New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-11

VICE Between the Years l1ss,lSio. S4 S IT
from Records Chiefly Ofclal. BY Arthur H.
Norway. PIP. VII. si2 Macmillan IL Co.
This book treats Of subject which Is formally
not within the lines Of Engeh naval history 6ut
II is hard to how future naval historians wi''
be able to ignore Il. II II does not belong 10 the
navy 1. belongs at least TO the story OF brius"
seamanship Hitherto. the author complains this
important episode In history has been neglected.
and though it Is barely beyond the memory OF men
still living yet the best part OF II, the U"oi''o VI
personal experience and individual gallai"!' mas
almost faded away for lack oil somepou! ~ "e
scribe IT, A few stories survive in the ancient Town
which was the home OF the postoffce packets lew
names are remembered. but there is little precise
information outside Of the and formal ohcia'
records. o,,or
One afternoon Mr.. Norway found an ageo se~'o'
e,tting among the graves in little churc"!aiu
The old man pointed out the tcmbs OF many pa0N'.
officers and told many anecdotes that ne hau ne'
In his childhood rising almost to youthful eh'husi
asm as he recalled the affair of the Antelope AM
well he might for the fight when the Antelope W.,
was of that romantic sort not likely 10 DC S' e.
an the sea The vessel though an old one peohseu
10 the new period which set In in l793 BEFORE '"'
Elm. the nackets had been of various sizes ana isS
1ust as the growing business OF the poslon'oe re
ouired. Under the prevalent system Oh p i'Nas
and the unending at sea. the mails pai''oua'''
those which passed between England All" ''
West Indies were never safe. The best insurance
Cor tbem So the merchants said was good arIna-
,nent on the ships that carried them But the post
Office had peaceful traditions. 1t had no'r'ns ~ w
with war and 1t was slow TO yicid 10 'nS ue"
for cannon and small arms. Even Wheh inc De
partment was convinced. there renamed cer'"''
obstinate Quakers. the proprietors OF line OF paN
ets Rather than allow any preparations Tor hsh'-
ing they withdrew from the service let '"eie
were times when even Friend TOOK some ii.eio'.
In a battle One day packet was overhauieu anu
cannonaded by a French privateer The surgeon
To himself
helow He watched the fgh. placidy till the frehch
attempted to board the plck.' TAen ne turner HIS
attention to a point which was unguarueu' INC
moment foe appeared there he grasped Eiih aoui"
the body and dropped him into the sea AS ''9
story figures in other naval histories II Is 10 pe
honed that Mr. Norway has traced IL TO its origin.
II was now understood that the packets were 10
run II they could; 10 fight If they must ana aooVe
all to sink the mails If these were IN uaHseI u
capture The new vessels to be exactly alike
Of 179 ions burden with twenty-eight men anu poEs
four r-pounders two six-pounders ana the s
sary supply of small arms. AS the p"Vhe~ oi'V'
carried large amounts of money, the armament ""'
only an additional temptation TO the pfiVaee's'ei'
especially to those speedy and destructive craft ~
ted out In American ports at the time OF the secou
war with Britain. But the regulation stopped
practice which had become common among '"e oi'
mail carriers. Of neglecting their proper business
10 do little privateering on their own account
There was an interval just at the outbreak OF 'he
,hngs all their own way far the English POST
office was concerned. Then, with the new shlpS
there came a lull and for almost a year there WAS
no complaint But this could not last ana the
ANTELOPE was the frs; &c get into trouDe' ohe hdu
made her outward journey in safety. ana was re-
.urr,rg when she was caught up In a calm by an
armed schooner the ATLANTA crowded with men.
There was first a little cannon play then elappe
and attempts the part OF the Frencnnah 10 ooaiu
at the quarterback ard in the bow at the Same mo
hOxr rhaeer
and CRANE" made things unpleasant TO the enemy
forward while the party on the quarter, 10 use INC
language Of the man who fought the patue through
was deceived by boarding MEETINGS ana manu-
spikes" But the commander OF the packet was
killed and the care OF the ship devolved on the poat
swain Pasco who could not write his name, put
could deceive the Frenchmen with handsplKes an
day long A curious incident OF the patue was tne
act OF a herculean sailor in lifting and replacing on
its carriage dlsmounted gun. The upshot OF the
xvhole affair was the surrender OF the Ataiah'd'
with only sixteen Of her sxty-hve men uhhur''
Money was voted In Jamaica and in England for the
crew of the packet, and Pasco was hohoreo Will
two boatswain's calls made OF gold -,
Such with variations. was the story Una. .he ou
sexton told among the tombs AS chio ne nau
rnown Pasco's children. He had seen the goideh
call presented to the boatswain by the postmaster
General and now his only regret was tnat hooous
seemed 10 remember the brave days OF Ola eHcep'
himself Yet he had lived all his lie IN faiihoun
now forgotten packet service. The place on ac-
count n, its fine harbor selected In 1888 the
ysar n, the Revolution the point OF emoarKauoh
and departure for the newly estabiished spanish man
heats These mall boats were the passenger Vesseis
~ the dayThus Falmouth became town OF
inns and shipyards and ropewaks WIN mel @
and factors trading across the sea, ana hoI niue
.rrugo,ing in such commodities as wines ana faces
ava tobacco and brandy. II had the first hearing OF
nearly all news from abroad ii got USED 10 the VSl's
of famous travellers. and prded itself on us ince
SAINT hustle and activity. When the packet men re-
belled because their smuggling privileges were re-
striced the town also displayed its resentment TOW"
ard tho Postmaster-Ceneral The going and coming
~ each racket was an occasion OF festivity. Many
a hattie like that of the Antelope, though not All 30
fortunate for the Englshmen. was reported many d
,a.se battered and ricdled with shot crept 10 her
anchorage Sometimes a prize was brought in ike
the ATLANTA Sometimes famous PACKET was
500 NJ for the last time hands Of the enemy
Altogether for a century and half. Falmouth ana
the Posoffice Packet Service were among the most
noteworthy features Of English lire.
II the packet men sometimes were embroiled with
~. postof1ce. they also held their own with the
pova, NAVY The experience OF the packet Duke OF
Marlborough is almost unique in history THIS ves-
go, was commanded by Captain John Bull a me
4rnDersonat!on Of his great namesake ana was JuS'
~ Cane FYnisterre on her way TO LISBON on n
March afternoon when she encountered strange
n-,1 As the two vessels could not make eacn DINER
out they fell 70 fighting and at the end OF an hou'
"a a ouarter the Marlborough mere wreck.
While the strange brig had hauled OF FOR repairs
T-here were many casualties One Of the passengers
on the packet was killed, and the condition OF the
rest among whom were several ladies', must nave
n..r FAR from enviable And after all the hghtihg'
a. vas discovered that the strange vesse! WAS inc
hr,~ Primrose of the Royal Navy. The two vesseis
rad misunderstood each others signals MI Nor
nov has a grievance against the English naval his
torians who alude to this case. because they try
20 throw blame Captain Bull. and ne enters fuiiy
49,. tho details Of the trial that followed the battle
49, a.. AFFAIR seems to have been looked on at the