The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-01
Copyright. lea2, by Robert Howard

Copyright. 1902, by Robert Howard
Russell.)
My grandfather did his first priva-
teerin' in an English-built vessel the
Duke of Kent, which wes took at Bath
IN some herrin' nets. gittin' its rudder
fouled in the same and driftin' into the
mouth OF the Kennebec In consequence
ana up to the wharf, where the militia
captured 1t. She was swift vessel and
grandfather bought her of the militia,
who divided the proceeds as prize money
and with Ezra John Hawley as first Of
ficer and crew from Massachusetts and
Maine and a cook from Connecticut, set
sail for the West Indies to lie around
and pick up q few. English ships. Be
fore sailin'. the ships name was changed
to Duke of Marbiehead. Grandfathe3
didn't want an English name, but as the
big and fine figgur'head wasn't suitable
for anything else but duke. he saved
the expense of a new fEgur'head and
compromised by calm her the Duke of
Marblehead.
They cruised about and saw Dutch
ships and French. Spaniards. Danes,
Portugees even. but no English. The
crew got Disguised and hard to manage
and Ezra John advised grandfather to
hist the English nag and lay alongside
che next Spaniard or Portugee they see,
Cor them were wicked nations that
amused themselves with bull-fghtin and
the Inquisition and deserved to be in
cured, and il we few the English flag.
the lubbers wouldn't know it was Ameri-
cans that took their ship and landed
'em on the first convenient island. but
would think It was English. Grand
str1H 70 IN fny~ he
knew the Portugees and Spaniards was
low-lived people and that they was car
ryin' good deal of gold from Mexico
and Brazil but he was afraid it would
make national complications. He was
true patriot and he knew that If he done
what Ezra John suggested, there was
the chance of the country havin' two
wars on its hands and him and the
ships company gettin' hung. So he
said no.
..Let us think of the nation, Ezra
John" said he. mot of ourselves. One
war is enough, and old Judge McMartin,
Of the Admiralty Court of Boston.
doesn't like me at all and would mis-
Judge my motives, If We was ketched at
this
It was off the north coast of Hayti
that at last they see a merchant vessel
that looked some like an English vessel,
and give chase. They went sailin' close
into the wind, which was strong pint
with the Duke of Marblehead. but the
stranger altered ner course and sailed
a little to the west, in so dom sorter
swingin' her stern around so they was
unable to make out her name and see
where she come from. They altered their
course and she altered hers again. so
they still couldn't see her stern. and
Ezra John got mad and run UP the Eng
lish flag and sent shot through the
strangers riggin' and she swung around
and there they read Zodiac, Yarmouth,
n. S. They give a great cheer and
down come the English flag and up went
the American and they fired again, the
stranger lay to. pulled down the English
flag and run up the American, which
puzzled our folks a good deal.
What ship is that? Where is it
FROM" asked Ezra John as he stepped
on the strangers deck.
..The Zodiac of Yarmou--. laden with
cordage." said the skipper.
yarmouth where?" asked Ezra John
Where is your ship from?" asked the
skipper rs she American or English?"
I'm askin' the questions said Ezra
John. "Wnere is your ship from?''
AarInoulI- Yarmouth Maine Nova
Scotia-Maine I mean Nova Scotia, Var
mouth, Nova Scotia said the poor skip
per, stamnlerin' and tremblin'.
Put 'em in irons said Ezra! John.
you're prisoners of the American priva-
teer. Duke of Marblehead."
my, Tn glad OF that said the skip
per Were from Yarmouth. Maine.
but we thought you were English, so we
eaid Nova Scotia
Whats that Nova Scotia on your stern
for?''
eve thought you looked like an English
ship. so we slipped a man over the stern
and painted on the N. S., thinkin you'd
let us go when you saw it. If you'll
examine our books and papers. you'll
find us all right. remember your YES
sci now It's the Duke of Marblehesd
I see her down to Bath. You must be
Mr.. Hawley. have heard of you. Ny