The Republican journal., 1882-06-15
A Tale of the Sea.

THE STOCK FROM WHICH CAPT ALBERT G.
BURROWS DESCENDED
letter from Mystic. Conn. saws: Capt. Al
bert {. Burrows, of the steamer Rio Grande, is
at his home again. in this village, after the per-
louS voyage from Galveston to New York
Capt.. Burrows comes honestly by his GOODNESS,
Self-possession, and courage in time of great
peril or danger. His father, Capt Brutus Bur-
rows now living near this village. and his grand
father Capt. Ambrose Burrows, who died here
a few wears ago, were both sea captains. at home
upon the ocean as almost their native element
They were once both captured by pirates Capt
Ambrose Burrows sailed in the brig Frederic
from New York, bound for Lima Jan. "a, 1928
! his son Brutus with him. On their return voy-
age, of Quilca, on the Pacific coast, Dec. y,
1873, the Frederic was captured by a pirate brig
mounting dozen 12-pound carronades, long
tom amld>hips, and two heavy brass bow chas-
ers, with complement of 700 men, the Frederic
being unarmed. They placed Capt. Burrows
and his son on board the Frederic, as they lack
Ell navlgatOrS. but allowed none of his own
crew, but instead prize master and nine arm
ed men. When he first returned OH board he
secured the pistols of himself and mate, and be-
gan to revolve in his mind the scheme which re-
suited IN his recapture of the vessel. He found
a way to say to his son secretly, "Iou stand by
| me, Brutus, for this means liberty or DEATH
At l O'Clock in the afternoon, Jan. 4. 1924, hay
ing all things ready, with his belt secure around
him. his pistols in prime order, and his cutlass
by his side, he sent Brutus, lad of seventeen,
TO invite the prize master into the cabin where
he was.
As the man entered he saw the table covered
with pistols, and Capt. Burrows, tall man,
standing before it, fully armed, ready for action.
The prize masters countenance indicated that
the table was furnished not exactly to his taste
Capt. Burrows told him that he must stand
neutral, or he was Il dead man, that he wanted
no assistance. He agreed to remain neutral
Then furnishing his son with pistols, and pac-
l,,,lf
Capt. Burrows told his to follow him on
deck, with word of caution to be firm. Brutus
was equal to the hour. He turned first to the
man at the wheel and told him to remain at his
post or his life would pay the forfeit on the in
slant. The long boat was turned up amdships,
four men reclining each side Not a moment
was to be lost. Brutus went, pistols in hand one
side and Capt. Burrows the other. In loud
voice he commanded the men to go into the
torecastle They went, and, having fastened
them down, he then ordered them one at
a time, beginning with the most formida-
bic, the stout bOatswain to come on deck
lie obeyed, and they bound him. and so the
rest, all but two, whom the Captain ordered to
help navigate the brig. He put the others into
a strong whale-bOat, gave them oars, and told
them where they would find the land. He
brought the Frederic back to Callao, and
eventually got back safe to New York. He
made the acquaintance during this eyentful
cruise of several of our naval officers who
adventures made him famous, and many lonors
would have been rendered to him had not his
modesty caused him to decline publicity and
notorlety. This is the stock from whom the
Captain of the Rio Grande has descended, and
accounts somewhat for his irmness and courage
in time of danger.
There have been 15,0S7 visitors to Mt. Vernon
during the past year. and $13,5O0 have been ex-
pended for repairs. Mrs. SWEET the Vice Re-
MaIn hoe tod inf
volumes pr esented by Loring, Short & Harmon,
of Portland. One is an illustrated history of
the Bunker Hill Monument Association, and
the other life Of Washington in French.
Ex-senator Thurman's friends in Ohio are
talking about nominating him for Secretary of
State on the democratic ticket this year. If
elected, they will nominate him for Governor
next year, and if elected again his nomination
for President in 1884 will be foregone conclu-
sion. 1t is suspected that this programme may
not appear so nice to Senator Pendleton's friends