The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-14

and passing the enemy's cruisers, ran into
Castine, which proved to be a trap, as that
port had been taken possession of by the en-
envy after the Hyder Ally sailed. As soon
as the ship had dropped her anchor several
armed boats came off to take possession OF
the ship, when Oxnard began to look about
and saw that every vessel in the barbor bore
the British flags, but il was too late to save
the ship. The ships boats were lowered
and into one Oxnard jumped on a mattress,
into which he had put all his valuables, in
Guiding rich India shawl for his sister. All
hands gained the shore. The enemy's boats
fired on thu retreating boats and wounded
Lieut.. Oxnard in the leg, but he managed
to get into the woods with his crew, who
helped bin save the articles taken from the
ship. The shawl was in the possession of
his family few years ago. OF course Ok
nard was vexed at the loss of the ship and
valuable cargo, when 80 near home.
After the two lieutenants had sailed in
the prizes. and the ship being short of men,
the captain adopted the practice of several
other private armed vessels in those waters,
which gave pryateers a bad name. He
used flag to suit all occasions. The disci-
pine of the ship from the start had been
very severe.
In the Indian Ocean the pfiva!eer over
hauled two Chinese junks loaded with bete
nuts, silks, and other China goods of i'm
mense value, bound to Penang The cap
tain condemned these goods as British prop
perry, and confiscated the whole, and took
them on board of the privateer, giving the
junks his ballast in return.
The Hyder Ally next fell in with the Brit
ish frigate Salsetta. Both ships lay nearly
becalmed twelve hours. Ia the long chase
which followed, the frigate continued to
fire her bow guns without effect. By knock
ing away some Of the woodwork OF the
stern of the Hyder Ally, Capt. Thorndike
managed 10 work two guns as stern chasers,
not much expecting to damage the frigate,
but to propel biz own ship This was done
by rigging long breechings with which he
held the recoil of the guns, and Increased
the Roadway OF the ship. | have never
AAN~AO coONLOA tLopdICC WuSIG &U0DOWu6f
was pressed into service TO propel a ship.
Finally squall gave the Hyder Ally the adj
vantage and she escaped; but soon after the
privateer was becalmed within dangerous
distance of another frigate Both ships Law
beca'med several hours looking at each 9th
er, but powerless to move. The frigate
caught breeze first, which brought her
down within gunshot of the Hyd,r Ally,
who was compelled to surrender with all her
ill-gotten cargo The frigate proved to be
the @Owen Glendower' and no doubt Capt
Thorndike wished her where Prince John
OF Lancaster wished her Shakesperian name
sake. On making sail in company Capt
Thorndike found that the privateer could
sail round the frigate with the same breeze,
which was not pleasant discovery after be-
ing captured by her.
Both ships sailed for Penang where the
privateer's crew was imprisoned four months
When the East India fleet came in, having
lost large number of men by sickness, they
offered the crew of the Hyder Ally wages if
they would do seamen's duty until they ar
rived at Whompoa, and from there to Lon
don, which was accepted. AL Whompoa
Fickett's ship was discharged, when he
learned that three of the crew of The Hyder
Ally were to be exchanged for the same
plumber OF English prisoners. Lots were
drawn, when Pickett drew prize, and was
liberated with two others, but those remain
ing prisoners went on with the feet 10 Lon
don hinder wages, and yet on their arrival
they were imprisoned. After he exchanged
Pickett found that the merchant ship Amer
lea, OF New York, was in port, dismantled
and housed over to protect her from the sun,
with her crew on beard, waiting for the end
of the war. lie went on board of the Ameri.
ca and remained a month. when he obtained
a passage to Canton, whera The American
Consul supplied his wants There were
three Boston ships at Canton, letters-of-
marque, all pound home. Pickett shipped
on board the Bramble aud arrived safe At
Beslon. | think every one of the rich
prizes captured by the Hyder Ally were re-
captured by English vessels before thew
could be g,i into an American port
Lieut.. Henry Oxnard of Portland, the frat
officer of the ship, remained in the EMPLOY
OF Bryant E stnrgis of Boston, and was put
in command of a good ship after the war. in
which he made one voyage to Batavia. He
finally went into mercantile business 10 Bos-
ton. His first venture was the importation
OF cargo Of lea in company with Wm. Ap-
pleton, which paid large profit materially
increasing his capital. He next built two
ships at Medford, of the same size and mod.
Ell. He became wealthy, and died in Boston
in 1914 aged 81.