The Republican journal., 1906-05-17
UNDtR THREE FLAGS.
North Eelfast Veterans Very Long Lite OF
Adventure.
Rnstnn Sunday Glul

IhbSlou A1uhdpH 'NON'J
On a little fam III Month Belfast
neal the 81 alklire waters of Penobscoe
BAY. lives rare old man, Capt. Francis
A. Russ. The history of his life, from
the time he shipped as cabin boy
when barely 10 years old, through ad-
ventures i'll nearly every port OF the
world, under three flags, from the
tropics to the Arctic circle, III the Y.
S. navy all through the Civil war down
to today, when, just past 95 he Is hale,
hearty and well preserved, reads like
romance.
He was born Feb. II, 1911, real
son." his father being Maj. John Russ,
an officer of the revolution, who was
one of the first settlers of Belfast,
opening the first store and keeping the
first tavern in the town. Maj. Russ
was "fre-eater," a man after Gen.
Washington's own heart, and his say
ings and doingS are yet lore III the
town.
On the distatf side.of the house there
was fighting blood equally warm and
fiery. as the consort of Maj. Russ was
Sally Timer, daughter of Gen. Timer,
a brave revolutionary soldier, who al
ter the war was granted large tracts OF
land Oh the site of the present city OF
Belfast, which land he gave to his
daughter
so it was that the parents of the sub
iect of this sketch at one time owned
practically all tAe land at the head OF
Belfast bay.
At the age of 10 Francis Russ ship
ned as cabin boy on the brig Calllope,
Cant David Whittier, bound for New
York. thence to Bania, Marsellles, Boz
deaux and back to New ! ork. The
captain was kind to the boy, and even
to this day Capt. Russ remembers the
voyage in the Calliope with pleasure.
But the next trip, under another
master, was different Young Russ
and boy named White shipped from
Belfast to Havana, and got such taste
of abuse that at Havana they deserted
and Joined a Bordeaux ship. Strong.
active ard good sailor boys they got
along well, and made two voyages
under the tri-color
Grown to be an able seaman, Russ
got good berth on an English East
India trader, and sailed out OF London
for SIX years, visiting many and various
ports later going into, the South Amer
lean trade and calling at nearly every
harbor from Bahia to the Falkland Is
lands.
About this time the United States
fitted out an expedition against one
Brisbane, who had set himself up as an
opera-bouffe governor in the Faiklands
and was levying tribute on American
seaIers and traders. Capt. Duncan IN
the sloop-of-War Lexington was sent
after Brsba and young Russ, witt a
taste for excitement, managed ~ JON
the expedition.
Brisbane had fortified himself on an
island, in a stone castle, and had al
army" of about 100 doubtful charac-
tiers. The bluejackets from the Lex
ington made short Work Of the place,
and swarmed Into the fort, capturing
50 prisoners. Young Russ was one of
the first to enter the fort, and secured
an elegant silver mounted rife, the per
Sonal property of Brisbane, as Souye-
mir.
Many years afterwards in 1896, this
exploit came up as a question between
the United States and the Argentine
confederation, and Sec. 0jney discover
ed Capt Russ. the only survivor, who
gave the state department very valu-
able information. Capt Russ has
letter OF thanks from sec. Oney, which
he values highly.
After tie excItment was over. Russ
was free to 90 where he Pleased, not
being an enlisted man, and he joined
tile brig Dash OF Boston, Sealer. hlie
at a southern island Russ, III an alter
cation knocked down the mate. Then
with two young sailors, who had been
much abused, he started for the shore
Ill the Iongboat.
The skipper got out his pistols and or
dered them back, but Russ had his silver
t,.J ,,itj wall, ! ~
cred the captain with it and detied him.
The Young men reached shore safely,
but were obliged to take to the noun
tains and remain in hiding for nearly
two months, while the natives We're
hunting for them, having been promis-
ed barrel of rum for their capture,
dead or alive.
Finally, from one Of the peaks of the
island they saw the Dash in the otfing,
and knew that they were safe. A short
time later the American Whaler Harry
Lee came i'll port, and the castaways
turned whale hunters. The Harry Lee
rescued a shlpWrecked crew from a deS-
ert island and short time later was
wrecked herself at Port Louis.
Russ Joined London fur Sealer and
sailed to Staten land after seals and sea
elephant oil.
Later, NlIe podculllS oll d So'eih-
meut-protected island at La Plata, the
sealer was caught unawares by sloop-
of-war, which gave chase. The sealer
had two pivot guns and several wooden
"quakers." \ number of dummy sail
ors were rugged and set up about the
deck. and with yels of defiance, armed
with rifles, pistols, sealing spears and
knives, the sealers boldly dashed for the
the little cruiser The sight was too |
much for the man )f-war who mistook
the sealer for a famous pirate, came
about and made off.
The poachers filled their craft with |
oil and skins and sailed for London,
taking into that port the richest cargo |
of the kind ever landed there-and |
most of it poached.
Russ and others of the crew had big |
pot OF money coming to them. With |
this they bought a fine brig, but she |
was lost on her first trip Capt Russ !
then came back to America and to his |
old home in Belfast, and settled down |
to be farmer
When the civil war broke out, al /
though over 50 years old, Capt. Russ |
wrote to his Old navy captain, then |
Commodore Smith, to take him on II |
there was any chance better than blue