The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-30
A BUNCH OF PENCILS.
The History Connected with Them.
(Salem, Mass. Gazette

(Salem, Mass, Gazette.)
Hon. Charles W. Palfray has presented
to the Essex Institute bunch of lead
pencils, in the original package, one
dozen in number, that We're made over
three-quarters of a century ago, and that,
too, by resident of Salem, who long
since passed from scenes of earth-Mr.
Robert Cowan.
He was native of Scotland, and he
died in Salem August "a, 1916. at the ad :
vanced age of So years. During the Revo-
lutionary war he was brought in here in
prize, and Joined his brother who had
previously immigrated to Virginia
When Capt. Joseph Peabody was in the
Chesapeake in command of a privateer,
Mr.. Cowan joined him, and made several
cruises.
He also served with that famous
privateersman, Capt. Jonathan Haraden,
and was with that distinguished officer,
in the spring of 1880, in the General
Pickering, a vessel of about 100 tons,
with l6 six-pounders and crew of 10 men
and boys, when he captured privateer
of % nine FOUNDERS and 60 men. Captain
Haraden put on board prize crew under
Capt. Jonathan Carnes, reducing his own
crew to less than 40, and being still fur
ther weakened and embarrassed by
having the care of nearly twice that num-
Der of prisoners. While in this condition
an English ship of AZ guns and 40 men
recaptured the prize. Notwi outstanding
the disparity of force, Capt. Haraden,
gave battle. compelled her to seek safety
in flight after desperate contest, deliher-
ately retooR the prize. and carried her
safely into q Spanish port. The battle
occurred about the dawn of day near the
coast OF spain. An immense concourse
of spectators, amounting. as was supposed
to nearly 100000, assembled along the
shore, in boats and on the hills, during
the action, and before Captain Haraden
with his prize had been at anchor / alf an
hour one could walk mile from his
ship by stepping from one boat to anoth-
err So great was the enthusiasm of ad-
miration with which the battle had been
witnessed that when he landed, he was
surrounded by this vast throng of stran-
gers and foreigners, and carried by them
in triumph to populous city in the
neig hborhood, where he was welcomed
with public and unbounded honors. Mr..
Cowan delighted to tell of this sea fight,
and declared that the Gen. Pickering, in
comparison with her antagonist looked
Like long boat by the side of q ship"
Another OF the crew said that Capt. Hara-
zen fought with an energy and de
terminate that seemed superhuman" .
and that, although in the most exposed
positions, "where the shot few around
him in thousands, he was all the while
as calm and steady as amidst % shower OF
snow flakes" During the war he cap
tured more than thousand guns from
Hon. Charles W. Upham, should the
people of this place assemble to com
memorate the war of Independence, with
out bearing in honored and affectionate
remembrance the name Of this dauntless
hero and virtuous citizen.
After peace had been declared, Mi.
Cowan gave up the adventurous life Of q
sailor and settled in Salem. He became
distinguished for his shrewdness, indus
try and ingenuity He either invented
or introduced the art of vanishing car
riaQes and furniture, and for 90 years be-
fore he died, articles of furniture were
sent to him from Boston to be vanished.
In 1860 vanishing s1deboard was 81 !,
and Mr.. Cowan is said to have received
$3.50 for varnishing single carriage.
There was no limit to Mr.. Cowan's in
genHity. He made organs, planes and
drawing pencils, the latter being highly
prizet By jewellers for the purpose OF
marking on dials. 1t is bunch of these
that Mr. Palfray has given TO the Insti-
| tute. his father having received them
directly from Mr. Cowan himself. Sew
eral of Mr.. Cowan's descendants are still
living in Salem and vicinity, and the late
register of deeds, Charles S. Osgood, was
one of his great grandsons.