The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-10-05

seus, the sixteen gun sloop Hfnchin-
brook, with several priYateers, 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 indefatigable Governor Rutledge,
when the news had been commune
Gated to him, had worked assiduously
to provide the state ships, and the
young captain Of the Randolph speed
lily found himself at the head Of little
feet 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
ty picture to the enthusiastic Caro-
linians, 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 Be
sides Seymour's own vessel there were
the eighteen gun ship General Moul-
tie, the two sixteen gun ships Notre
Dame and Polly and the fourteen gun
brig Fair American, the last command
ed by a certain master, Philip Wilton.
They made officers of very young men
in those days, and mere boys often &C.
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 Sey-
mours own urgent recommendation,
had intrusted the smallest vessel to
young Captain Philip. We shall see
how he showed himself worthy of the
trust reposed 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
fr1gate, gave him vast Importance
with the men, but his age and expert
ence, his long association with the cap
tain, as we'll 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
pafgns, vaguely current, conduced to
make him the monarch Of the forecas-
tie and the arbiter Of the various dis
cusstons and arguments among the
men, who rarely ventured to dispute
the dictum of their oracle.
swell, here we are pointing out
again, thank the Lordv' 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 I
like to see the land, Richard"
"And where is that, bos'un?"
"Over the stern, as now, mate, when
we're going free with a fair wind and
leaving it fast behind I feel safer
then"
Six rather uneventful 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 fleet, had also
smart action with a 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 maneuvered and fought
his ship well and had been publicly
complsmented 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 neces-
sary to complete their happiness was
the appearance Of the looked for SQUAD
ron of the enemy. The eager lookouts
swept the seas unweariedly, but in
vain, until early in the afternoon Of
the sixth day, the feet being in longi-
tude IS degrees IS minutes west, lati-
tude II degrees so 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
large sail ahead. A short time should
make her visible if the vessels contin-
ued on the present course, and after
having called his feet about him by
signal Seymour stood on for a nearer
look at the stranger An hour later
she was visible from the deck of the
Randolph, very large ship, evidently
a man-of-war under easy sail. The
careful watchers could count three
tiers of guns through the glass, when
proclaimed her ship Of the line. Sey-
mour at once formed a desperate reso-
luton. Signaling to the four state
cruisers and the six prizes to tack to
the northeast, escape if possible and
afterWard make the best of their way
DaCE to Charleston ho l,;,,.~1a