The Portland daily press., 1884-02-21

beached on Cushing's point, with large
break in her bottom. There is long histo-
ry to this wreck which looked up twenty
five years ago, when men were alive who
went on board from the Cape shore in an
swer to the alarm guns at the risk of their
lives; but this is not the place to give i'll
shall write it out in another connection.
commenced to write of the privdteer Grand
Turk of Salem in the war of 1912.
The private armed brig, Grand Turk, was
one of the larger class of privateers which
were fitted out to replace the small ones has
tily sent to sea at the beginning of the war,
many of which were captured by the enemy
She came into Portland in May, 1918, from
an early cruise-perhaps her first one, hay
ing an agent here to look after her prizes.
She was fitted out from here for another
cruise. The Custom House books give her
tonnage as $40, with fifteen guns and 100
men. Joseph Endicott, Joseph L Knapp,
Samuel Cook, Samuel B. Graves and twenty
five others, owners. Nathan Green, COM
mander; Ebenezer Meacom, lieutenant.
Capt. HOLDEN J. Breed of Salem command
ed her on one cruise. Her agent here was
Joseph |. Knapp, one of the owners.
The journal of one cruise is in the Port
land Custom House. From the record of
making and shortening sail, learn that she
was full-rigged brig with royals and sky
sails. She left Salem and "took her depar-
ture' from Thatcher's Island, bearing
northeast by north, six miles distant, on
Tuesday, Feb. 9th, 1873 Two days after, in
the night, John Mason fell from under the
maiHtop, went overheard and was lost-as it
was blowing gale could not save him. The
Grand Turk was a good sailer. L notice
that she logged for five successive days, sew
orally in miles, 203, 200, 219, 213, PIG, and
this without the stimulus of chase.
She was off the coast of Brazil in March
and April, in the track of Portuguese mer-
chantmen, many of whom were chased and
brought too, but as they were neutrals the
time was lost. On the third of April the
Turk had streak of good luck, which is
thus described in the log book:
cat a. M. saw sail on our weather
bow-tacked ship to the eastward At
NJ
other sail. Made all sail in chase. April 4.
ati5 p m. camesup with the two vessels and
commenced smart cannonading with both.
After an action of ten or fifteen minutes.
both ships struck to US. At 6 the two ships
were manned out, and the prisoners were on
board Of our brig. During the action we
had two men killed and four wounded The
enemy had two killed and number wound
| ed. The ships proved to be from Liverpool.
nd To Rn xxys@
goes VIM. Mulloy was put on board the
ship Paragon, as prizemaster, with eleven
men, and VIM. Vickery was put in charge of
the ship William with eleven men. I or
dered them to some port in the United
States, giving Salem the preference
April commences with pleasant breeze
and clear weather. The two prizes still in
sight. At a. m. saw a sail bearing north,
steering southwest. At II a. m. discovered
her to be an English ship from London,
bound to Buenos Ayres. She proved to be
the ship Apollo from London. out go days.
Put John Gage on board as prizemaster, and
twelve OF our people, and ordered her for
America, giving Salem the preference of any
port"
"April IA. AT 8 p. m. came up with the
chase, which proved to be Spanish schoon-
er from Montevideo, bound to Paraguay.
| After our prisoners had signed parole we
put 30 OF them on board the said schooner,
| and supplied them with all necessary pro-
visions to last them to the port'
| "April %. At half past D. M. departed
this life Mr.. Jacob Abrahams, sailing mas
ter OF the brig, who was wounded in the &C
ton of April 4th, aged % years"
Nothing remarkable happened on board
the brig until May 16, when, after chase
of six hours, the schooner Britannia from st.
John, bound to Barbados, was captured.
John Haywood was put on board as prize
master, and was ordered TO Salem, but in
stead arrived at Portland. The log for the
last day Of the cruise shows the humiliating
state of our coast, for lack Of sufficient
navy to protect It from blockade. 1t is as
| follows:
"Friday, May 2s, 1918. Commences with
breezes and pleasant weather. Seguin light
house bearing north, distance 6 leagues.
Set steering sails. At p. m. saw gun
brig and an armed schooner under our lee
bow. AT took pilot and hauled on
wind for Portland. At D. m had gun
brig, schooner and two frigates in chase of
us. At they gave up the chase and
hauled off shore. At 10 p. m anchored in
Portland harbor."
"May 20 got cable and anchor from the
| shore and moored ship"
The prize schooner Britannia arrived at
Portland next day. The Gazette in noticing
the arrival of the Grand Turk, says she was
in command of Holton johnson Breed, and
that the whole value of her prizes during
the cruise was 100000. The Britannia, with
her cargo of hogsheads of fish, pitch, tar,
beer, pork tobacco and butter was sold nv
Marshal Thornton at Long wharf on the
9th of July, Also three bales of broadcloths
and two trunks of hosiery from the Grand