Seaman: Capt. John G. Pendleton
From: Searsport, Maine, USA
Ship: "Solferino"
Cargo/Fishing: Cargo
Coming from: Rangoon, China
Going to: London, England
Date of Last Location: Dec. 22, 1863, Last spoken off the Cape of Good Hope (Africa)
Latitude:
Longitude:
Cemetery of Memorial: Bowditch Cemetery
Town/State: Searsport, Maine USA
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSsr=401&GScid=89679&GRid=19347290&
On Stone: (Compared to Source 1)
"In Memory of
Captain John G. Pendleton, son of
Capt. Phineas and Wealthy C. Pendleton born April 23, 1836
Master of the ship,
"Solferino" which was Lost at Sea with all on board, bound from Rangoon to London. Last spoken off the Cape of Good Hope (Africa)
Dec. 22, 1863
We Mourn our Loss."
Captain Pendleton departed on his ship
"Solferino" on
September 30, 1862 (Stone states the year as 1863) from the East Indies.
Last heard from on December 22, 1862 (again, stone states the year as 1863) off the Cape of Good Hope. This source states they were headed for Queenstown, Ireland. The stone states London (England).)
(Source 1:) The Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 30
Pg. 148, "Why Semmes of the "Alabama" Was Not Tried"
Part II
"WHY SEMMES OF THE ALABAMA WAS NOT TRIED"
Who is Semmes and why do we care? What does he have to do with Capt. John Pendleton and the Solferino?
The Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 30, page 148 describes Raphael Semmes as a person who is being accused of "Buccaneering Misdeeds" (Confederate). This included Capturing vessels, burning their cargo, Interrupting their voyages, and treating them like enemies as if at war, and all while the ships were still sailing under "The flag of our Union". During the time period of the "Solferino", the American Civil War was taking place on American soil.
The article states that: the "Solferino" had just passed the Cape of Good Hope in safety, and were spoken on the 22nd of December between that cape and the Island of St. Helena. "All well, and the ship in good condition." and were never heard from again.
Reports of conversations from some old "Alabama" (a Civil Warship) crew men declared (Semmes) on the "Alabama" in the Southeast Trades "Had fallen in with a ship "Solferino" had pursued and overtaken her as she endeavored under heavy press of canvas, to escape, and then, although she hauled down her flag and gave every signal of surrender, had fired into and sunk her with every soul on board, making no effort to rescue her crew."
The article described other incidents of such "piracy" as well.
And Semmes was not tried?
"An intelligent Englishman" who had been a crewman of the "Alabama" during the time "Solferino" disappeared stated that the "Alabama" couldn't have sunk her because they were no where near her at any point during that time period. Inspection of the logs of the "Alabama" during that time period: August 1862-March 1863 (using the articles dates instead of the dates on the stone) shows that the ship was north of the equator the whole time, where as the "Solferino" was south of the equator. The "Alabama" was in the Gulf of Mexico. on the 11th of January, 1863, she was off Galveston, Texas where she fought and sunk the U.S. Steamer "Hatteras". On 29th January, she was at San Diego.
The other incidents reported were also debunked by witnesses, victims and logs. THAT is why Raphael Semmes was never tried for any crimes.
Anywhere ever hear of false logs???
In the book:
American Merchant Ships: 1850-1900, Vol. 1
Pg. 210, states that Captain John G. Pendleton was a Junior. His gravestone states otherwise, stating his parents are Phineas Jr. and Wealthy C. Pendleton.
 |
Capt. Phineas Pendleton Jr., Capt.
John G. Pendleton's Father |
 |
Wealthy Carver, Capt. John G.
Pendleton's Mother |
It says that Capt. Pendleton "was lost with all his crew in the ship "Solferino", supposed to have foundered in a hurricane in the Indian Ocean in 1861 (another discrepancy in dates, the stone states 1863.) while bound to Europe with a rice cargo."
However, another search brings up an article about the "Alabama". It says when Semmes took over the ship, "Over the next two years, the "Alabama" scourged the Western ocean, stopping, pillaging and sinking 68 merchant vessels in all." Why wasn't he tried for his crimes? The article says: "Despite his piratical methods, Semmes was a merciful man (Whah?) and was later to be acquitted of war crimes on the evidence of Union Sailors."
What really happened to Capt. Pendleton, the "Solferino" and her crew? I suppose it is a toss up, and either way ends in tragedy.
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| Painting of the "Alabama" a Civil Warship |
Source 2: For more information on The "Alabama" The Civil Warship Built in Birkenhead, copy and paste this link:
https://chrisryall.net/birkenhead/alabama.htm
