Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-08-23

brook, with several privateers, had
! been cruising off the coast together,
and the commander of the Randolph
was most anxious to get the help of
some of the South Carolina state cruis-
ers TO go in search of the British ships.
The isdefatigable Governor Rutledge,
when the news had been communicate
ed TO him, had worked assiduously to
provide the state ships, and the young
captain of the Randolph speedily found
himself at the head of little fleet of
war vessels outward bound.
! The departure of the squadron, the
Randolph in the lead, the rest follow.
ing and all under full sail, made pref.
~ picture to the enthusiastic Carolin.
ians. who watched them from the Is
lands and Notifications in the harbor
and from number of small boats
which accompanied the warships a
short distance on their voyage. Besides
Seymour's own vessel there were the
eighteen gun ship General Moultrie,
the two sixteen gun ships NotTe Dame
and Polly and the fourteen gun brig
ran aHltll'dn, lht Idhl 'Ollliudhutu
by certain master, Philip Wilton.
They made officers of very young men
In those days, and mere boys often oc,,
cupied positions Of trust and response.
bility apparently far beyond their
years. Even Seymour himself though
now commodore or flag officer by
courtesy, was very young for the posi-.
ton, and Governor Rutledge, moved by
a warm friendship of long standing for
old Colonel Wilton and upon Seymour's
own urgent recommendation, had in
| trusted the smallest vessel to young
Captain Philip. We shall see how he
showed himself worthy of the trust re.
posed in him in spite of his tender
years.
\ Forward on the forecastle old Bent.
ley was planted, surrounded by such of
the older and more experienced petty
officers and men as he permitted to as
sociate with him on terms of more or
less familiarity. Not only the position
! he occupied, that of boatswain of the
| frigate, gave him vast importance
with the men, but his age and expert
ence, his long association with the cap.
tain, as well as some almost incredible
/ tales of his familiar companionship
with certain men Of awe inspiring
name and great renown, with various
mighty feats of arms in recent cam.
paigns, vaguely current, conduced to
make him the monarch of the forecas-
tie and the arbiter OF the various dis.
cussions and arguments among the
men, who rarely ventured to dispute
the dictum of their oracle.
well, here we are pointing out
again, thank the Lord" he said to his
particular friend and crony among the
crew, the carpenter, Richard spicer, a
battered old shellback. like himself.
There is only one place from which
like to see t.is land, Richard"
And where Is that, bos'u n?"
over the stern, as now, mate, when
we're going free with a fair wind and
leaving It fast behind. feel safer
then"
Six rather uneyentful days passed
by, during which prizes to the number
, OF five fell TO the lot of the squadron,
one loaded with military stores and
another with provisions Of great value.
The lively little Fair American, being
far to- windward of the feet, had also
a smart action with heavily armed
British privateer, which struck her flag
before the others could get within
range and was found to be loaded with
valuable portable goods, the siftings
OF long and successful cruise. Young
Wilton had Unanswered and fought
his ship well and had been publicly
, complimented in general orders by Sey.
mour for skill and gallantry. The fleet
had been exercised In signals and in
various simple evolutions, the weather
was most pleasant, the men In excel.
lent spirits, and all that was necessary
TO complete their happiness was TIE
appearance of the looked.for squadron
OF the enemy. The eager lookouts
swept the seas unweariedly, but In
vain, until early in the afternoon Of
the sixth day, the fleet being In longl.
tude 5S degrees Is minutes west, lati
tude II degrees 80 minutes north, about
forty leagues east OF Martinique, head
Ing due west on the starboard tack, It
was reported to Seymour, who was
reading in the cabin, that the Fair
American, again far In the lead and
somewhat to windward, had signaled
a large sail ahead. A short time should I
make her visible II the vessels contin.
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