The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-01-23
OUR STATES NAVAL RECORD.
Some North CaroIinians Who Have Figured ConspIcuous'y
in the Wars of America.
By MARSHALL DeLANCEY HAYWOOD.

the Navy of the United States. or Col
onies. did not embrace Il very Formidable
array of vessels. and history records
very little of the part borne by North
Carolina III the maritime branch of our
national defense. That the State. how
ever. did render some service on the
seas is beyond question. | nave seen
in our records, both State and natlonai'
reference to North Carolina prlyateerS.
and there was quite Il number OF vessels
of this class whose cruises and exploits
will never be known, even in the State
from which they hailed. Then, too.
though not strictly within the line Of
this narrative. it may be of interest to
recall the fact that the most picturesque
naval character in the Revolution. John
Paul Jones (Whose name was originally
John Paul. assumed the surname OF
Jones as a compliment TO the family OF
his North Carolina benefactor.
The first North Carolinian who attain
ed q national reputation IN the nave
service was not a native of the State.
but was brought there from Ireland
when an infant two years Of age. ms
was JOHNSTON BLAKELEY, VINO
won fame in the War of 1917. lie
was reared in Wilmington: and, after
completing his academic education. be-
came Il student III the University OF
North Carolina at. Chapel Hill. Having
obtained a MidShilman's commission.
he left the above institution and enter
ed the Navy. In 1913 he was placed
in command of the 'Enterprise.' and
did good service in protecting the coast
ing trade of the United States. Shortly
thereafter he became commander of the
WASH With this vessel he engaged
the British ship Reindeer which was
captured after a severe action. III which
her captain. William Manners, and
many of the crew, We're killed. During
the course of the war, Captain Blake
lev captured innumerable vessels, among
which were the "~Atalanta,' the Let
tice,' the Bon Accord" and the Mary
The Avon" also surrendered to him,
but he was prevented from taking pos
session by the approach of a British
fleet. For his victory over the klein
deer" Congress voted Blakeley a gold
medal.
The last seen of this brave officer was
on the 9th of October, 1914, when his
vessel was hailed by a Swedish bark.
Whether the Wasp foundered in i
gale or went down in a .sea-fight has
never been known. After Blakeley,s
death, his only child, a daughter, was
educated at the expense of North Care
lnia, being adopted by legislative enact
ment as the "Child of the State Upon
reaching womanhood this lady married
but died without issue.
While treating of the War of 49,.
the name of CAPTAIN OTWAY
BURNS. Il native of Onslow county,
North Carolina. should not he omitted.
This ord Tar did not belong to the regu-
lar service, but commanded the Snap
dragon a fleet, well-armed privateer.
During the war, his residence was at
Beaufort, in Carteret county. While
not on his cruises. he would sit for hours
at Il time with telescope in hand, i'll an
observatory on the roof of his house,
which was near the SeashOre. and peer
out into the ocean for vessels flying
British ,Olors. When one was espied.
he would pounce down on it like st
hawk. and bring it into port. The ter
rible havoc created by the "Snapdragon"
among the shipping Of the enemy, caus-
ed the British authorities to fit up ~
vessel for the express purpose Of cap
turing it. This was Il heavily-armed
sloop, disguised as 4 merchantmen.
which sailed up the Carolina coast. look
ing as harmless as a Sunday excursion
boat. When hailed by Burns. she gave
token of surrender. but, as ne attempt
ed to board. she suddenly uncovered
her guns and captured him and his sur
prisel crew before q shot could be
fired. Burns and his men were nos
released till the close of the war.
The priZe-money which fell to the share
Of Captain Burns. from the many cap
lures he effected before he himself WAS
captured. would have made a prudent
20, a,1 l., GO IT. ,--I
not of the prudent variety. After le-
ing released, he lived like 4 ganac-:och
as long as IFS money lasted. but it didn't
last long. He represented Carterct
county in both branches Of the Legis-
lature after the war, and the town of
huntsville. i'll 1ancey county. was
named in his monor.
In his Tales and Traditions of the
Lower Cape Fear Mr.. Sprunt. White
referring to the privateers of 1872, says:
. one occasion two of them came in
together-the Snap Dragon under the
command Of Captain Otway Burns. who
had at that time 4 considerable amount
of local noteriety; and he Kemp com
manded by Captaim Almida. each ac-
~cOmpanied by Il merchant vessel they
had captured. In due time the vessels
and carSoes We're sold, but when the
proceeds or the sale were divided. Il
dispute arose between the two officers,
each claiming that the larger portion
should belong to him as he was more IL.
strumental in securing the prize than the
other. The quarrel waxed hot, and it
was feared that they would come to
blows at any moment. when the fiery
Burns put an end to the discussion by
challenging his antagonist to meet him
on the sea and fight it out yard-arm
to yard-arm. The challenge was prompI-
~ accepted. and each vessel got under
way Immediately, and sailed for the
appointed place of meeting; but while
manoeyeriIlg for position. il fleet Of tho
enemy'S merchantmen. under the CON
vOy of a ship of war. hove in sight. and
effectually put q stop to the %contenl-
plated duel. AdjourninG their quarrel
to another time tbut which was never
renewed. they dashed into the feet and
succeeded in capturing two or three
ships, with valuable cargoes, and brought
them safely into port. a much better
result than trying to send each other
to the bottom on Il mere question OF
dollars and cents"