The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-04
CAPTURE OF A FRENCH SHIP.
Exciting Naval Incident Of Ninety
eight Years Ago.

Chicago Inter-Ocean: That night
there was a busy hum along the streets
of Port Platte. the village at the head
of a small harbor on the south side of
San Domingo. The sun was slowly de-
scending behind the blue peaks of the
island, and all knew that deep dark
ness might almost instantly succeed
the brief twilight of the tropics. But
the rapid approach of night was for
gotten in the general alarm, for an
American frigate, with all her canvas
spread, was bearing down upon the
French haven. Suddenly the dreaded
vessel furled her courses and hove to
as if to recOnnoiter. After scanning
narrowly the little anchorage, however,
she put about and set her courses
again, and her ghostly form was soon
swallowed by the gathering darkness.
1t was in 1900. Some four years be-
fore the French government, incensed
with the United States for making the
Jay treaty with Great Britain, and for
electing John Adams to the presidency,
recalled it's minister and began to cap
ture our merchantmen. President
Adams, however, hoped for peaceful
solution of the question at issue, and
sent commissioners to Paris. Emissa-
ries of Prince Talleyrand, signing the
initials tx. Y. H." wrote to the Ameri-
can ENJOYS, OIIeTlHS 10 OuI
commerce if the United States would
bride several French officials literally.
The ENJOYS sent the correspondence to
the president, who laid it before con-
gress. The nation was reused. Mil
lions for defense; not one cent for trib-
utei" was the cry, and several very
fine warships were built as rapidly as
workmen could put them together. In
February, 1799 Commodore Thomas
Truxtun, in the 38-gun Trigate Constel-
lation captured the French 3S-gun
L'Insurgente in the Caribbean sea, and
a year later, just before our story
opens, pursued, attacked and van
quished the French La Vengeance of
"a guns.
''Truxtuni Truxtunl La Constella-
tion!" passed from lip to lip with in
stanctiVe CONSERVATION that afternoon
at Port Platte. Night came on, the
moon did not appear, and scudding
clouds obscured the stars. The reveille
was beaten at the fort and the people
retired to dream of their fortunate es-
cape from a visit by the daring cruis-
erS of the American squadron Could
they have pierced the darkness sea-
ward. their self-complacency would
have received a rude shock. The frig-
ate, when she lost sight of the island.
came about, and under full sail stood
roar of a cannon came booming over
the water and one after another all
but the lights of the garrison disap-
peared.
Now is your time" said Commodore
Talbot to his lieutenant; have the sec
ond cutter manned, sir. and come to
me for further orders" Then, looking
at the compass and observing the log
and the surroundings, he went below.
- Ja6 fa1
utes later in response to knock at
the cabin door. Are you ready so
soon?" he inquired, as Lieutenant Hull
stodd before him again.
'All ready, SIR
Then, sir" said the commodore.
you will enter the harbor of Port
Platte without being discovered, ascer-
tain whether the craft we saw. lying
under the guns of the fort is the Sand
witch and report to me"
''How shall / ascertain that fact
without boarding her?''
You will know her to be the Sand
wich by the black stripes around her
white masts and by the shortness of
her bowsprit. Make haste, sir; 1 have
other work for you"
Hull withdrew, wrapped himself in
his heavy boat cloak, gave the neces-
sary orders to the officer of the deck,
and took his place at the stern sheets
of the second cutter. sShove Off Let
fall Pull cheerily, my boys" were
the orders he gave in quick success
sion in low voice; then for tive hours
nothing was heard of him.
Boat ahoyi" challenged the senti-
mel at the gangway of the frigate, as
the low dash of oars fell upon his ear.
AYE, ayel" came from the boat; and
soon Lieutenant Hull stood on deck
1T is the Sandwich he added, salut-
ing the waiting commodore.
III have heri" exclaimed Commo-