Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-08-17
CAPTAIN GRIMsEIAw;
OR, A CRUISE IN HALIFAX.
RyuAwsrp u,pr,xc.,r N
OR, A G
From the Boston Journal.

Z. BY HAwSER MARTINGALE.
J. .-. .s From the Boston Journal
Everybody who is familiar with the Brit.
ish navy, has heard of old Admiral Grim.
shaw, as much distinguished for his rough
unpublished manners, his oddities and eccen.
tricities, as for his nautical skill and daring
| intrepidity. Grimshaw was one of the very
few officers of high rank who commenced
his career by creeping through the hawse
hole. He learned his naval seamanship when
topman OH board of a frigate; he was wont
to swing his hammock on the gun deck, and
acquired his skill at the oar by pulling for a
long cruise the bow oar of the first cutter.
Grimshaw was impressed while yet an ap-
prentice on board the Dover Castle, a regula,
trader to Barbados. He was taken out by
an unscrupulous commander of an armed
ship, who was short of men, and who con-
sldered his own authority supported by the
laundering voices Of twenty loud guns, as
overriding all just and equitable laws for the
protection OF apprentices on the high SEAS
lie was afterwards transferred from the Man.
drake sloop of war to the Diamond friyate.
and while yet a youth and in humble sta
ton, bore manly part in the bold operations
conducted by Sir Sidney Smith on the French
coast during the reign of terror" when the
war between England and France was car.
ried on with intense obstinacy and fury.
| In the bold undertaking planned and exc
cutcd by Sir Sidney to destroy the squadron
of vessels belonging to the enemy in the har-
Dor OF Herqui although anchored under heavy
batteries, and approachable only through
tofturous and dangerous channels, Grimshaw
displayed remarkable intrcpidity. lie was
the first of the boats crew under command
OF Lieutenant Pine, who landed to attack the
batteries in frent, leading the way up prec;-
| pice, which was considered inaccessible.
while body of French troops We're stationed
near the beach in the rear of the battery.
supposed to be the only accessible point
The British sailors suddenly appeared on the
| platform among the artillerists to the great
astonishment Of the Frenchmen who had
been bravely firing twenty four pound shot
over their heads at the fr1gate, little dream
ing Of the drama which was being enacted
under their very noses. Grimshaw cut down
three of the Frenchmen with his own hand,
and being followed by band of grim look
ing tars, the enemy evacuated the fort, the
guns of which were spiked and thrown down
the precipice before the body Of infantry
posted in the rear could gain intelligence of
the whereabouts OF the English tars.
For his intrepidity in this action and his
manly bearing on other occasions, Grimshaw
gained the favor Of his gallant commander,
one Of the most bold and chivalroas and tru-
ly patriotic spirits whose names are borne on
the long list of the naval heroes of Great Brit
tain. He received a commission in spite Of
the obstacles interposed to such proceed.
ing in the shape OF red tape and routine, and
his subsequent career during the war with
the natural enemy of the English" and al
so during the war between England and the
United States, not only justified Sir Sidney
Smith in making cxertions in his behalf but
entitled him to the successive steps Of promo
ton which he received from the hands Of the
Admiralty.
Grimshaw was not only deeply verscd in
nautical lore, but having early acquired the
tastes and habits of the sailor of the man-of.
wars man, they stuck to him through life.
Notwithstanding the rank which he dcser-
vedly attained. He loved grog; he loved
tobacco; he courted by stealth the society of
the coarse and unrefned He was addicted
to language Of a type terribly profane, and
he dearly loved cruise among the sailor
boarding-houses and grog-shops on shore!
These were singular tastes for Post Cap.
tain or an Admiral. But while Grimshaw
was ridiculed or avoided by his brother Off
GERS Of the Jenny Jcsscmy school, his scrvi-
ces were appreciated by his country. and he
was well understood BY the sailors under his
command. Notwithstanding his severity as
Q dsciplinarian, the characteristics alluded to,
and his reputation as decidedly fighting
man, who loved hard knocks better than eat
ing or drinking, made him one Of the most
popular officers of the navy. 9t.Pf4
During the war between Great Britain
and this country, Captain Grirnshaw, WHO
then commanded the Artaxcrxes line of bat
tie ship on the West India station, being
short Of men, owing to the prizes he had
manned and the ravagcs Of yellow fever
among his crew, proceeded to Halifax to FIJI
up the vacancies in His ships company, and
refresh and brighten up his men after long
sojourn in tropical climate a9 loiaaf'2
Captain Grimshaw having been impressed
into the navy at the outset Of his career, cher
ished no very delicate scruples against I'M
pressing others whenever an opportunity Of
fercd' ]" Indeed" he often asked with over
powering emphasis, how otherwise can we
man the wooden walls Of Old England s''---
On his arrival at Halifax he addressed 4 note
to the proper authorities for supply of men,
represcntnc the great and irreparable inj,,rv