Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-05-29
HE SAVED HIS SHIP.
A Shrewd Device of Maine Ship
master.


A fine specimen of the American sea
captain was Nathaniel Groton, who was
born at Waldoboro, Me-, in 1892. at
the age Of Is he entered upon the life
of sailor. He rose rapidly, and soon
commanded large ship. AS boy his
friends say he never backed down, and
his pluck and determination appear. in
his portrait, and numberless times those
qualities served him we'll.
In December, 1856, Capt. Groton, In
command of the Sea Queen, a ship of
LOO tons, sailed from Leghorn, Italy,
Tor New York, with a cargo Of marble
and rags. The voyage was pleasant
one till considerably. out. beyond the
Rock of Gibraltar, when a fearful north
westerly gale was encountered, plOba-
bly, the mistral of Southern Europe.
Everything was done that careful sea-
manship could suggest, but sails went
III shreds, and spars bent like reeds
and snapped like pipe-stems. Laborlne
in heavy sea, the ship sprung a leak.
The pumps had to be worked almost
constantly, and the masts were SO bad
ly sprung as to threaten to 60 over the
side with every roll of the ship. The
captain dared not proceed in this con-
dition. To save his ship and company
he put back to Gibraltar for shelter and
repairs.
The windlass had been smashed by
falling spar during the gale and was use
less. The ship was anchored under the
guns of Gibraltar, and the chain was
secured bv turn round the foremost;
thus there was no chance to pay out
chain rapidly or to heave it in. While
in this helpless condition the British
bark Defence, Capt. Moore, came into
harbor, and, with the true British in
stinct of insulting and abusing any help
less and unfortunate object, particular
ly If it happen to be American, con-
trived to run down the Sea Queen.
As usually happens the Englishman
received but little injury, while the
barque cut away her headgear and sus
tanned other serious injury. English
spirit, however, would not allow Moore
to pocket his wrath and pay for his
damages. The Sea Qneen was hbeled.
The British broad arrow was placed on
her mainmast, and an officer was put i'll
charge of the ship. The weeks passed
passed by. The circumlocution Office
seemed to have taken charge Of the
matter. Capt. Groton could get no
definite replies of any kind from the
officials, but it was the evident inten-
ton ofthe authorities to coniscate the
ship. Repairs were allowed on the
ship, as the English were willing to Sc
cure as fine a vessel as possible; but
Capt. Groton had no idea of losing the
vessel without tussel.
From December till April the ship
was detained at Gibraltar. She was
ready Tor sea, aud Capt. Groton deter
mined to leave whenever a favorable
opportunity should occur. On the af-
ternoon of April Is be went ashore,
called on the American consul and de-
manded the ships papers.
Tomorrow morning" said he, 81
shall be missing; give me my papers or
a receipt for them"
The consul could not surrender the
documents, but willingly gave receipt
for them and considerable good advice
as we'll. Capt. Groton's experienced
eve had already detected indications of
an approaching gale. That night he
busily engaged the shipkeeper in con-
versation, and in the discussion of some
excellent wine. Forward, the mate was
as busy as the captain was ait.
The gale shrieked and howled
through the rigging, the seat beat and
crashed against the ship. In the uproar
the mate was quietly experimenting the
the operation of hosting the anchor.
The windlass was under the deck, and
the great chain gradually came through
the hawser pipe till the ship struck
adrift. The mate then rushed aft and
burst into the cabin with the startling
information that the ship was adrift.
The captain turned excitedly to the
slightly fuddled officer and exclaimed:
We'll, sir, the ship IS in your hands,
what are you going to do to save her ?'
He might as well have asked the man
what he would do with a volcanic erup-
ton, and he knew it.
The bewildered officer replied: "What
can we do ?''
1--WE can get her under way and try to
beat back to the fort" said the old sea
fox.
"All right, do So"
The sails were set, one hitch was made
toward the harbor, and then the ship
was squared away for the coast of Afri-
ca. This occurred about midnight. Great
was the CONSERVATION on shore next
morning when it was found that the
''blasted Yankee" had dared to steal
his ship and &c carry away in her the
sacred representative of the British
crown. Vessels were despatched in
pursuit, out the Sea Queen had taken
just the course which she was not eX-
pected to, and while they steered toward
New York she was breasting the waves
off the coast CT Africa.
The next day Captain Groton's YES
sci. under full sail, fell in with other
vessels under close reefs. The English
papers of the day expressed surprise
at the Americans audacity, and plainly
intimated that Uncle Sam would gladly
turn the fugitive ship over to the tender
mercies of John Bull. This never hap
pened, however. The officer who took
such an unexpected trip to this land of
the free was kindly treated and prompt
~ returned 10 his station at the expense
of the owners of the vessel.-Lewtstoqs
Journal.
Fire Company With no Fires.