Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-03-23
BY CHI UNCY O. TIOTCHKISS
lcopyrieht 1897. ty Appleton CO. Al rights reseredJ

myself, Donald Thorndyk6, master, 'Dound
from Norfolk to New London with cargo
Of scrap lead TO be turned into bullets. and
five hundred pounds in good British gold
secretly built into the bulkhead OF the cab
III This latter, with the schooner, being
the sole property possessed were further
protected 10y a double set OF clearance pa
pers the false especially forged by my own
hands to deceive such OF the ships of his
gracious majesty George III. as by chance
might be encountered betwixt the two
ports.
And there was no small chance Of such
an encounter, as one may Well know by
glanCiug nj the history Of the united col
cnies IN the year of grace Tvs
| bad been held long IN Norfolk for the
lack Of a mate with a knowledge of naviga-
ton. being myself by no means blue
water sailor, only lodging about the coast
in wears past on the laudable mission OF
lestng the kings customs practice which
had been winked at by the authorities up
to the time OF the breaking ont OF hostilites.
And this profession injured neither credit
nor character, for such were the unjust
commercial laws with which parliament
had compassed us that the term OF SNUG
gler" bore no opprobrium IN those days.
More was it a title of virtue IN the mind
al each good coloni-t, and 20 this trade was
| bred by my father, who stood to be as
stauch and God-fearing man and one
above a mean act rs ever listened to a
l.arson or issued orders from quarter
deck, Until two years agone he had been
my compass, rudder mainstay and entire
trust but the coast fever OF the tropics
had cut him down. and no more would l
meet his brig fresh from Jamaica some
where oti shore, and I'LL up with contraband
goods 10 be distributed a. my Judgment
saw fit. No more would he greet my
mother and sister IA the long low kitchen
hard by he heights OF Gay Head and talk
at our getting TO be forehanded. No more
would | hear HIM, in the captain 5 room
OF the Anchor Watch tavern. damn his
glorious majesty for being pig headed
Dutchmap with a ring IN ms nose. or de-
liver a tirade IN good set terms against Butte,
North. German, and the rest. who were
leading him to the loss OF his American
colonies That was all in the past. Now
was ripe for my voyage and home
But il was by no means an easy matter
To COME by navigator of any sort at that
time The war had absorbed such talent
long since. and the traders were at a dis
count OWING To the risk with no chance Tor
/ prize money. So II VAS with great satstae-
I ton that at last | met with one. John
Loansburv a man | had slightly known in
Nestehester before the war Was well on
He being set To get east, was willing 70 ac,
as mate ON my own terms. and, though
knew INN ta be Of shady character, and with
morals to he spoken about behind ones
hand. | was glad enough to get ham, Is
peclaiN as lac seemed So loud against tht
King. and when he knew what was under
ms matches. 50 well pleased Is hc able Il
Ijlot load of metal on its first trap toward
the yitals q has majestys hrehnEs.
And thus It was that on the 18th ST June
IT'S. we were. as | sa,d, a httle northwarl
Of the Delaware oapcs with small wlnt
due east and On the starboard bow. and tn
land lew. biue cloud over Jhe schooner
tatfvalI
Ii WAS smothcrnE hot in the cabin. wher,
had lat Just finished listing up Jbe log
The clock had barely soue three whel
Lounshur, hai!ed me from tho deck in
fashion nor 10 be borne. ecug neither re
speetiu, nor seamauAke. ana IL var.anc
with his usual custom.
below there, lhorndybe, Lay a
here,
N,ov. I made no profession 81 being "a
to- a-5n-- specially .n ,be iace Of lalus