The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-07

hemp cable on lie windlass and held The
axe for future use If necessary. The sol
ders aud pilots went over the side into their
boat, and with swift, breeze The Rapid ran
by the forts, under fire, but without rece'v-
ing shot
The Rapid wintered at Riga, in RussiS'
where her cargo was sold for a large price,
and she sailed for Boston by the way OF
London, making the passage from London
to Boston in the unprecedented time of Ill
teen days.
Early in the summer of 1912, the owners
OF the Rapid put heavy battery of fifteen
guns. with one hundred men on board ct
her, and despatched her as privateer, I'M
der the command of Capt. VIM. Crabtree.
She had very little success, and returned to
port. She was again sent out under the
same captain, with Joseph Weeks, spirit
ed young sailor of the town, as first leutep-
ant, but he favorite Rapid returned from
her cruise with no better success. Prizes
were arriving every week, sent in by tie
Baltimore, New York and Salem privatee
which led the owners of the Rapid to the
conclusion that there was some fault In the
commander, who had a good reputation as a
merchant captain. The lieutenant, Weeks,
had shown some Impotence at the manage
ment of the captain, aud the owners put
Weeks 10 command for The next cruise.
But after max 'ng one prize. the Rapid
was caught at disadvantage by fasl-sai-
Ing frigate, and was captured. Like many
other privateers the Rapid was overloaded
by her battery. The particulars of her cap
lure are given in the captains letter to his
owners, which l am pleased to be able 10
give;
Extract of letter from Capt Joseph Weeks,
dated Halifax, Nov. 5, 1912.
81 am sorry TO give you the disagree
able news of the capure of the Rap
i'd, on the 18Th ull. by the MaidstoIe
frigate, 1.-THE Spartan in co., after
chase OF 10 houss;-17lh, thick foggy
weathtr-at 8 a. M the fog scaed off-.r
discovered Nv" sal in The n E., the VIVID
then at N.N.W. and light--we Immediately
held our wind 10 the norIbward-at halt
past discovered them to be men-of- war,
lacked ship and made all sail to the west
ward, the Wind hauling in to N.N.W. The
frigates not more than 4 miles distant, also
tackled and made sail after us. A II, find
ing that one of the frigates was gaining on
us--cut aAay our stem beat and one an
choral p. III. 18th Oct. threw eight guns
oveI--at 3 a m. the frigate hoisted Ameri
Can cOl0rs, and fired a volley of musketry at
us-At 6 p. m. 1eing under the cover of Der
muskeiry, and continued showers pouring
in upon us, we finding further attempts to
escape vain, struck to the Maidstone, Capt
Burdett. During the chase, we gained G
miles of the Spartan. The wind was light,
with very heavy sea; had not his been the
case they never could have caught us-We
have IT c. lived the best of trea ment from the
commanders and officers of both ships"
Extract of letter from one of the Lieuten-
ants of the Rapid, dated Halifax, Nov. 10,
1872
'Great credit is due Capt. Weeks for his
calm and deliberate conduct during the
whole chase. | was told by one of the off
Gers of the Maidstone that The captain of her
while in chase said if he came up with the
priva!ter, he would give the captain of her
his sword again after receiving it. for the
skill he displayed during the chase, which
he actually did when we arrived at the
mouth of Halifax barboT"
A sea captain of eighty-six years, now liv-
ing on Long Island, N, Y, who during the
war of 1912 was boy living neighbor to
Capt. Weeks, in King street, wriles me in
these words about The officers of she Rapid
Capt. Crabtree made several cruises in
the Rapid with little success. 1t vas said
ny the boys that every sail he met he ran
away from. fearing it was a British "a. But
when 10 Weeks took command it was 'Hur-
rah for the Rapid Success to 10 Weeksg
bu' Capt. 10 had har dly made cruise wDeT
lac was taken, with the pick of Portland +, I
crew, who were in Dartmoor Prison vi,
til the End of the war.
The Ulcers Of the Maidstone" and
"Spartan" frigates had seen what the Rap.
i'll capable of under favorable circum.
>eences, and reported her sailing qualities tc
Vf''' "1rs4i iNl at II Alifax He dered her ia
be fitted as brig of war, aud she was en-
tered on the lists of the English navy.
The Halifax papers Of Dec. so tless than
two months after her capture) report her as
sailing with convoy up the Bay of Fundy
as III. 3. H., gun brig Nova Scotia, for
me'ly the privateer Rapid Of Portland"
Her final fate might be traced by The Eng
ish navy lists.
Notwithstanding Capt. Weeks's sword
was returned to him for his skill in the
chase he was sent prisoner to England with
his crew, where he remained until the end
If he war. He witnessed the cruel shoot.
ing of prisoners in the yard o. Darlmoor, by
order of Captain Shorthand. After his dis
charge Capt. Weeks returned to Portland,
and was in command of merchantmen for
many years, and died bachelor at an adj
vauced age. He found pleasant home in
his last days, in The family of bis brother,
Joshua F., who occupied the cid homestead
on India street.