The San Francisco call., 1898-06-04
PRIZE MONEY TO SEAMEN.

It is a debatable question whether prize money to officers and crew of national vessels should cease to be paid and that our soldiers at sea should be placed on the same footing as land soldiers who fight either for patriotism, for the lust of fighting or for s13 a month and ra- tions.
 William H. Hunt, Secretary of the Navy, recommended in a letter to Con- gress in 1882, that prize money in the navy be abolished "as a relic of the loose and barbarous customs of the old buc- cancers" He suggested that the entire proceeds of all captures should go to the navy pension fund, instead of the half as heretofore. The House Committee on Naval Affairs recommended the passage or bill to the above effect, but it failed to pass, and Jack at sea has still the incentive of prospective prize money to enter the naty "
 In a war like the present one. prizes will not be very plentiful, as Spain's merchant marine, small as 1t is as a whole has py this time practically disappea red from the seas in which our ships-of-war are to pc lound, there are no more galleons mak- ing the passage from Manila to AcanIIlco nor silver fleets and treasure shins from Peru, Mexico and Havana to be inter- cepted before reaching ports in Spain, and has passed into history with the butca- neers. Instead of spice-laden sailing ships there are now only foul smelling bbarlie bar z steamers and colliers, while lum- per QrogherS and iron ore carriers have supplanted galleonS bearing ingots of gold and silver and priceless pearls.
 Although the stories Of rich captures in the good old days, before steam and tele- graph were invented or utilized. have in many instances been greatly exaggerated. there are authentic cases of fabulously rdch Idc prizes as based on the value of money 100 years ago.
 In the last days of October, 17ss. four bsirdtlsh sia frigates, the. Ethalion, Naiad, the Bay of Biscay, discovered and chased two Spanish frigates, one of which. the Ifhetis' fd was captured by the Ethalion, and (Spanish dollars) and quantity of cocoa on board; The other, named the Santa Brlglda, had on board l 400, 900 pieces-of- eight and cargo valued at like amount ana was captured the following day by the other three frigates, the total loss to the British being one killed and ten wounded, and the Spanish three killed and seventeen wounded. A Spanish squadron came out of Vigo Bay while the Santa Brlg1da was being captured, but retreated before the inferior force.
 TWO days later the frigates arrived at Plymouth with their prizes, and an i'm promptu procession was formed to con vey the treasure taken in the two Span ish ships to the vaults of the citadel It took sixty-three artillery wagons to trans port the treasure. As the procession passed through the market-place, during d temporary nalt, a gentleman pushed forward to see how the Spanish dollars were packed. The sailor in charge carry Ing the British ensign over the Spanish asked: 'lf his honor wished to smell at the treasure,' to which the reply was that: He would much rather taste it." The sailor immediately putting his fingers in his mouth pulled out a small Spanish gold coin and quid, and putting both in the gentleman's hand said: Tn my coun- try we find tasting better than smelling, and feeling is the naked truth, so your honor Is welcome"
 In the latter part of November the treasure was taken to London escorted by Seamen and Surrey Dragons. It was met by band of music, battalions of the guards and grenadiers and passed along Piccadilly, St. James street, Pail Mall, Strand, Fleet street and Cheapside to the Bank. The Lord Mayor and other high diSnitaries reviewed the procession and treated the sailors.
 The result of these captures netted. to the British Government a fine new frigate as the Thetis was on her first voyage when captured, and the prize money was distributed as follows:
 Captains, each. .S203 654 50
 LieutenantS, each. ............ 25, ,456 S1
 Warrant officers, each....... 12,342 69
 MidShipmen, each. h............. 3,95S 7516
 Seamen and marines, each. 992 19la
 An occasional capture like those related brought more sailors into the navy than all the press gangs combined and Jack of to-day who has heard or read of old time wars hopes for similar luck.