The Republican journal., 1913-05-29

omitted. On the 9th. while laying at
Cork awaiting the return OF the messen-
ger from Liverpool, the LIST officer of her
Majestys Ship the Crocodile was sent
on board by the Admiral with the re-
quest to Captain Mcclure to haul down
the American flag Suffice 10 say that
this strange request was peremptorily
refused by Capt. Mcclure, and the officer
took his departure. About three quarters
OF an hour later he returned with very
polite apology, stating that the Admiral,
from the smallness of the vessel had tax
en- Captain McGuire's clipper for an Eng
llsh pilot boat. The explanation was, Of
course, sufficient, and we are happy to
state that the gun On Admiral Mcclure s
vessel was not required to be used, and
his starry pennant remained unruffied as
his temper. Ga leaving Cork Harbor
the Rom T had tne pleasure Of oUtsai!ng
the IRISH pilot boat which Started win
her, rs We'll as leaving several other YES
sells far behind her. she arrived bone
on the morning Of the llth, Just 2S days
from Cork. 1t mus be .eu.t uDered lhat
the 3omer in returning home ran to the
south ward in search of smooth water
This MADE thousand more miles to sail
over than the "packet" which sailed at
the siirAe time. The fact about the rela-
tive speed OF the pilot boat and the best
packets Of that time seems to De this.
With smooth sea and a good breeze the
pilot BOAT could show anything that sails
1 clean pair of heels, but in rough
weather a d a heavy sea the pilot boat
must ay-to while the ship could crack on
with safety. On The voyage out the
time consumed by the Romer in lying-to
was equal to nine days and nights When
this IS deducted from her running time,
we find that the Romer IN favorable
weather can make the trip In fifteen
days. Captain Mcclure was skillful
and experienced navigator and was of
the opinion that he could cross the Allan
tic with the Romer in all ordinary
weather or seasons, even in winter, in
less time than is required by any of the
packet ships. But vessels of her size
could not be driven as the larger and
more powerful ships.
After this eventful voyage of the little
clipper, she returned once more to her
former calling of supplying pilots to IN
coming ships off Sandy Hook, cruising
sometimes to Hatteras and east to Sable
Island in search of business. it is
proper to add in conclusion that the ul-
terror object of this mysterious voyage
has never been made public, but years
after it was learned on good authority
that the officials on the "Romer' were
secret service men, high in the Govern
ment employ, and were expected TO inter-
cept a crimi laI wanted by the Federal
Government and who had sailed on one
of the fast packet ships, supposedly the
ship Patrick Henry. But unfortunately
the Romer arrived in Cork too late, the
Patrick Henry leading her by three days.
The Romer accomplished her purpose,
however, as the person suspected had
wind that he was being followed and did
not have time to accomplish he object
he had intended, scheme for Unloading
! bogus papers or bonds and gett ng away
with it before he was found OUT, as that
| was before the days of cables and tele-
graphs and what would be very simple
thing today took weeks to accomplish
| in those days.
W. S. DEvEaEUX.
From the log of the VIM. ]. Romer.