The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1877-01-11
STRATEGY OF A QUAKER CAPTAIN.

Early in the summer of 1854, the
good ship Grampus left the harbor of
Nantucket, bound for London with car
20 of oil. She was new ship built af-
ter the most improved models, staunch
and trim, for those days of great speed.
Her owner, Jethro Coffin, 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 from 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 these seas, and his expert
ence in ill-governed Spanish ports and
among savage islanders had taught him
that, though non-residence did very well
in Nantucket, it was neither 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 Founders; for England was
at that time at war with France, and of
course the colonies were dragged into it
also. But Jethro true to his principles,
rejected the proposals with righteous in
dignation, and they set sail much to
Seth's disgust, armed only with lances and
harpoons for war with whales in search
of which they were to proceed after dis
posing of their cargo in London.
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 a man-ofwars man who had
been on the English navy.
Forward there!" shouted the first mate
who had been sweeping the horizon with
his glass.
"Ay, ay!" answered the men readily,
and the marvellous story was cut short.
"Jump aloft, one of you has good
eyes," continued he, "and tell me what
you make out of that craft with such
raking masts on our weather bow"
cay, ayl" and several men sprang
aloft
"Main-top, gallant there?" hailed the
mate.
GAY, ay!" replied the man with the
glass.
"What sort of craft is to windward,
and how is she standing?" cried the ma te.
at is small, black schooner, all legs
and arms" replied the sailor; "and she is
bearing down for us under a press of
sail Now she runs up flag and by the
fash and smoke she spits, she has just
fired gun" ..
A dull, heavy report came booming on
the breeze, and laundering sound echo
ed against the ships side The mates
glass was bent upon the schooner, whose
hull was not yet visable, but the flag was
found to be French.
Steward, call the captainl" cried the
mate in alarm. "Forward therel" call all
hands on deck; stand by to put the ship
about" ........
SAY, ay," responded the well trained
sailors, and every man stood at his post
ready for prompt action. Both Macy
and Coffin appeared upon the deck, won-
dering at their being sent for, and sup
prised at finding every man ready for
the word OF command to change the
course of the ship.
"What does this mean?' asked the cap.
tain; 'swhy does thou change the course
Of the ship"
II don't intend to without thy orders,
said the mate, "but | thought best to
have everything handy for prompt mano
vering. We have suspicious looking
sail on our weather-bow, and she shows
French colors. BY the rake of her masts
and her general rig, think she is clip.
per, with long-tom arnidship; she has
given us gun already"
aRather dangerous neighbor for US,
said the captain, "and / think she will
prove one of those piratical rascals that
cut up the commerce of these seas; but
keep the ship away" continued he, raising
his glass again, "and see if she follows"
Away went the Grampus, with a free
wind and the rush OF race-horse," turn.
ing the spray from her bows handsomely
on her altered course. The Frenchmau
turned also, and gained steadily upon her
The ship was deeply laden with oil, and
would be prize Of great value, and as
Seth thought, was eminently worth pre-
serving, though the Frenchman was de-
termined it should change owners They
managed their little craft with great skill
altering their course with Macy's, and
gaining all the time. The breeze was on.
ly brisk but it just suited tho schooner
while the ladened ship, thought the feet
est of her class couldn't show her heels to
advantage without stronger wind. Macy
tried her en- every tack, but escape he
could not-the wedge-like schooner gain
cd upon him at every turn.
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