El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-05-14

means to do it, Succee ding to the
command of a private armed ship,
Talbot made but one prize, when he
found himself one morning in the midst
of a large fleet OF English men -of-war
Resistance was impossible, and as a
prisoner the captain was transferred
to the notorious Jersey prison chip,
from which he was in time removed to
the Jail in New York, ruled by the
cruel and Infamous Cunningham.
In November, 1850, in company with
SO venty other prisoners, they we're
marched to the ship Yarmouth, driven
iii to the hold, destitute of clothing and
bedding, making the passage to EnP-
land amid such suffering and misery
that beggars description. Talbot seem
ed to bear charmed life, passing un-
scathed through the horrors and death
about him, and was finally placed IN
| the rDartmoO prison, out OF which
he made a daring attempt to escape,
and was confined in q dungeon forty
days as punishment. On three Oc-
casions he incurred the came penalty
for similar attempts, meeting his dis
appointments and hardships with cha
racteristic fOrtitude and courage.
| Talbot gained his liberty throug
exchange for British officer in France
| finding himself destitute and hall
naked in a foreign land. He landed
at Cherbourg in December, 1881, after
having been u risoner for fifteen
months. At Paris Capt. Talbot YVES
assisted by Franklin and sailed for
home in brig, but fifteen days only
after leaving port she was captured by
the Jupiter, an English privateer. But
Talbot was treated with kindness and
courtesy by the captain, who trans
ferred MIN to a brig they encountered
on her way from Lisbon to New York.
He now retired to farm, where be
remained wi: b his family until1794. He
had served his country faithful
ly, both on land and water,
less of British lead, which he car
ried to his grave. He had been
especially mentioned by congress on
several occasions, and occupied a high
| olace in the estimation of Washington
and the principal offic rs of the Con
tlnenJal army. But with the dawn
of peace he was allowed to remain in
his place OF retirement without fur
Their acknowledgment from the govern
ment be had served SO we'll.
| In 1874, when congress enacted a
| law to enlarge the naval force in or
der to check the depredations of the
! Algerians, among the six experienced
officers elected to command the frigates
was Capt. Talbot.
| After hostilities With France had
commenced, one of the squadrOns in
the West Indies was placed under
his command, and he flew broad
penuant on board old Ironsides in 1869,
on the St. Domingo station. Isaac
| Hull, as first lieutenant, was captain
of the frigate, aud other officers
served under Tslbot's command who
afterward became famous on the rolls
of fame.
1t was while Old Ironsides had Tai.
bot for q commander that she captured
ner first prize. This vessel had been
the British packet Sandwich, and only
waited TO complete cargo of coffee to
make a run for France. Capt. Tslbo,
resolved to cut her out, and a force Of
seamen and marines were placed or
board an American sloop and the com.
mand given to the gallant Hull. The
Sandwich was lying with her broad
side bearing on the channel, with q
battery to protect her. But so well
were The movements of the slOOp con
Quoted that the Sandwich was carried
without the loss of q man. At the
same time Capt Cormick landed with
the marines and spiked theiguns of the
battery.
The Sandwich was stripped to he,
girtline. with all gear slowed below
but before sunset she had royal yard:
across, her guns sealed and the prize
crew mustered to the guns. Soon af-
ter she was under way, beat out of the
harbOr and joined the frigate. HUI
gained great credit for the skill with
which he had carried out the object %
the expedition, and at the time the .af
fair made quite sensation among the
various cruisers on the West India sta
ton.
Talbot was jealous of his rank an6
1.-THE dignity attached to his station il
the service. His courage, ability anC
devotion to his country were al
beyond question. A question arose
relative to the seniority of rank be
tween himself and Commodore Trux
TOD, IN which the secretary of the ma
Wy gave the preference to Truxton.
This led the old veteran to tender hi
resignation and enjoy the fairly earn
ed repose of honorable age. President
john Adams wrote to Talbot, request
lug him to remain in the service, but
the old sailor replied, "Neither my
honor nor reputation would permit me
to be commanded by Capt. Truxton
because he swas, in fact, a junior Off
cer."
Commodore Talbot, in Withdrawing
from the service, took with him his
two sons, who were following in their
| Iatc er 3 footsteps, ana, purchasing lanC
for them in Kentucky. slternated bet.
ween New York and the home establis.
he'd by his SON.
He was thirteen times wounded and
carried five bullets in his body. In his
intercourse with others, his hospitality
and social duties, he carr. ed himself
with rare dignity and grace. and was
one of the finest specimens of self
made American officer the country
produced. He died in the City of New
York on June 30, 1913, and was buried
under Trinity Church.
His name and deeds of valor desc rye
to be enrolled among the proudest of
patriot heroes of the country.