circumstances, might possibly be construed into a breach of neutral
privilege. In the end, therefore, it was determined not to molest the
whaler; and her master was informed, much to his relief and delight,
that so soon as the Alabama's arrangements were completed, he would be
free to continue his course.
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