Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-02-07
ILLEGAL PRIZES.

One morning in May, 1904, small
brig named the Harrington, command
ed by Mr.. William Campbell, sailed
out between Sydney heads before stiff
westerly breeze bound to the island of
Masafuera, in the South Pacific, to
procure sealskins. Although so 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
8 Founders and plenty of muslets and
cutlasses. The Harrington had for some
time been employed by her owners
Chace & 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
captain had learned the news Campbell
did not inquire. He quickly returned
on board the Harrington, held a brief
consultation with his mate, and altered
the ships course from west by north
for Sydney to due east for the South
American coast
''I don't want to waste much time, :"
he said, ''but there is no harm in our
running along the coast for week or
two. We are pretty sure to pick up
something. .
The mate concurred, SO did the crew,
and week later Campbell did pick up
something-to wit, two Spanish prizes,
merchantmen and a mGn-of-war.
From the Sydney Gazette we learn that
the merchantman 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 plucky lit
tie Harrington bore down upon him
and his convoy he put his helm down
and steered for the shore, then but a
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
sells, Don Antonio and his gallant men
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 a 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 the result of their adventure.
In due course the Harrington sailed
into Port Jackson, but the level headed
Scotch captain came in alone-the prizes
were not visible The following day he
was requested by Governor King to
produce his log, and appeared greatly
shocked when the irate governor told
him that he had committed breach of
neutrality. War with Spain was not
declared until Dec. 10, 1904, and it was
not till January, 1905, that the British
government granted letter of marque
to any ship, and yet here was this dar-
ing merchant skipper committing an
act of war on his own account in Oc-
toberl
Now, singular to relate, Campbell
had only been doing on very minor
scale the same thing as had been done
by the orders of the British cabinet on
very large scale in the same fashion
in another part of the world, though,
of course, neither he nor the angry gov
ernor knew it The incident is a nota-
BILE one in naval story: Admiral Corn,
wallis (the government having at last
awakened to the yelled hostility oi
Spain, and the energetic Pitt having
succeeded the peaceful Addington) wal
directed to dispatch some frigates tc
intercept and detain until further or.
ders the Spanish treasure squadron or
its way from Montevideo to Cediz.
The Indefatigable, A. the Lively, 3s,
Medusa, 40, and Amphion, 40 guns,
were sent away as quickly as possible,
and, cruising near Cape st. Vincent,
fell in with the Spanish feet on Oct. 9
and ordered them to bring to. Oh
course the Spanish admiral (Busta-
mente) would not submit to be de-
tained and cleared forsaction. The bat
lie lasted barely 90 minutes and result