The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-17
THE FRS YANKEE SHJP TO IA
She Was the Wilmington, and she Sailed
from the r ort OF New London.
From the Ne,1 London ray.

From the Ne,o london Iov.
In the early ffties. shortly after the first treaty
was made between the United States and
Japan. n little group OF New Londoners got to-
eether and secretly planned n trading voyage to
that rar-off and at that time almost unknown
land. The pros and cons were carefully dis
cussed. and the verdict. which was unanimous,
can be best expressed in the language of Col.
Sellers-"t there was millions in it,"
Accordingly, the topsail schooner Wilmington
was secured. and clothing and provisions bought
and loaded aboard the little craft that lay inn
patiently waiting to be off.
Every detail finished. the hawser was cast on
on the cad of January, 1865, and the Whining
ton with a saucy little toss Of stern stood out
toward the Race. Tho Wilmington was owned
by Thomas Fitch. Capt. William Brown. and
George Fitch, all Of this city, and was of1cered
as follows: William Brown. Captain: Thomas
eager, first mate. and George Fitch. second
mate. In addition to these were a cook, a colored
steward. and four able seamen.
Fairly clear from the harhor the course was
laid for Cape Town. Africa, and she made the
run in ffty-three days, remarkably good rum
ming for any craft; but for this little schooner
the run was considered marvellous.
The rest of the story is best told by George a..
Fitch. He said: I'VE ran into Cane Town and
traded for about two weeks or ten days, and had
fair success. Then we ran up to Ange Point, on
the island of Java. and tfaded at the Dutch set-
Elements for a week or so. and from there we
ran up to Batavia. which was quite n largo city.
and did very well there. After laying there for
a short time. as long as the natives would trade.
we sailed for Hong Kong.
The Malays were very friendly to u.s.
though there wero lots OF pirates all around
there. hut they never molested us. We watched
them pretty closely, and l guess maybe that had
ma much IN do with n ma anyfhinu alaa
I'VE had intended to stop at the islands Of
Borneo. but we heard Of an English bark that
had been there but q short time before and had
all hands murdered.
We gave that place the go-by and won't on
up to Hong Kong. as | before stated. We ran
into the last port leaking, and discharged cargo
for repairs, After we finished repairs. we re;
started for, our objective point, as originally
planned, That was Hikidata, Japan. We ran
into the harbor about midday. and were imme-
diately boarded by a lot OF japanese officers,
Ccslculating wildly and swinging their arms
After n while. and after a mighty bad lot of
pigeon English had been spoken; we began to
biddins us to land, and ali round we're lots OF
Japanese in boats; and as they looked anything
hnt pleasant, We took mp @GT anchor aud cruised
Tho action Of the Japane-c was entirely un-
looked for on our part as q tradlng treaty had
mcnt, md their refusal to allow IN, to land seri-
ously intrrfered with our plans and caused us q
~" 400 fN'',s - - . "'' - NH'"
1t, but ours was The first Ar3crican ship to enter
n Japanese port for trading purposes. At
Shanghai wo discharged our cargo and grt the
most we could for II, and then chartered our
vessel for sl,!00a month 10 the English Cow
eminent for cruising purposes.
Capt. Brown entered a protest against tho
actions of the japanese authorities, ahd tha
officers and crew scattered and worked their
different ways back to New London tile best
they could. \ shot while after the Hnglish
had tho Wilmington, She was caught id a ~.
plo"n in the China seas and torn uHhahly.
She was run back into purt, repaired, and hualIy
sold u pay the hill for the same.
Later the owners Ot the Wilmington re-
ceIved from the JaIan Government n sim he
tween $4,000 aud 10000 for non ul5lment
OF treaty. The yoy age to Japan wsE first
planned and mapped out by Cant. William
Brown, who was an old whaling Captain, and
had been all through the China seas. It was &
talluTr; md We sll lost a great dcal.of honey,
We didn't get tho money from the Iapa1 GOV.
eminent until three or four years ago.
I was paid. to us through Richard LGtimcr
Of Hartford, who also has "a summer hou 10 over
on the other side Of The river
Mt. FitCh Is the only living member Or that
memorable voyage left, and may he seen az
almost any. time drumming M IA, lacking
business at the Union Depot, as hale and hearty
as when he left these shores to seek his fgrtuBA