New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-07-24
A Strange Career.

George III tC the throne, few domestic
events made a greater sensation IN the
papers and periodicals of the day than
the adventures of a sea captain named
George Glass, especially in connection
with a mutiny on board the brig Earl of
Sanwich. This remarkable man, who
was one of fifteen children of John Glass,
noted as the orig lator of the Scottish sect
in 1926. After graduating in the medi
cal profession, he made several voyages
as surgeon of a merchant ship (belong
ing to London) to the Brazlls and the
coast of Guinea; and in 1854 he published,
by Dodeley, an interesting work in one vol
ume, quarto, entitled 1.-THE History Of the
Discovery and Conquestof the Canary ISL
ands. Translated from Spanish Man
uscript."
He obtained command of the Guinea
trader, and made several successful voy-
ages, till the war with Spain broke out in
January, 1869. Having saved good
round sum, be equipped privateer, and
ook command of her as captain, to
cruise against the French and Spaniar ds;
but he had not been three days at sea
when his crew mutinied, and sent him
that which is called in sea phraseologv a
round robin Ga corruption of an old
French military term, the ruban ro1ad,
or round ribbon), in which they wrote
their names in circle; hence none could
know who was the leader.
Aiming himsel with his cutlass and
pistols, Glass came on deck, and offered
to fight, hand to hand, any many who
conceived himself to be wronged in any
way. But the crew, knowing his person
al strength, his skill and resoluti on, de-
pacifying them by fair words; and the
capture Of valuable French merchant
man few days after, put them all in ex-
cellent hu1nor. This CLEAN Of good for
tune was soon after clouded by an en-
cnunter with an enemy's frigate, which
though twice the size of his privateer,
Glass resolved to engage; and for two
hours they fought broadside to broad
side, till another French vessel bore
down on him, and he was compelled to
strike his colors, after half his crew had
been killed and he had received mus
ket shot in the shoulder.
prisoner of war in the Antilles, where he
was treated with excessive severity, but
upon being exchanged, he resolved to
embark the remainder Of his fortune in
another privateer, and shave 1t out, as
he said, with the French and Dons. But
he was again taken in action, and lost
everything he had in the world.
On being released second time, he
was employed by London merchants in
several voyages to the West Indies, in
command of ships that fought their way
witout convoy; and according to state
ment in the annual Register, he was cap
tured no less than seven times. But az
ter various fluctuations of fortune, when
the general peace took place in 179a he
found himself possessed of two thousand
guineas prize money, with the reputation
of being one of the best merchant cap
tains in the port of London.
About that time a company there re-
solved to make an attempt to form set
tlement on the west coast Of Africa, by
founding harbor and town midway be-
tweenthe Cape de Verd and the River
of the day we find many statements urg-
Senegal. In the London and other papers
ing the advantage of opening up Guinea
trade; among others, strange letter from
a merchant, who tells us he was taken
prisoner in battle on that coast, and,
that when escaping he ;scrossed forest
within view of the sea, where there where
elephants teeth in quantities sufficient to
load one hundred ships.''
In the interests of this new company
Glass sailed in ship Of his own to the
coast of Guinea, and selected and survey
ed harbor at place which he was GER
tain might become the center Of a great
trade in teak and cam woods, spices, oil
and ivory, wax and gold. Elated with
his success he returned to England, and
laid his schemes before the ministry,
am long whom were John, Earl of Sand
wich. Secretary of State, and the Earl Of
Hillsborough, Commissioner Of Trade and
Plantations
With truly national patience and per
severence he underwent all the procras-
tination and delays OF office, but ulti-
mately obtained an exclusive right of
trading to his own harbor for twenty
years. Assisted by two merchants the
company would seem to have failed he
fitted his shin anew and sailed for the
intended harbor; and sent on shore a
man who knew the country well, to make
propositions Of trade with the natives.
who put him to death the moment they
saw him.
Undlscouraged by this event, Captain
Glass found means to open up commu-
nication with the king Of the country, to
lay before him the wrong that had been