Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-04-10
A STERN CHASE.

Sometimes i'm these days OF steamboat
sailors you happen to- come across salt OF
the good old fashioned kind, with bar
nacles on his back and a full rugged ship
tatt00cd ON his shaggy moss grown chest.
Brethren, whenever you meet such an in
dividual, cherish him in your bosom, wrap
him up I'm cotton wool and place him gen
tly in glass case. For believe me, the old
"shellbacl" is becoming scarce and is fast
being gathered to his fathers. In a little
while he win become extinct ike that 81
gantic bird the roc, so graphically de-
scrihed by Captain Siubad which has van
ished from the tace OF the earth, leaving
not even feather or a fragment Of egg
shell for orui.hologi-ts 10 ponder over.
While cruising down South street the
other day J was fortunate enough to cross
the bows oi am ancient mariner-not one OF
your artificial kind, but one of old Nep-
tunes private stock. lie savOred Of the
salt. salt sea To- such an extent that lverily
believe chat If ! had tapped him with a
knife North Carolina tar would have ex-
uded from the wound and not blood.
lie was backing and filling, bound to the
Battery. some three sheets in the wind,
with a rivu'et of tobacco juice running
down his Dlaumlibe beard. As l got
a-hwart bis Llv-e hailed him.
"Ahoy yourself" he replied, you can't
play ans tri s- ON am old sail0rman like
me. I've goo nothing Co give TO your
dlrrad ll---.Hr missions, neither can
YOU -ha--... r. I've travelled
-Ha-lHI him .u nautical fashion, con,
v,resI him ...- was neither missionary
nora c-.r.n. and made him spin me yarn.
HetalI -aal rle time his ship was chased
hvrle tla.a-a. I would give q good deal
- De- able o. taL the story iu the quaint
way Uf The OLD sea dog, but unfortunately
Haven't TIE faculty, so ] must tell it in
my own feeble way.
His ship -a- the Blue Rocket, one OF
Donald Nckays fastest clippers, hailing
from New York and engaged iu the East
Indian and Chinese trade She was re-
markable for her fast passages and hei
captain used TO boast that nothing that
carried canvas could pass her, while The
ordinary steamship Of those days wasn't il
the procession with her. In the fifties anC
sixties we had a fleet Of merchant ship
the finest in the world. The Yankee clip
per and her smart officers were seen il
every port no matter how distant, and Tia
contrast between them and the slovenl!
British cargo carriers was as great AS tina
between a Yacht and a scow. The Ganke
ships were kept rs bright rs new pin AM
as pretty "a putty and paint could max
them Their yards ware always square
while i'm port their running gear swaye
up as taut as harp strings and no Iris
pennauts' were ever TO be seen trailin
over the sides. Il used to be the pride q
their captains to make them look as sinai
as mHu-oi-var.
The Yankee clippers glory is departed
The stars and stripes are no more TO l
seen waving in foreign ports, but there an
some glorious memories connected wit
those days when cur ships commanded Oh
commerce of the world
The Blue Rocket had taken out carl
consisting Of nearly everything under Il
sun. She Of course made a rapid passal
and discharged her cargo in various Ea
Indian ports. There were rumors Of W,
when the pilot left her of Sandy Hoo
and the ship set a cloud Of snowy canvj
and pointed her PROV TO the southwar
The Blue Rocket did q good deal OF coas
ing trade having from her reputation rs
clipper, secured a number Of lucrati
charters. She took a flying trip to Au
tralia, bringing back to Madras coup
of hundred horses for use in the lndi
cavalry, her spacious and well ventilat
tween decks making her an ideal ship
this purpose.
And all this time the captain was pill
mp the dollars and his swners were getti
richer and richer. The skipper, who
name was Randall was a shrewd do,
easter smart as they were made in tho
days and as good q seaman as ever pass
a weather earring. lie was kind to
crew also his theory being that Jack "
work harder and is more to be depend
-. bf T. a
human being lie had worked his W
up from before the mast until he h
reached the rank Of captain, His young
days had been passed in the forecastle
one Of the old ludiamcn that hailed fr,
Salem, Mass, and thus he gained consid
able experience which stood him in &c
stead when he became commander Of I
Blue Rocket
At last be grew homesick and dctermir
20 load up for New York. He would
take the ordinary cargo Of rice. sugar a
hides, but reserved his space in the low
hold and tween decks for silk. indi
spices and similar ntncy goods, which co
manded the highest rates. He put il
Singapore to take aboard the last Of
cargo. reaching that port in Decemh
1863.
Singapore is delightful harbor from
sailors point Of view. Rum and toba
are cheap and tropical fruits are plentif
When the Blue Rocket got there th
were plenty Of American ships at anch
but all were dismantled, their crews p
of and their captains wandering about
town looking wretched and demoraliz
The climate is rather enervating,
island being situated within deg Of
equator. and who could blame these 81
pers with no occupation il they took
frequent pegs" Of brandy Paneei
Let me tell you the origin OF the W
meg which has the same signihchnc'
she American nip" or "smile." 80 iai
know. it is only used by Anglo-lndia