The Florence daily tribune. (Florence, Colo.) 1898-1903, 1899-02-15
ILLEGAL PRIZES.

ont between Sydney heads before stiff
westerly breeze bound TO the island of
Masafuera, in the South Pacific To
procure sealslins Although 81 small
the vessel carried a crew of about five
and twenty men and. being letter Of
marque, was armed in the usual man.
ner of the Australian whalers and south
sea traders of those days-half dozen
0 Founders and plenty of muskets and
cutlasses The Harrington had for some
time been employed by her owners
Chace 81 Co OF Madras-in trading be.
tween Madras the South American
ports and Sydney. On the last occasion
of his leaving Madras Campbell had
taken care To provide himself with a
letter of marque from the presidency of
Fort st George against France and
Holland.
The result of the sealing expedition
was fairly successful, but Campbell
himself was not satisfied At least he
found he was not satisfied when he one
day fell in with an American whale
ship, the captain of which told him that
war had been declared between Eng
land and Spain. How the American
3
did not inquire He quickly returned
ON board the Harrington, held brief
consultation with his mate and altered
the ships course from west by north
for Sydney to due east for the South
American coast.
Il don't want to waste much time,
he said, but there is no harm in our
running along the coast for IA week or
two. We are pretty sure to pick up
something.
The mate coucurred. so did the crew
and week later Campbell did pick mp
something wit, two Spanish prizes
a merchantmen and Il man-of-war
From the Sydney Gazette we learn that
the merchantmen was named St
Francisco and st. Paulo. She was being
conveyed by the cruiser which was
named the Estremina. commanded by
Don Antonio Jose del Campo. ensign in
the Spanish navy. out of the ports of
Coquimbo and Caldera on the coast of
Peru
In spite of his long name and title
and the traditional bravery of his race
the don does not shine to advantage in
this affair, for as soon AS the piuclsy lit
tie Harrington bore down upon him
and his convoy he put his helm down
! and steered for the shore. then but IA
few miles distant. Campbell, burning
to bring him to. crowded ON all sail in
pursuit, but was unable to prevent
both the Estremina-a brig of four
guns-and the convoy from running
ashore, Then, setting fire to both YES
loo A nj.
ran away inland with great unanimity
But the Harrington was so close that
Campbell, lowering his boats, soon
boarded both ships. and his men extin-
guished the flames before any material
damage was done, and in few hours
he had succeeded in floating both YES
sells again. After putting prize crews
ON board. the Industrious Campbell went
on shore to see if there was ANYTHING
else worth picking up, and discov-
cred quantity of copper bars-a very
valuable commodity. These he secured
without firing shot. and then he and
his merry men said goodby to the Span
iards and with the two prizes in com
pany set sail for sydney. highly pleased
at tine result of their adventure
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