The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-24
HEYDAY OF PRIVATEERING
now AMERICANS NOV GLORY ON
THE SEAS ~ RdRBr TIMES.

Reckless Shippers and sailormsn and the
Gentlemen Sailors Who shared In tho
Prizes Dared Great Odds and Won by
Bold Assault and luminous Strategy.
A generation ago tales OF the adventures OF
the early American privateersman and his
swift sailing vessels were plentiful along the
Atlantic coast. They seemed TO belong TO the
borderand OF romance. even when they were
history To-day few among the people OF the
country would he able to tell who the priva-
teersmen were. where they came from, or what
services they rendered TO the country.
In "A History OF American Privateers."
which has been issued by ID. APP
ploton & Co. Edgar p, Maclay has
brought together an array OF facts TO show not
only that the American privateer was oil that
no has been pictured. as brave and dashing
fighter and clever seaman. but that he was
most important factor In securing inde-
pendence for the United States. and In pre-
serving their freedom and wringing new con-
cessons from monarchy in the war OF 1872.
He lnds In the privateersmon OF those early
days the spirit which makes the navy what IL
is, and brings out the point that In the ranks
Of the privateersmen were many men who
atterward won fame for themselves and their
country as officers OF the regular navy.
There seems to be much confusion In the
minds OF some people as to what q privateer
is" Mr.. Mac,ay writes with many. Govern
ment cruisers. priyateers and even pirates.
have been classcd under one head, and there
was q time when there was little to distinguish
the privateer from the rover Of the sea In
some instances. notably that OF Cart. Kidd.
officers Of the Royal Navy turned 20 piracy.
Privatcrring had come into vogue as recog.
nized n9Tsres AZ , h i0 OF
profits was so aluring tnat there were drawn
into the service not only great numbers OF me
also men OF wCll-known families who formed a
class by themselves known as gentlemen
An .earorts sending out. privateers wero
thronGed with those tars nf exalted degree
and in many cases OF long pedigree Mr. Ma
seanlen. but as adventurers to whom the
chances Of making prize money were snfhciont
induccment TO undergo the haTd>hips and
pcrils Of tie sea The common seaman were
u DO the real work, while the privileged tars
were 70 be on hand when hghtins WAS 10 Do
With crews made IN in this way. with cap;
sturdest elements of the colonial gopulaton.
aud letters OF maruue which gave them all au-
thori,y TO pTey upon the TISn Soa tnSt ,S U
! privateersmcn became u scourge 10 the enemy,
! or that the foundations were laid IN ms rongh
! Ne for the fame or fortune OF many families
! who have since played an important part in
national lici Tie question Is suggested by
'"Mnny Of our most distinguished naval
ONO r. have pointed with pride 10 their proba-
.ouaFy career as privatesEs The pd mere
FSTTy. Murray, RoaseTs; Cassinh Little I'll.
! closely related were the TWO arms OF our mari
In the struggle for American Independence.
he says. more than sixty American craft
| armed by private enterprise. were commanded
By men who either had been or soon became
! colonies would have been eIl.nigh deienceless
on tho sea during the Revolutionary War with
I "c sH' sets sS gu, show shs 'StsS
| the Continental vessels were put 81 IN
TS.s S and Sas 'sS
Mental vessels Ind iwindled, 10 !, with las
guns. but ths priyateers had increased 70 S-S'
TIE GovsEn1Snt war vessels, built; pqar-
s sladHr the "h iOIa on lake thsmpain
"a vessels o! all descriptions, carrying a
Of t2 guns and t iMys rS. ,Sefs
were 100. carrying more than l.3OO guns and
swivels These vessels Gaptured or deS,r9yed
SIG is sT he rSGanr navy Of he tinted STATES
pgmeerSd 9Fy e or ySsSsis sns5'as tn
enc Enemy STH craft. In the same period W. hSd 81
nryateers aGG1eEGting ss guns Which me ab I9GS
into into col CHARACTERIZATION. we find that about
eight npndrsh ySssSss wgir" captured
valued n ~ at s33sesU.0 90. While the prisoners
could not have cen short Of 10000; and IN the
z SsF w SSag ss III ssere
no fewer than 10000 prisoners
II Is not the authors rurposC TO defend nrli
Watering. The Declaration OF Paris In 1906
scaled the fate OF that style OF warfare so iaI
NJ civilized GoqntTies are coaGeTnedi ioi
ratify the declaration, yet tho course. pur.
sued by both nations in the recent wal
and the propositions made by our, dele,
| nt The Hnpun this showed
plainly enough that they have renouncei old
time priyateerlng. Our commerce destroyer'
g ana TSY S ," sr t % ong the Work mnS
more effectively, while they are also equaI L
the higher requirements OF the DAY as h.htlnl
Americans had ALREADY had taste ,e q ! pr nd
o %heS FrSnee and lo Enand were
war the Coonists had sent out numoer o
vessels to prey on French commerce, and thu
profits from some Of these ventures were on
ticng. When war with tho mother country
began they were well aware ot tho rlch prize,
lad u its Quota Quota Of Vessels. aTmins or rpo!
tho high seas The audacity with whlcl
some Of these expedltloas were started va va
] AT typical case was that Of Cant, T, Cleave
land OF the brig Despatch. who sailed from
his chnnces Of capturIhE some Kind Of al
armament on his passage across the Atlantic
or 9urenasing guns IN lance; SSp. Neave Ia
tured vessel. and transferring the gun
hs own ship he eS omit R,s cruise
him. but he tells enough stories Of the remark
able qualities and acts OF other American priya
teersnen to make It apparent that II III
Capt. cleaveIand or almost any other OF tn
| Commanders OF the day were capable o
winning out. One of these stories is @
q captain who, for lack OF guns. nled HE port
with blackened pieces OF spars mounted o
chairman into surrender. Another 10 OF Cap
Jonathan Haraden, one OF the hardy mariner
OF salem, Mass. who scared British privatee
OF more than his own strength into surrende
without firing a shot,
Capt Haradsn's vessel q that time wS n:,, II