Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-02-17

Personal Recollections.

= ~ 5V41d1 1ASCO11GCL1O1Ss
Mr.. EDITOR While on board the s'Doris''
y was to me somewhat surprising that the ac-
curacy Of the information, which the Captain
had oil the movement Of vessels, belonging to
Americans, should be so correct Many Of the
gentlemen belonging to Bath, will undoubtedly
recolect the ship Jacob Jones, built at Wiscas-
set, and afterwards sold TO the house of Bryant
Y Stnrgis Of Boston. She was large ship,
for those tlmes-frigate built, having a gun
deck and gangways-and fitted out as letter
Of marque. lie had every information about this
ship, from the first contract to her change of
owners, and very correct, except that her crew
was rated at $50 men. The frigate was long
looking out for her, and for weeks had the men
exercised in the boarding and repelling board
ers man@ovres, being little fearful of the re-
snlt in case Of their falling in with her, as the
irlgate crew was less than three hundred, and
not all the choicest men.
One morning the frigate was at anchor
among the Islands that lay offthe approach 10
Canton river, near the Lima passage, when
large ship was discovered coming in from the
eastward by the Lima Islands. The frigate
was Immediately got underweigh, and sail
made, close upon the wind; but coming up
with one Of the large Islands that boroer the
passage, she dropped in behind it quite be-
Gained and if she had been contented to re-
main there, the strange sail would have been
obliged to pass within gunshot. That was the
Captains iirst intention, but his Impotence and
eagerness TO be in possession of the Yankee,
overcame his prudence, and the ship was again
brought ont iii view Ofthe stranger, and bv her
the frlgate was Immediately made out. By
this time the canvas of the strange sail was in
sight from the frigates deck. Soon the color
Of her canvas, and the light appearance of her
spars, her character could not be mistaken, and
by all was acknowledged to be the looked for
Jacob Jones, Capt. Roberts of Boston. former
ly for Philadelphia. No sooner had the ship
made out the frigate, than her full flowing
canvas futiered in the wind, and ali sail made
TO the eastward, with the starboard tacks
aboard, the wind blowing fresh from about
South. Every expedent was resorted to on
board the frigate TO accelerate her speed, by
shifting guns forward, and again aft, 10 get the
ship in the best trlm-and the wettDy of sails
from the skysails downwards, but all of no use
At the setting Of the sun the skysails of the
chase were just made visible by the sun shining
upon them. 6 say, Morgan said Captain
O'Bren to the old sailing master of the ship,
"that is fine sailer; should like to have the
manning of her, then we could command both
avenues TO Canton; but that we shall not be
able TO do. 1t is now 6 O'Clock and he is at
such distance. At o'clock, he will tack, at
10 O'Clock he will pass to windward out Of our
reach, double US and get in through the Grand
Ladrove passage. We cannot fetch 10 wind
ward of the Islands, and it will not do 10 stand
through them in the night for fear of the rock
we were on few months since, and I have not
the exact position of it," The Jacob Jones did
so, and arrived safe at Whampoa
| afterwards had an opportunity to verify
the accuracy of Capt. OBrien's predictions, by
an examination of the Jacob Jones' logbook.-
Capt O'Brien was an accomplished officer, but
in this instance he was matched with one quite
his equal, in his sphere-one who well knew
the capabilities Of his vessel, and could well
calculate the probabilities of success without
immediate danger to his men, or the property
under his charge; and snch would be many
teal and mercantile education. 1t is yet to be
hoped that seminary may soon be established
at some proper place in Maine, where such an
education may be had. 1t would repay its pat
rons most amply. VIAToR.
Feb 18th, 1853.