The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-13
TEE ATLANTIC YACHT RACE.

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Sketch of tho Professional Life Of Captain
samuel Samueis.
The press and public have, with great unanimity,
awarded the subject or this sketch full share OF
for the victory obtained the Henrietta In the late
ocean yacht sketch Of the professional life OF the
Captain will therefore prove Interesting as, although no
Is already well known the public Of the abest
seamen in the United States full account Of bis life
on sea has never yet been published.
When quite boy Captain Samuels evinced prefer.
for life at sea- and 70 crafty his DESIRE at the age
Of thirteen years. he away from his friends and made
his first voyage in schooner from the Schuylkl river
He, however abandoned his vessel and during an
interval OF two years, worked In machine shop This
life. although Of great service to him in maturer
years. did not suit his adventurous spirit run
ming away he served under several nags ana vlsto va
ri0us paris OF the world In the first full rugged ship
that crossed the bar of that harbor he visited Galveston.
Texas and the for independence was then going
on he joined the Texan navy, and there remained until
the Lone Star State had been recognized by Mexico
independent republic.
At the ago Of nineteen Captain samuels was second
officer OF the ship Henry Pratt from New York to Iv-
erpoo While In the latter port he attracted the atten
ton Of English captain who induced him TO leave his
position ON the Henry Pratt and accept that OF CHER
officer Of the ship Caledonia, Of ], 200 tons burden
In the capacity he afterwards served board Of
the Leauder and Royal C0nsort His reputation while
in the British merchant marine was excellent and he
would have risen much higher than he did bad mot his
preference been Tor service on board OF Amer-
can ehips He therefore returned TO New York,
and al twenty-five years Of age placed in
command Of the ship Manhattan in which he made
several voyages TO COnstannope and Odessa Whiie IN
the latter port he received the compliments OF the Pasha
Of the Turkish navy for the skifn in which, in
a severe gale be brought his ship into the Golden Horn
without pilot; Turkish frigate and the Manhattan
being the only vessels, in feet of hundred and
five SAIL that could work their way into the har
Dor Lord Lyons, who then minister to Greece also
sent for him and expressed his admiration at tue able
manner in which he brought his ship anchor under
Cape Cologne in heavy Levanter He was afterwards
presented with an elegant snufbox by Baron Tucker.
hacker for assisting in saving vessel and from
destruction OF Odessa mole.
Captain Samues next made rapid and successful vOy
and rcturncd to the north OF Europe where
disposed Of his ship and cargo He then back to
New York and assumed command OF the Angel'que
belonging 10 Mcssrs Scbuchard Gebhard andfcmained
her until 1858, when he was sent to Newburyport to
superntend The construction of the clipper ship Dread
nought. The reputation he won as commander OF this
famous vessel is widely known and scarcely needs OBJ
ton His passages across the Atlantic were the
quickest record for a sailing vessel and more than
succeeded in beating the steamers and carrying
the latest TO and from Europe While IN command
OF the Drcadnough tn ry men Of his crew armed them
selves aud broke out into open mutny. AT first they
refused to listen reason and had Captain samuels
sorted force the consequences might have been fear
fuL This no perceived, and, calmly arguing with the
men, lie convinced them of their ana event
uay succeeded in bringing them TO terms, without any
conditions promises whatever During tremendous
gallo in 1858 his snip was boarded by heavy sea-
when he received compound fracture OF the Lex and
other severe injuries De ny unable for fourteen days
have his leg set. he suffered terrible agony, but
no;withs. landing, he managed 10 bring tho Dread
nought into Faya, without rudder, his carpenter
having been killed IN the gale which SO seriously
injured the ship.
After partially recovering and repairing the damages
to his ship Captain Samuels amused himself while con-
valescing by nventng cradle 10 put in ships stern
post upon his arrival in New York the vane of his
invention most libcraly acknowledged by the Board
Of Underwriters, who presented him with the of
$500 ter his full restoration to health he was in
duced to enter the government service, IN command OF
the steamer John Rice. but General Van Vet with his
usual penetration discovered the admns ravc abilities
OF tho Captain and appointed him TO the position OF
superintendent Of the Qusrcrmasters steamers. While
this capacity his management aldo and judciOus
and sased TO the government considerable sum OF
money
Fisher captain samucls was placed In command Of lbc
Mcclellan, General Tenys flagship, and participated In
. The service Of the United States until the
close Of the war, when he retired 70 private
life. Before his retirement however he commanded
which conveyed the late Lieutenant Genefai
Scott to Key West and New Orcaus where the old vet
obliged TO 10 prop his failing health The
his ability attention, is very complimentary. and 10
treasured by the ,aptain - fsttering memento Of
10 March 1866 Captain samucs vas appointed TO the
command Of the United States steam h.D Futon, and
still holds that position Upon his rcturn from his iast
voyage he found himself named by tho owners OF the
three competing yachts the each wished TO
commander The result OF tho race % OF too
GRAFTON he decided TO accept ocr az the Of
Henrietta and has another laurel not only for hts
victory but Tor the remarkable apdiy and SAFETY OF tho
II Ia pleasant know that the reputation of Captain
samucls is confined 70 America, but that his skill
q naval commander Is highly appreciated the other
side OF the Atlantic rho foreign papers teem with
pimcntsry notices OF him, ana we clip the following
from the London Telegraph 70 show the spirit OF appre
cation hat exists. Referring 10 Captain samues' log
the writer says that tread with nautical eye II is
most exciting narrative and tells the story ke book
OF Homer He gets lite and spirit fr0m the wd weather
and eager ship, and when lie has 70 lay to- u chafes
him the chafes his dainty bark. He grows poeti
cal with excitement, tells where La Belle III mr. eta
dancing alvug like living beauty and IL she can only
got the knots with feather IN her mouth the
more 1t blows the better" Again the writer says
"herc is extract we ike welI;--"2 p. n. SUNDAY
Divine service In the cabin reading prayers and lessons
for the day, and 0f Jays sefmons Never went
Ship yacht steamer tbs for reaaug lIayer5 in
tho cabin and jays sermons mako light and dry stow
worst Further Is bit OF real sailors heart
10 this good log 80 How hard ,ay her 70 such
race; few ships could 10 The trough OF the sea 70
long as this little payshing Wed may her owner DO
Tie remarkable success Of Captain samuels through
out his maritime iic his rapid voyages and great skin
under difficulties, have made his name perhaps moro
famous than that OF any other captain OF The merchant
navy. That both his and reputation have been
solely due study Of his profession, aiding
than average ability, his past career would testify IL u
Understood that his return from Europe he Will
retire from the sea Mr. Bcnne.ts splendid GIN 70
Captain Samucls 70 which AR. Leonard jerome has
added. by presenting him with q heuss worth from
$4,000 10 $40, 000 plac the Captain IN very m
Portable position He will rcisrc from tho service
HIS long has hclpsd - advance tho
standing Of American seamen among foreigners. and
hts own countrymen feel proud Of Senown aud with
hearty accord tender 10 Captain Samues thor sincere
wishes for his future welfare
Log OF the vesta.
STAMFORD, Conn, Feb O. 1867
sIe:-Having been connected with tho yacht vesta