The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-03-03
Mr. COx's African Trade.
To the Editor Of the Press:

| To the Editor Of the Press:
Ia connection with your Windham eorres.
pondent w. G.'s mention of Mr.. Cox's African
Trade in Thursdays Press, l send you copy
of the orders addressed to the master of one
OF his vessels the schr. Reporter, which some
OF your older readers will re member as one of
those rakish little crafts described by VIC.
capt. Preble, her master, was then sxty-ons
years OF age, and it was his 9th and las. voy-
age at sea. The Reporter was armed with
Two twelve Founders. She made successful
voyage oil about six months, aud returned to
Portland some time in July, as perceive her
masters settled his accounts with her owner
Aug I'd, 1924. The gross proceeds of her
outward cargo amounted to S5247,52 cts. and
the masters per cent. commissions amount
ed to $4,000 cts. Jehudi Ashman, the Presi.
dent or Gov. CT Liberia took passage in the
Reporter from Cape Mesurado to the Cape de
Verds, and came nigh bleeding TO death on
the passage from tooth that bad been ex-
tracted by negro doctor, before embarkipg.
He owed his lite to the schooner's rskjsh ap-
pearancc. A French frisate gave chase to
-~' sA'AiAinS quo was u oidNcT, anu on coming
up with and discovering her cha acter, sent
her surgeon on board and he soon staupcbed
the flowing OF his blood, though not until he
was faint and exhausted. At some future
time may send you copy of an interesting
letter from him in which he makes mention
Of the schr Romp and other of Mr.. Cox's yes.
sells. Had Mr.. Cox's African enterprise been
as successful as it deserved, Portland might
now be sharing the monopoly of it which has
fallen to Salem, Mass.
1t is little remarkable that until within a
lew weeks, three OF these four owners of the
schooner Reporter and her cargo forty sir
gears ago, were sill livings viz. Mr.. Cox, who
died on the 25th of last month, Mr.. Elisha
Vinton, his brother-in- law, who of late years
has found his home in Boston Highlands, and
died Feb. 25th, aged 76years IL months, hay
ing survived MIR. Cox just one month to day.
Mr.. Joseph Harrod who was brother-in-law
OF the other two, still lives at the advanced
age of 80 years, and resides with his daughter
Mrs. Bartlett at Barrytown New York.
The compensation of the master, though 1t
seems small for these latter days of high
prices and growing extravagances was es-
teemed fair and liberal compensation half
century ago. p.
PORTLAND, Jan. 23 1924
CAPT. ENoCH PREBLE: Dear Sir:-Havins
appointed you master OF the schr. Reporter,
now lying in the harbor OF Portland with a
cargo on board, and being ready for sea,
You will proceed the first iair wind, with all
possible dispatch, to the coast of Africa, and
there, at one or more ports, dispose of your
cargo to the best advantage, and receive there
for in return, Specie, Gold, in bars, Ivory,
tlarge if to be had) Dry Hides and any other
articles which you may think will pay the best
freight home, and return to Portland, in form-
ing US, every opportunity you may have, OF
your proceedings, welfare, &c.
The object of the owners is merely tc givs
you general instructions, confiding in your su-
perior Judgment to manage the concerns of
the voyage In such manner as will best pro-
mote their material interest.
Wishing you pleasant and prosrerous
voyage we are, sir, Yours, Sc,
JOHN CSx.
LUTpGR JEwETT.
JpsEPH HARRoD.
ELISHA VINToN
"In bars" erased by = Harrol.
Ladorsed
The compepsoSon for your services in the
within-namedV voyage, as by agreement twenty
five dolldrs per menth, wages. Five per cent
on she gross sa'es outward and twenty barrels
priuilapa
JOSEPH HARRoD
~ LUTHER JEwETT.
EItsHA VINToN.
JOHN eex