Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-10-11
AMERICAN NAVAL ANECDOTES.
IHE AMERICAN CAPTAIN AND BRITISH ApM,-
RAL-


Captain Smith vas sen by Commodore
Stewart, then at Norfolk, 10 negotiate
an exchange OF prisoners. The news
had just arrived OF the capture Of the ia
Va, ana the Admiral, speaking OF that
event, asked Captain smith how II n tp.
pened that our frIgatcs were SO 5 ccess-
iul IN taking theirs. Captain Smith au-
swercd, that he knew ne reason for II.
unless we fought better. NO." said
The Admiral, that cannot be: but the
reason is that two thirds of your crews
are British seamen." Then" replied
Captain Smith, 1.-The other third being
Americans, makes the whole dlllercuce.
The Admiral aItem ted no further ex
~planation or argument on the knntty
subject.
We doubt that the records OF wit can
produce a more happy repartce. Ii
was prompt and at the same time goes
to the very marrow and bsdrt OF the
questi on. 1t is one T~''hose pushes That
- nai,har Il. --.rIed nor returned. 1t
cInsaI III same; the Admiral had mol
..-r move.
EARLY AMERICAN HBRoIsM
During one Of the former wars bo-
tween France and England, in which
the the COlOhIes bore AN active part, "A
respectable Individual, 4 member of The
Society of Friends, oil the name OF -,
commanded a inc sAip, which sailed
from an eastern port To a port IN Eng
land. This vessel hal a strong and Of
iectIve crew, but was totally unarmed.
When near her destined port, she was
chased, aud ultimately overhauled, by a
French vessel Oi w.r. Her commander
used every endeayor To escape, bat see
ing, from the superior sailing OF the
Frenchman, that his capture wa, newt
able, he quietly retired below. lie was
followed into the cabin BY MS cabin boy,
n youth Of activity aud enterprise, man
ell Charles Wager; he asked his com.
mauder Il nothing more could be dune
10 save the snip; his commander replied
that It was impossible, that every thing
had been done that was practicable. there
was 10 escape for them, aud they must
submit to be captured. Charles taen
returned upon deck, aud summoned he
crew around him; he stated in a few
words what was tneir captains %conclu.
sion-theu, with an elevation Of mind
dictated by a soul formed for enterprise
and noble daring, he observed, ''if YOU
VIII place yourselves under nv com
mand and stand by me, | nave conceiy.
ed a plan by which the sup may bs res.
cued, aud we in turn become The con-
q%uerers." The sailors, no doubt feel
ing the ardOr, and inspired by The cour |
age Of their youthful and gallant leader. !
agreed TO place themselves under ms
command. His plan was communicated
to them, and they awaited with irmness
the moment TO carry their enterprise IN
to effect The suspense was of short
duration, for the Frenchman was quick
ly alongside, and as the weather was
hne; Immediately grappIed fast 10 tho
inc tending merchandising. As Charles
hal anticlpated,t 1.-The ~eNhilarated conquer
ers, elated beyond measure with the &C.
cushion OF so line Il prize, poured into
his vessel IN crowds, cheering and huz-
zaing; and not loreseeing any danger.
they left but very few men OIL board
their ship.
Now vas the momen: for Charles.
who, giving his men the signal, s~prang
al their head on board the opposing YES.
sci; while some seized The arms which
had beer left IN profusion on her deck,
and wuh them soon overpowered the
few men left on board, the others, by a
simultaneous movement, relieved her
from the graPPllngs, which united the
two vessels. Oar hero now having the
command Of the French vessel, seized
the helm. and placing her out Of board
ing distance, hailed with the Voice Of .
~coJquerer, the discounted crowd of
FreHchmen, who were lett on board the
peaceful bark they had Just quilted, and
summoned hem TO follow close i'm his
wake, or he would blow them out Of the
water, a threat they we'll knew he was
capable of executing, as their guns
were loaded during The chase They
sorrowtully acquiesced in his commands.
while the gallant Charles steered into
port, followed by his prize. The ex-
plot excited universal applause. The
iormer master Of the merchant vessel
was examined by the Admiralty, when
he stated the whole Of the enterprise as
II occurred, and declared that Charles
Wager had planned and eli. c,cd the
gallant exploit, and that to him alone
belonged the honor and credit Of the
achievement. Charles was Immediately
transferred TO the British navy, appoint.
ed "a mldsbipmaD, aud bis education care.
fully superintendent. ne soon after dis.
tinguIshed himself ia action and uuder.
went a rapid promotion, until al leupth
he was created an Admiral, and known
as Sir Charles Wager. IL is said that
he always held in veneration and esteom
that respectable and cOnscicuiIou S