Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-10-02
Naval .snecdote


The facts ii Inc 'i'llowirg have reached us
throusa channel ;.iat commands an
eHtie ieiiance co ti,-ir yeracity.
.fiics -. Register.
:" young Amcrica,,. Il citizen of phHa.
aelphia, sailed from New York ms suoercsr
20 Of vessel drrirs ;he time the British
ships lluckadch New Lpnbon.
s. The bluckading squadron then consist
cd OF ship OF the .iue and tine Aeasia and
Endy,rirn lr:eate.. Tie American vessel
yas tasea soon after she left her port, and
he soperca 70 brought as prisoner On
board The Endymion being young man
"t pleasing 'nAniers aad easy address, who
suag g"od song and told a merry tale.
he s"o,. became Familiar with the coinman-
der aad an Iamate OF tie cabin. When
advanced pretty well ilip the captains good
graces, lie begged tn be set on shore, being
non-comhaGnt, having a dread of going
to Bcrmuda, and was anxious TO see bis
friends. The captain told him il was not
II has power TO comply with his wishes. but
he would Apply to the commander Of The
squadron 10 give him his liberty he did so
cat met with a refusal. The captain, how
ever, wiling to eb!isehim, proposed send
ing him on board the other i,igatc, the Gem
inan,!ins officer or which was his suner;or.
with New OF aiding his escape-aud this
was done alter some preparatory arrange
'nents between tue captains, on the ground
that his transfer TO the other ship w5s ne
cessary eli account OF ,heil being so MAN.
prisoners 90 board. Having d suod intro
'!uetiop, he soun became familiar there.
aad sono days after the two commanders
dineti together, and our hero was Invited
20 table; but previous 70 setting down he
legged the captain of the Eudylnun to
plead has suit wild, his superior officer, and
he promised to do it; insuuctins the young
GltlZen, that when the meats were removed
ana before the glasses were set 90 the table
TO step out lnr IA few minutes while he ar
ranged his business. lie did Something
was said at table after his return IN reia.
ton TO his aifairs until ihey were RISING
from dinner, where tie captain of the A.
casta, addressiag him, said" ", az
goa, DO mt tnite care Of ycurself you vil
be dropned to night" Not understanding
what this meant he applied to the captain
oi TIE Endymion, when By themselves, TO-
an explanation and was told that a proyi-
soil-Doat would be along side at midnight
that his trunk would be put on board. &
that he mast lake care and slip in & would
be landed at -, and they would
return him as a drowned .prisoner--he did
so, and was put ashore at public house.
where he went to bed.
In the morning, on entering the break
iastroom, what was his surprise to see the
captains OF the two frigates at table. They
made him cerem0nious bow on his entry.
rs much as to say, you must not know us
Yh.le any company i present. After the
strangers retired, they invited him to 20 on
ooaid the next evening, as they were to
haYe bail but he declined, on the plea of
his anxiety TO get home sc What W.
you arc not afraidto trust US, are you, al.
ter what we haye done Tor ynu ?'' 6. No
III, but am exceedingly anxious 10 ge,
hoinc;' thus they parted, he to his friesdsI
and they to their ships. t
While he was on board one OF those fri
gates and lying soUrd asleep. an Office
came and reused him ia haste, and besre.li
hiln to hurry belcw-' Don't stay 20 pu,
on your cloihcs-Gere is the President fri
gate close on board OF us, ard we shall have
hard work present.. "--aDd sure enough
there was pr0di9ieus busiIe on board the
ship--but it proved to be one Of their own
vessels, and the expected storm passed O.
yer.
As the writer considers this statement
substantially true, it exhibits some pleas
ing traits in the character IF man. TIE
Humanity of the captains Of tie frigates in
aiding the snPercargo 70 escape, aId their
courage rs trusting Themselves ashore in
aa euemy's country :--oh The nther hard.
il exposes the treason or the Americans IN
SUPPLYING the Beiiish ships, and il nrovid-
!ns accommodations and safety for The Of
iicers when ashore.