The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-10-20
From the New York Herald.l
Arrival OF q Strange Vessel

At the end Of pier No. 5, North River, i
moored rather strange looking vessel, whe
might excite curious conjectures in the mind
of strangers unacquainted with her history
or mission to our ports. One side of thi
vessel is painted jet black, reminding her Wis
itor Of those "long, low, black schooners" 81
frequently spoken Of in those bloody nara
tiyes Of the ocean, with still bloodier titles
such as the "Pirate's Cave, or the Cruiser
Revenge the dreadful Bucuneer,' will
another alias, the very thought of which il
enough to make
Each particular hair to stand end,
Like pulls on the fretiul porcupihe."
The other side of the vessel, however
would puzzle the most astnte clipper, even
Jack Bunsby himself, with his "chunks Of
WISDOM" to classify her. Jack would most
probably come to the conclusion that there
was house afoat, for tie larboard side is
painted out in imitation of the best Philadel-
phia brick. The whole history of this mys-
ferrous looking craft lies in a nutshell. Her
captain and on ner is wealthy Englishman
who chooses to circumnavigate the globe,
with vessel built and manned and painted
according to his own fancy. When he meets
a traveller upon the boundless deep, he can
turn starboard to, and the broadside Of a
house upon the ocean is an object Of won
der to the wayfarer. When cruising in the
Eastern Archipelago, where pirates most do
congregate, he can put forward the black side
of the vessel, and he sails on unmoested as
one Of the fraternity.
Her name, Euphrosyne, is very appropri-
ate, being indicative OF her work This ves-
sci is OF about six hundred tons burthen is
bark-rigged, and was built in lS47, in Eng
land. She has just arrived in our port from
visit to New London, the first harbor en-
tered on cruise from the Sandwich Islands.
Capt. Barris, her owner, is ayoung man, who
has in view only his own amusement, atho'
by way Of giving employment to his crew, he
takes eargDes, from port To port, and thus pays
the way OF the vessel Sac brought to
New York cargo OF oil and whalebone, and
is now loading for England with rice, oilcake
and rosin. The Euphrosyne is strongly built,
is fast sailer and an excellent sea boat
Upon her arriving in harbor, the captain goes
oft see the sights, and leaves the vessel in
charge of the crew, to unload and reload for
the next port. Capt. Barris spent four years
fhis time in sailing about the Eastern Archi-
peligo, and in trading b4tween Calcutta and
japan. He has been to Australia, to most
of the Islands ofthe Pacific, to the chief ports
of India, and other principal places Of the
world.
The next curious feature in the history
oil the Euphrosyne. is the harmonious ANAL
gamlti,n OF TIE most of the nations of the
earth, as manifested in her crew. The
host Of Fourierists, and socialists, who have
been So long theoFizng upon the beau
ties Of u free and easy way OF spending
life, by prJmiscuous association on ciua.
terms, OF ma lie and female, OF all sccts, ereeds
and nations, can on board the Eupbro-
svne find realization Of their specua-
tions Capt. Barris has gone somewhat be-
yond Fourier, and not only brought all sorts
OF human beings together n an equal foot
ing. but to this happy family is united pigs,
rabbits, cats, dogs-all eating, and teastng,
and sailing together on terms alike easy, So
cial and democratic The crew, numbering
about thirty, men, women and children, are
J inanese, Malays, Mozambqnes, Chinese,
BalIynesc, Bengalese, Sandwich Islanders.
English Irish, &c. The japanese, five in
number, huv their wives and families on
board. and tn whole crew of men, women
and children, h rmDnse, eat, drink and sleep
together, with the utmost happiness and
stlisfatttuH. ne captain anu mate are iuC
eny two who occupy the cabin OF the ship.
and live in any way excluded from the gen.
sral rules Of the little isolated community
within the bulwarks of the Euphrosyne.-
A. a proof ofthc contentment of this happy
family, we might mention thatthey have Of
ten been tenn ted to desert Capt Barris, but
they have always been proof against every
in 'ucement offered. They have all lived
for years together in the manner we have
described, and nothing could tempt them t,
forsake their ocean home. They are well
paid, and well treated by the captain, who
exercises sort of patriarchal and parental
rule ever them. While on u visit to San
Francisco, some time ago, the crew were LETT
to their own inclnations as usual; and altho
nearly all the ships in port were deserted by
their crews, yet the Enphrosyne lost not
single man Notwithstanding many induce
ments were offered them to leave.
This is certainly something new in mari
time history, and is deserving the attention
of nautical writer's. Capt. Barris has set an
example to the world of more free and liber-
al ideas of seaman's life. It's something
uncommon for Jack tar to lay aloit in
storm, and tend his babies in calm. The
women are privileged on shipboard, and some
of them help their husbands take in sall,
(and are, we are told the best seamen on
board,) some cook, others tend the children
and do the sewing &c.