Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-04-15
,Mfscelldmeous.

A NAVAL "REMINISCENCES.

manders must act upon delicate suspi-
cions-upon the evidence of their own
eyes, they must give desperate CON-
mands and they must require instant
aneous .obedience.--Chanceltor Kent.
In the year 1899, the Caribbean Sea
was infested with Spanish privateers-
amongst them was fairy like briga-
tine, called tine "Fanchita"--she was
the very witch Of the waters-and
although professedly after Columbian
property, she often INDUCED in the less
honorable practice Of taking upon easy
terms cordagc, duck, provisions, &C.,
from neutral. vessels.
At about this time, the U. S. schoon-
err Grampus, under the command of
Lieut. Francis H. Gregory, [now Cap
tain Gregory, the worthy commander
of the u. s. seventy-four, North Caro-
lima, dropped anchor in the fine harbor
Of St. Thomas.-Vessels which had
been relieved in one way or the other
by the sharkish Fanchita, were contin-
ua.ly arriving at that port, and the
briggs reputation as pery free tradey,
was pretty well established.
: After short stay, tho Grampus sail
ed on cruise, and soon found herself
on the weather quarter and within pis-
tol shot Of the well-armed and daring
Fanchita. The American ensign
waved a. the peak of the Grampus, and
the sickly-looking flag Of Spain hung
at the main Of the corsair.'
"Haul down your corors to the Uni
ted States schooner Grampus!" shout
ed Gregory, trumpet tongued, from the
lee arm chest.
No disposition. to obey this porempt-
DRY summons was manifested by the
Spaniard, and his flag still curled in
the breeze. Presently fellow whose
luxuriant mustachos, red silk jacket
and yellow vest, denoted authority,
took the cigar from his mouth, and in
an under tone gave some order, which
caused slight movement amongst the
vagabonds around him.
The brig carried long brass eigh-
teen-pounder amidships, on pivot
this had early attracted the attention of
tho American, and he still continued
To scan il with interest, il not with adj
miration. The. little Grampus was on
ly fifteen months old, and of course too
young to listen to the tones Of this
beautiful but ponderous instrument. !
Indeed, from the first, her Commander
had decided not to permit any practical
illustration Of its powers; consequently,
when he saw a swarthy looking chap
making towards it with red-hot po-
ker, he expressed his dislike in the
shape of broadside, which was slip
ped into the brig with most anoying
CELEBRITY. A finer exhibition of gun
merry was never seen. The long eigh-
teen was in the lee scruppers, and
dozen or less deserving fellows had
escaped the gallows, and the upper
works of the brig were completely de-
molished. She was sent into ST. Thorn
as to repair, aud from thence sailed as
a prize for tho United States, where
she arrived with the American ensign
dying over the fred flag OF the licens-
ed pirate.
The Fanchita had regular COM
mission from the Governor Of Porto
Rico--and it is not, therefore strange
that her capture was considered by
many as one OF the most daring agrees
sions ever committed upon the flag OF
any nation. The writer lived at that
time, and for long time after, near
the scene of this exploit, and never
knew, or does not remember how the
matter was settled by the two Govern
ments, nor is il probable he would ev-
er have REQUIRED to the subject. but
for the clamerous maledictions which
have lately been uttered against the
meritorious commander OF tho Som
ers for having 'trGnScended his potc-
ers ia the taking Qfhuman Hfe."
liza deep laid plan for MuTINY AND
MURDER, must be put in activeopers-
ton, before it can be consideredas any
thing more than sport, then perhaps, the
question may come up amongst the rel
aiives of the slaughtered pirates, whoth-
er the gallant Gregory was not impel-
led BY ''iear" in firing into the Fanehi-
tn: and whether he was not bound TO
consider the act Of introducing the red
hot poker TO the long eighteen poun-
der, .'0 mere piece pf Tln"-the ex-