The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-01-27
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.
An Adventure during the Last
War.

htip called the WandeTer, oil " DdIlithoit
niIot-boat model" was despatched from
port in New England for The East Indies
with full PERMISSION 10 capture, burn sihk'
or DESTROY" any vessels belonging TO the enc
nv, which might be met with on the outward
or bomeward- bound passage. Ii was thot,
however, that the injury which this vessel
would cause to the British commerce would
not be rery great, for she was far better cal
cuIated for sailing than hghtng-her whole
armament consisting of only sixtwelve pound
carronades, while twenty-five good seamen
comprised all her effective crew. NeVerthe-
less. the Wanderer made an imposing ap-
pearauce on the water. She was long,
black, rakish looking craft-heavily spared,
and osrentaciously exhibiting nine port holes
OF each side On the high seas she would
he easily mistaken by the enemy for an eigh-
teen gun brig, with all the customary means
and appurtenances.
The Wauderer was commanded by Rich
ard Wilcox, Esq, man of great intrePdlty
and resolution, and who possessed. among
other characteristics of good seaman, no.
BILE. generous heart.
On the outward passage. Captain Wilcox
fell in with a number of British armed YES
sells, and was several times chased by their
| -
found little difficulty in escaping. When he
fell in with large merchant ship, O: a gov
eminent vessel of small size, either of which
would have been more than match for the
Wanderer, with her small armament and
complement ofmen, he would hoist the "stars
and stripes a. his trysail peak. and crowd all
sail, steering towards her, with a drag dStern
TO retard the briggs way, and preclude the
possibility of getting within point blank shot
while, in an agony OF fear, the enemy
would claw of with all possible despatch!
The Wauderer was bound for China, and
reached Whampoa after short passage Of
one hundred and fifteen days. She succeed
ed in getting into port, in spite of the British
cruisers, which at that time were stationed al
convenient intervals along the whole south
ern coast of China, and which succeeded III
entrapping a number Of valuable American
ships, aud preventing others from leaving
mort. Her arrival caused quite sensation
among the English officers, and old Commo-
dore Treenail, who arrived at WhampOa in
the frigate Salamander, few days after
wards, declared, with knowing look, as he
gazed with an admiring eye en- the fair pro-
portions of the beautiful brig. that although
Jonathan had fairly wea:hered them by
entering the port, yet he would find 1t diff
cult matter to get out.
Captaiu Wilcox anchored his hing apart
from the other vessels in the harbor. and took
pains to conceal the actual condition oil his
armament and crew. On shore, especially
in presence of British officers, he talked
large. and impressed them with the idea that
the Wanderer was a crack privateer OF eight
cen guns, and at least one hundred men. In
the mean time, he was secretly purchasing
his cargo of teas and silks, and by way OF
recreation, caused dozen 'quakers," OF
wooden guns. TO be manufactured on board
ane regularly mounted on carriages or slides.
He was thus enabled on gala days to show
what appeared to be a formidable set ofteeth'
although the greater part of them were false
ones.
One day Commodore Treenai, in con
versation with Captain Wilcox, expressed a
desire TO 20 on board the Wanderer. The
Yankee was aware that the Commodore
merslv wished to satisfy himself of the efi
cheney of his vessel, aud TO folm an opinion
of the result of any contest that might take
place between the American brig and one oil
the English gun hrigs then in those seas
Nevertheless, without indicating by his man.
ner auy reluctance, Wilcox cordially invited
the British officer to honor the Wanderer with
his presence the next afternoon.
Can't. Wilcox went Immediately on board
the brig, had his "quakers" put in good trim
and sooth to say, they made an imposing
appearance in their war like garb, and prOvi-
ded with tompkins, aprons, breechings, gun
tackles, and other trimmings-cannon shot
were arranged conspicuously in racks about
the bulwa rks-and sabres, pistols and board
ing pixies in great profusioD, were exhibited
in gallant array. Wilcox, who was seldom
at a loss for expcdients. next considered bow
he should make up for the occasion the def
cheney in his crew, and finally applied to the
Captains of the few American vessels in
port, for the loan of their crews for day -
This favor was readily granted. The Wan
derer was soon manuel by eighty or ninety as
fine fellows as ever knotted reef point or
paddened an anchor-(we had no chain ca
bles in those days)-sDd when Commodore
TreenaiI came on board in his barge, agieea-
bly, To appointment and passed up the accom-
mediation ladder, and over the gangway, and
saw such crew, all neatly dressed, al quar-
ters, he promptly decided in his own mind
that the Wanderer was calculated to do a
great deal of mischief, and would make short
work with any thing of less force than sloop
of war. He determined TO take his measures
] accordingly
The result equalled the expectations of
Capt. Wilcox, who stood in as much fear of
small gun brig as of frigate, but who was
determined TO avoid contact with either,
and trust to the nimbleness of his heels, if he
could once get fairly out 10 sea. An opportu-
nifty at length arrived. A furious squall set
in during the night. The wind blew in fierce
and itfnI gusts, and the rain fell in abund-
ance, and increased the obscnrily frhe at
mosphere. Wilcox ordered the cable TO be
cut, and under reefed foretopsail and jib,
shot like struck dolphin outof the harbor
of Whampoa.
The Wanderer had a fine run to the Cape
OF Good Hope, and met with nothing TO fur
Dish cause for alarm. One day when few
degrees 10 the westward Of the Cape, as day
broke in the east, large ship was seen steer
ing 10 the eastward under press of SAIL
Capt. Wilcox altered the course of his brig,
and sleered directly 70, the ship, which he
soon made out TO be heavy East lndiaman.
doubtless well armed, and manned with nu-