The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-08
OTWAY r M
THE SNAP DRAGON

AAC 6ANxAA A/1A<AdON |
4 sailor From early Youth. Ana the
Terror a British Merchantmen
In The War Of 1912.
BY MARSHALL De LANCEY hay. |
WOOD.
When the second var betvaer
American and Great Britain occurred. |
our young Republic was not q high.
class sea power. and much OF its naval
warfare was carried on by p~riyateer1
vessels fitted up by individuals and
stock companies-whose operations
we're authorized both by Congress and
by international law To this class be-
'onged the snap Dragon. commanded
by Captain Otway Burns.
Captain Burns was born in ITS. in
Onslow county. North Carolina, on
Queens Creek, about two miles from
the present village Of Swansboro. His
father and grandfather both bore the
name Of Francis Burns, and the latter
c~migrated from Glasgow, Scotland. in
1894. Otway Burns began his seafar-
ing career In early life, and had COM
mand of a merchantmen. which was
carrying on it's business operations
along h Atlantic coast when the War
Of 1s12-15 began. Designing to enter
into p~riyateering, he secured a fast
and strong vessel In New York, which
he christened the Snap Dragon. It
vas paid for and fitted up by q stock
Company at New Bern. It was well
armed, and carried a crew varying in
number from about 100 to 100 men.
The number Of his captures was SO ex-
ceedingiy largo that he soon became q
terror to the British.
In speaking Of the war record Of
Burns. Chief Justice Clark said. on a
public occasion: HE patrolled our
ocean front and displayed the Union
Jack from Cape Farewell. the south
point OF Greenland, to Cape
San Rogue. h easternmost point Of
Brazil. He captured the enemy's YES
sells under the guns Of Halifax and
pounced upon them like a hawk upon
"A covey OF doves OF the mouth OF the
Orinoc0. For three years he vas a
terror to the British merchant marine,
and inflicted damage only rivalled
since by the Alabama and by another
son of North Carolina, the gallant
Waddell Of the Shenandoah"
In the '"rales and Traditions OF the
Lower Cape Fear" by James Sprunt
when speaking Of privateers in the
War Of 1872, there is an interesting
anecdote Of Burns, as follows: 'Tradi-
ton reports that on n occasion two
% them anne in tOgether-the SnaE
dragon. under Captain Otway Burns
who had at that time a considerable
amount Of local notoriety; n the
Kemp, commanded by Captain AL,
inida. Zach accompanied by a mer
chant vessel which they had captured
In due time the vessels and cargoe'
were sold; but when the proceeds G
.he sale were ia be divided. a dispute
arose between h two officers, eaci
claiming that the larger portion
should belong to him. as he was nor
instrumental in securing the priz
Than the other. The quarrel waxe'
hot, and it was feared that they woul'
come To blows at any moment, whe'
the fiery Burns put an end to h dis
cussion by challenging his antagonis
10 meet him on the sea and fight
out yardarm to yardarm. The chal
Iense vas promptly accepted: eac.
vessel got under way Immediately an
sailed for the appointed place OF meet
ing; but while manoeuvering o pos!
ton, a feet Of the enemy's merchant
men, under a convoy Of q ship OF wa
n to the contemplated duel. Ad
journing their quarrel to another tim
(but which was lever renewed), the
dashed into the f1eet and succeeded |
capturing two or three ships with va
liable cargoes, and brought them saft
~ into port-a much better result !
every way than trying to send eac
other to tho bottom on . mere que
ton Of dollars and cent&"
The Snap Dragon was captured
the fall Of 1914 by a British warshi
disguised - q merchantmen. At tt
time Of her capture Captain Burns y.
not in command. being detained
home by an attack Of rheumatisI
Lieutenant De Cokely, second In con
mand under Burns had charge OF Il
ship when II was taken.
After the close Of the war, CAPITA
Burns began anew his seafaring life
u merchantmen, and was often
member Of the State Legislature
North Carolina from Carteret count
He was in the House In 1891. 49,
1924 122E 1Q2R and 1927. In 18S