New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-05-31
THE RACE.
INCIDENT OF THE LATE WAR

- ''AoN n..'' nail
A tender in the Downs, and a well-manned
boat approached the shore What curious
and engaging motley of character do their crews
present to us !: ! remember story of some
men of-war's men, which will fairly describe
them, though | think even l, a landsman, can
see the difference long peace and more domes-
tic habits have produced in their natures.
1t was near the end of the last long and excl
ting war, when two frigates, which had long
been rivals and emulous Of one another, though
alike distinguished and successful, were in har-
Dor at Portsmouth together to refit. They
watched one another's progress and tried to sur
pass one another, and were well understood to
be running race once more, to prepare their
ships Tor active service, when q little band OF
sailor friends, five or six from each ship, had
obtained leave Of absence to go to London at the
same time; and as they were 6 tlush,'' as it is
called, with money, they resolved each to take
| coach for themselves, or coach for each ship,
and thus to keep up their old emulation, by run
| ming a race together to London. Luckily for
them, there were two coaches in the town
rivals like their ships-the one leaving the
George, the other the Fountain, at about the
same time. Accordingly, the whole coach, in
side and ou&ide, was taken at the George by
the men of the lmpetueuse, that of the Fountain
in the same way by the celebrated Amazon
As the morning of the departure approached
much hustle occurred at the coach office, with
some noise and alteration, and soon the four
horses were being put to- but no luggage was
seen on the coach-roof; when party consisting
of two wel-dressed nlt n, and three still smarter
| females, probably ladies, arrived in a hurry, as
| though fearing they were too late, and the fol
| lowing scene ensued on the Amazon the voice
of one of the gentlemen, who had gone for places
was heard aloud to say, There are no seats
| they are all taken"
| % All taken are Won erlra ~
6 es, party of sailors have taken the whole
coach
At this moment, five fine looking fellows
with low hats. long queues, large whiskers, open
necks, pipes in their mouths, and huge sack
trowsers, swung alongside the office, hallooing
out, " All that's right, Blue Peter up, short
stay a-peak, eh Man the capstan, coachee
and make sail before the other chap come, bear
a hand"
Up jumped one on the box, having thrown his
bundle on board, while two others clambered
up behind. "Bill," said the man on the box
"rut Jim down in the cabin; he's fresh this
morning, and had better not come aloft, because
if the craft rolls he'll be overboard.'
But this was not listened to, and up got tn,
others in front. All this took place within
, few minutes, when those who,desired to be pas
} sengers were also heard to say
But there's plenty of room for us--are ther
no more; Porter, put up our luggage"
=" Now, Sarah, jump in" added one of tn
gentlemen, as he opened the coach door
" Avast, there" said one of the sailors with
; good-natured voice, ' the berths are all taken
) s'What insolencen' exclaimed the angry man
what right have you to keep people out wher
the places are not filled Get in, Sarah"
/ s'Avast, there" was again shouted from til
top, and down came all the Jacks with lear
and stood at the coach door. An appeal wit
gestures and fury was made by both the NAL
= and female disappointed passengers, to the Of
fee keeper, coachman and guard
'' But the places are all taken and paid fol
gentlemen; we can do nothing; you must appl
to the sailors themselves"
:. ''Not We; we insist on their giving up tn
vacant seats-ill behaved drunken fellows!"
"Why, Jack, said one to the other c0olly
here's a squall mind your helm, my lad"
Here the clerk interposed; " But my men,
$, is hard that you should keep all the coach I
yourselves, when these gentlemen are so anxio,
to gs, and they will pay your passage none
10 back and they will only want five places"
"Only five places, there's land lubber fc
= you, Tom,' said one to the other; " as if the
t, five would not bring her down by the stern an
spoil her trim. Sir" he added to one of Il
angry men, " do you see, we've match vii
the Impetueuse, and if we take in more ballas
they'll beat u.s.
The horn Of the other coach blew. ." Up, aloi
- make sail, cried one of them; and they we
springipg up, when one of the five gentlemen tot
one OF the five fellows by the collar and held hi
en- down. The tar shook him off with great dignit
d drawing himself up said to the crowd and to Il
clerk, g Sir, do you see, we took this coach +
a sail to London with the Impetueuse, and '
wished to have her in the right trim howsol
= ever if these fine folks had spoken ciyilly to I
and said, My men, we know thecraft is youl
but won't you give us passage p we would 4
have kept them of, we would have given then
berth, and pipe piece, and taken our chan
with our eomrade yonder. But to be board
in this fashion by parcel of privateers,
blowed, if ] stand it, and then, turning to
comrades, he added, Messmates, alPs Fl
here, and no favor; there's no pennant up, S
say let's fight it out. These land lubbers m,
l. not weather US; nobody shall go but Jim II
vers and Bill Roberts. They shall have charl
let them stay aloft, and we'll send our bund
in the cabin, and then she'll be lightened g
deal, and be able to spare them topgall
sails"
Accordingly the two men staid on the
the others put their sticks and bundles insi
- Just then the other coach trotted fast by,
* spokesman gave the coachman and guard a 8
n.l efsnk %