The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-25

mound with a slate headsrone. The stone
bears the once conventional urn and VIII
low and on IL are carved these words.
In Memory OF
Com. Samuel Tucker.
Eno Died March 10. ixS
A Patriot OF the Revolution.
There Is nothing about the grave or Its
surroundings except the abbrevlation OF
q naval title, to shaw that the occupant
OF the mound was distinguished above the
res, who sleep near him. Yet beneath
this green sod lie the bones OF one VINO
was n hero In strength OF mind and body.
q man OF iion-like bravery. one of those
grand patriots on whom Washington
leaned al on Knox. Putnam and Greene.
one who ranked with Jones' Decatur ana
Hall. and with them humbied the pride
OF England and made our flag power 10
he respected on the seas. Commodore
fuckers name Is TO be found In hardly a
history Of our country. With few exeep-
tions the cyclopedias find him unworthy
OF "A place In the Iisfs Of soldiers and sail
ors. Yet. probably no officer OF the Reyo-
luton was more uniformly successful
than he. With possibly one exception he
took more prizes than Any other man. and
In fertility Of invention. in daring. in 10y
atty. In timeInsss of efforts he had no
peer. while surely no other of the heroes
OF '7s was SO brutality treated by an un-
grateful country and no other has been so
cooiiy reiegated 10 oblivion as this noble
soul.
samuel Tucker was born In Marblehead.
Mass. November I, l74T. He was the third
caild of Andrew and Mary Tucker. who
had eight children. Mrs. fuckers maiden
name was Mary Beicher. an educated
English lady of great beauty and winning
manners. qualities which were inherited
By her son. Andrew Tucker was skilful
and prosperous sea captain. who lived in
an elegantly furnished mansion IN Marble
head.
OF the years OF Samuers childhood. lit-
tie Is known. But we do know that his
education was not neglected, for his
father wished him to take a college course,
and for that purpose placed him In pre-
Daratory school His penmanship and the
style OF his letters show that ne profted
by his instruction. Moreover. when the
neglect Of an ungratefui country obliged
him to labor IN his old age, he was skill
ful teacher OF navigation.
Tucker was born In an atmosphere OF
sea-going excitement. HIS earliest men,
cries and constant associations were OF
the sea. The ocean. fiecked with sails,
was ever before his eyes. The shouts and
songs OF sailors. .heir tales OF peril and
strange adventure were constantly In his
ears. II is not strange that the thought
OF life bounded by college campus be-
came repugnant 10 him. At the age OF
II he threw on the restraints of home and
parents. ran away from home. and en-
harked on the Royal George. an English
sloop-of-war. bound to Louisburg. to in
tercept a French transport. His father
either realized the boys bent for a SAIL
or's life. or thought. perhaps. that a little
experience would cure him, as Is the case
with most runaway boys He accordingly
apprenticed him to the commander of the
Royal George. and in 1759. the year that
Wolfe died In glory at Quebec, young
Tucker began as a child a life of toll and
excitement, and commenced a matchiess
career OF naval exploits.
Algerine Corsairs.
At that time vigorous discipline pre-
vailed on English warships. onicers were
ust ally tyTants both by nature and educa-
tion. II was never dreamed tina, order
could he preserved in any other way than
Nv fear or the eat and OF death An Eng
tsh sailors life was one of horror In
spite OF this IL IL not known that Tucker
WAS ever maltreated and we are certain
that he was not cured of his love for tho
sea. for at the age Of IL he shipped as Sec
cnd mate on a vessel from Salem and
here he performed the first OF a long series
or marvellous exploits. When near Lisbon
the ship was chased by two Aigerine cor
safrs.
The captain became frightened and TO
relieve his terror speedily got drunk, leav-
ing the ship in comma nd Of the mate
Fear soon overcame him also and our
hero took the wheel. This boy of II main
aged 10 iske and hold position between
the two pirates that neither could firo
without endangering the other At dark
he allowed no light to be seen and al
though 81 times within pistol shot OF the
enemy ne finally escaped and brought tho
chin into Lisbon.
The captain, ashamed OF HIS conternpti-
Bile conduct and hoping TO conceal H.,
placed Tucker In an English frigate lying
IN the harhor- The story leaked out ana
Tucker was appointed "A midshlpman.
On attaining ais majority he married
Mary Catcheil OF Marblehead.
just before the breaking out of the gevo-
luton he was In command OF the brig
Young Phoenix When entering the har-
Dor OF Eilboa ny the carelessnsss OF the
pilot. the vessel WAS driven onto A reef
He allowed the crew TO leave. but the sec-
ond mate and a hoy refused 20 leave their
commander In danger. The pilot wous.
nave liked 10 leave also. but was ~sarnIv
ordered below. There he began to p~ay
Justify. Capt. Tucker. too busy 20 pray
himself, reared 70 the pilot. pray for me.
also
As e was fooitide. he let 80 an anchor
and when the vessel scated ne cut the ca
Die and the brig moved of in safety
praised
his sesnanshIp. saying tha, no vessel Aal
SAFELY rasse1 over that reef FOR years
Al the time hostslsfieS began hstVes,
the colonies and Great Britain ana ira
story Of Bunker Inn had reached London.
Tucker WAS IN that city. One dsy ne saw
some boxes OF arms and ammunition
marked 'skcstoa." lie exclaimed -
would walk barefoot 100 miles n .haf
would take these boxes 10 Cambridge -
When he returned home In tha fail ha
sax and recognized the very same tas,xes
ia Washlnstaa's camp. They had BEEN
captured by a nsighbor ~ hls, Capt. John
Manly. In the schooner Lee.
The Petwiors Reply
While Ia lonasa ~ Was offered rs
choice Of commission in ne army a.
navy and was offered a fat Office If Ne
woald ;oia tsss forces - his most gracious
majesty.
D. his most gracious Fsa testv.~ sad
se. csreissSiv. DO yoa cNfnk would
ckAt against my native lsndr''
Tass reckless statement WAS made hs-
fore ala entsstsng officer. wAa az once sesf,
Kim A friend cs Tncker's who happe-e,i
20 hear the conxsTSatton advised as.-, u
set cut - TIC Way Immediately. he sook
the advice an1 lefs Loaten. lie aax sar-
sued ~ ire kfsgs ofsscsrs nat ss-a fssa
sFrcss b. the help az = brother an inn
KEEPER. sea BID A8n in a closet and nat
:A0 officers or tAe track. he shipped for
America On TIRE FIRST sxRsss he vessel
~aica happened - Ae,oag 20 Rae-srs Nor
rs sAS ~sN-snoaa wealfAy ana patriotic
merchant * pasia 80 nssa.
IN ss. voyage terrific storm arose ara
al hands Sesssasre4 OF safety. Waen he
~Nir seemed likely - founder. cant
Tucker tesk ne Sssee2 sa3 rs nss skin Ans
courage saved fas Sssg sri er@w TIE
saN&Es - xhsS sAsa and ser valuable car
80 secured Ter atza the friendship % R0e-