Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-03-24
STRATEGY OF A. QUAKER CAP.
TAIN.

Early in the summer of 1854 the good
ship Grampus left the harbor of Nan
tIcket, bound for London, with cargo of
oil She was a new ship, built after the
most improved models, staunch and trim,
! for those days, of great speed. Her own
er, JethrO Coffin, "A near relative OF the
English Admiral of that name, was on
board and she was commanded by Seth
Macy, friend and companion of Jethro's
frsnl. .boyhood. These.two men, as well
as most of the crew, were Quakers. But
the, greater part OF Seth's life had been
spent on the high seas, and his experience
lin Ill governed Spanish ports and among
savage islanders had taught him that,
| though resistance, did very well in
Nantucket, it was neither a safe nor easy
road to travel anywhere else; and while
the Grampus was loading for her voyage
| he had urged Jethro to arm her with four
six-pounders; for England was at that
time atgwar with Frauce, and of course
the colonies were dragged intoit also. But
Jethro, true TO his principles, rejected the
proposal with ri sllteous Indignation, and
they set sail, much to Seth's disgust,
harmed onlyEwith lances and harpoons for
| warfare with whales, Ill search of which
| they were to proceed after disposing of
their cargo in London. 8fH#
They had accomplished about two
| thirds of the voyage, and, the ship being
under easy sail, some of the men were
| lounging about the deck. and some were
gathered on the forecastle listening to a
| yarn from man of war's-man who had
been in the English navy.
Forward therer' shouted the first
mate, who had been sweeping the horizon
with his glass.
"Ay, ayr answered the men readily,
and the marvellous story was cut short.
Jump alofl, one OF you who has good
| eyes," continued he, "and tell me What
| you make out of that craft with such rak'
! ing masts on our weather bow"
nay, ayr and several men sprang
| Main-top- gallant there| hailed the
mate. 90
"Ay, ay" replied the man with the
| glass CThese Quakers did not use the
affix sir in addressing their officers ;eyery
man, high or low, was called by his giver
name, and titles of all kinds were escheweC
from religious principles.)
"What sort of craft is to windward
and how is she standingYn cried the mate
" 1t is small black schooner, all legs
and arms replied the sailor; " and sht
is bearing down for us under a press o
sail Now she runs up flag, and, by thu
flash and smoke she spits, she has JUS
fired gum e. r--r-raes
A dull, heavy report came booming OF
the breeze, and a thunderings echoed
against the ships side. The mates glas
was bent upon the schooner, whose hui
was not yet visible, but the flag was founC
to be French.
"Steward, call the captainm cried the
mate, in alarm. " Forward there! cal
all hands on deck; stand by to put tht
ship about"
"Ay, ay!" responded the well-trainet
sailors, and every man stood at his post
ready for prompt action. Both Macy anC
Coffin appeared upon the deck, wonder
ing at being sent for, and surprised TO fine
every man ready for the word of commanC
to change the course of the ship.
What does this mean?" asked tht
captain; why dost thou change tn,
ships courseY
g don't intend to without orders" saiC
the mate, but | thought best to hav,
everything handyfOr prompt maneuvering
We have a suspicious looking sail on Ou
weather bow, and she shows French col
ors. BY the rake of her masts and he
general rig, think she's a clipper, witt
a long-tom amidships; she has given us
gun already" -
Rather dangerous neighbor for us,
said the captain, g aud think She viii
prove one of those piratical rascals tina
cut up the commerce OF these seas; bu
keep the ship away" continued he, rails
ing his glass again, "and see If she fol
lows us"
Away went the Grampus, with fire
wind and the rush of Iace-hOrse, turning
the spray from her bows handsomely OF
her altered course. The Frenchma
turned also and gained steadily upon heI
The ship was deeply laden with OIL an,
would be prize of great value, and, a
Seth thought, was eminently worth pre-
serving, though the Frenchman was de
termined She should change owners
They managed their little craft wit
great skill altering their course wit
Maoy's, and gaining all the time. TIL
, breeze was only brisk, but it Just suite
the schooner, while the laden ship, thong
the ileetest Of her class, couldn't show he
. heels to advantage. without a stronge
3 wind. Macy tried her on every tack, bu
escape he could not-the wedge lik
, schooner gained upon him at every turn
"Now would give half our cargo fc
a few guns to speak to that saucy rascs
in his own language" said Macy, turnin
bitterly TO JethTO. Now is the time fl
/, those six.pounders urged thee about b,
, fore we left port; tear thou will pa
dearly Tor not taking my advice. AL
there comes salute number two"
A gun was fired by the Frenchma
across the bow of the Grampus, warnin
her to heave to. Macy paced the deck
agony of spirit, muttering words AS h
went that sounded much like pro
family. lie ordered the Grampus to |
kept off Two OF three points and d toretoI
mast studding sail sci but in the hurrl
; BY some mishap, the tack got unrove.
, couple of hands were ordered aloft TO ri
in the boom and reeve in the tack anew
Isaac Coffin, son of Jethro, who la
! smuggled himself on board against h
fathers express orders, and who ha
| hnrdlu n1nHa hAn r,nnhn ,,.ith Lii, -