The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-25
One of MOrrissey's Adventures.

IN 1891 Morrlssey was in San Fran
cisco. The gold fever broke out at
Queen CAarlotte's Island, in the British
Possessions, about 1000 miles from San
Francisco, and thither Morrissey and a
number of his associates determined to
go. Twenty of them bought small
schooner in twenty shares, and they
hired Captain and mate, who were to
take their pay out of certain percent
age of all profits which might arise
from the voyage. Whether the trad
ing with the natives or the gold dig
ging was likely to be of very scrupu-
lous character may be judged from the
vessels outfit. Beyond provisions for
the voyage her cargo consisted of one
shotgun and two six-shooter revolvers
for each man on board, six small can
non, and 200 round-shot Could any,
thing have been more simply and inno-
Gently piratical? The Custom-House
authorities at San Francisco refused
them clearance; and no wonder. But
Morrissey and his band took advantage
OF the first favorable night with a land
breeze, slipped their cables, and put to
sea without papers. They were from
that moment pirates in the eyes of the
law; but they sailed on, day after day,
without being overhauled, and arrived
at Queen Charlotte Island after IA
vorable passage of eighteen days.
The island is an out-of-t he-way place,
was then only inhabited by the Sltkas,
warlike tribe of Indians, and its COM
munications with the civilized world
were confined to calling of Hudson's
Bay Companys trading vessel once in
a year or two. The moment they APP
peared off shore swarm of canoes,
filled with natives, shot off from the
beach and boarded the schooner, much
to the tribulation of the voyagers, who
by no means welcomed these warriors,
with their knives, tOmahawks and re-
volvers. They managed to persuade
all to leave the vessel but one chief,
who persisted in remaining on board,
and who tOyed artlessly with the trig-
ger of his revolver whenever he was re-
monstrated with for so doing At last
Morrissey solved the difficulty by
sneaking up behind him, throwing his
arms around him and throwing him
overheard before he had time to think
OF what was going to happen to him.
The adventurers, after staying nine
days at Queen Charlotte's Island, found
that there was no gold there; so they
determined to return to San Francisco,
coasting all the way, so as to be able to
take advantage of anything that might
turn up and fish up anything that
might fall in their way. In due time
! they reached VancOuVer's Island and
went into port, her owners thinking to
do little private prospecting Judge,
then, of their dismay on seeing, the
day after their arrival, Her Britannia
Majesty's sloop-of-war Thetis sail into
port. They were now in really seri-
Gus predicament. They were in a
foreign, though friendly, port, without
papers, and armed to the teeth. They
were in the power of the Captain of the
Thetis, and more than likely to be tried
by drum-head court martial and hanged
as pirates from the yard-arm of his
vessel. John Morrissey called coun-
Gil OF war, the gravity of the position
was duly discussed, and the bold plan
OF boarding the Thetis, instead of
waiting to be boarded by her, which
| Morrissey suggested, was unanimously
decidedupon. A boat was Immediately
lowered, revolvers concealed and shot
guns dispensed with, and Morrissey and
his companions rowed direct for the
Thetis, having previously run up the
American flag (the only piece of bunt-
ing they could muster) to their mast
head. They were received with an air
of surprise by the Captain and his Of
ficers; but they told them that were
gold miners; that they were returning
disappointed from Queen Charlotte Isl
and; were careful to say nothing about
the shot-guns, cannon and ammunition
on board the schooner. or of that very
reputable vessels want of papers and
her refusal of a clearance by the San
Francisco Custom-House.
The officers of the Thetis were nat
urally anxious to know all about Queen
Charlotte's Island, whittier their own
vessel was bound, and about the Cali
tornia gold fever and the diggings; and
rough as their visitors were, they act
ually invited them to dinner, entertain
ing them right royalty, and sent them
back to the schooner in high feather.
But they were too shrewd to give the
English officers the opportunity of re-
turning the visit and seeing how the
land lay; and when the Englishmen
turned out the next morning they doubt
less wondered what on earth had be-
come of that Yankee schooner during
the night.
In after years Mr.. Morrissey used to
enjoy hearty laugh over this episode,
especially over the alarm, if not terror,
of those of their party who had remained
on board the schooner while they board
ed the Thetis. Their long-protracted
absence had led their waiting comrades
to suppose that they were at least in
irons, if not already hanged at the yard
arm. The party arrived safely back in
San Francisco, and the schooner was
quietly disposed ON Y Times.
.