The Delta independent., 1899-07-07
ILLEGAL PRIZES.

One morning in May. 1904. . small
brig named the Harrington. command
ed by Mr.. William Campbell. sailed
ont between Sydney heads before = sti6
westerly breeze bound TO the island Of
Masafueru in the South Pacific. to
procure sealskins Although 40 small
the vessel carried n crew Of about i've
and twenty men and. being n letter Of
marque. WAS armed in the usual man
ner of the Australian whalers aad south
sea traders of those days-half a dozen
Founders and plenty Of muskets and
cutlasscs. 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 10 provfde himself with Q
letter Of margue from the presidency Of
Fort st. George against France and
Holland. h..lF
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
ahip. the ca 7-iin 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 hoard the Harrington. held u brief
consultation with his mate. and altered
the ships course from west by north
for Sydney to due east for the south
American coast
II don't want to waste lnuch time.
he said. .'but there Is no harm in our
running along the coast for q week q
two. We are pretty surs 70 pick mp
something.
The mate cuncurred. no did the crew,
and week later CAmpbcll did pick mp
somethin4-to wit. two Spauiah priEex
nerchantman and = p,an-of-war.
From the Sydney Gazette we learn that
the merchantmen wns manned st.
Francisco aud st. Paulo. She wns being
conveyed by the cruiser. which was
named the Estremina. commanded by
Don Antonio jose del Campo. ensign in
the Spanish navy. ont Of the ports Of
Coqu;mbo and Caldcrx on the coast Of
Perm.
In spite Of his long n.-nc 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 pat his helm down
and steered for the shore. then but
few miles distant. Canlpbell. burning
10 bring him to. crowded on all sail in
pursuit. but was unable 70 prevent
both the Es.remina-a brig Of four
guns-and the convoy from running
ashore Then. setting FIRE TO both ves-
sells. Don Antonio and his gallant men
ran away inland with great unanimify.
But the Harrington was - close that
Campbell lowering his boats. soon
boarded both ships. nnd his men extin-
gui.hcd the flames before any material
damage was done. and in n few hours
he had succeeded in floating both vc~-
rcls again. After putting prize crews
IN hoard. the Industrious Campbell went
vn shore to see IL there was anything
else worth picking mp. and di. ov-
cred u quantity os copper bars- very
valuable commodity. These he secured
without firing shot. AMI then he and
his merry nien siid yopiby tn the Span
iards. and with the two prizes In c1,Il-
pany set sail for sydney. highly pleased
nj the result of their adventure.
In due culrse the Harrington sailed
into Port Jac,s-on. bat the level headed
:icotcll captain came in nione-the prizes
were no. visible. The following day he
was requcsted bv Govprus~ kin2 To-
produce his iog. and appeared greatly
noc-ed when the irstc governor told
hiin that he had cor,mitesd b-cac., IT
neutrality. War with Spain WAS not
declared Until Dee. ~. 1904. ard IL was
not till January. 1905. that the British
government granted = hitter oG naarque
to any ship. and yet here was this dar-
ing merchant skipper committing an
ac; 81 war on his own account in DC
.heri
Now. singular to relate. Campbell
had only been doing ON n very minur
scale the same thing ~ h.d1 b<en doxse
by the orders of the British cabinet IN
very large scale in the same fashion
IN another part cf the world. thuuxh.
. crr-r-s. neither ne rT thu sngvy sov-
rur knew il. The iBcid~ut is q notss-
~ u.;. IN naval stony Admiral Crrn-
wallis ttbe government having NJ hast
awaizcned n the ~eib<A hs.tili:y a
Spain. snd sse enerxrsir Pitt havinx
-1~-Siei the PEACEFUL Addinytpny wns
,,ir.sfs-l ~ dispatch esme frixnss< 10
inser~ers assA -aes.is assiA fsssbe - !.
dlrs~ s;s. Spssish srsssars .gusdrva -
.it. way fsum ,4uQaeviAsD sD Csaix
Ths lsdsfst4g11sl' - 0t1fWni. - 4
8~aaA -. ssa AopAtuG - -
80 &nSA kaees
~ - wish - 1Dastsh - = o. 4