The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-04

red tape, Berlin and Milan DEGREES, or
ders in council, non-intercourse acts, en-
bargoes, right of search, British licenses,
Interruptions by alleged friendly powers
and by pirates that it required the incest
tact to conduct successful voyage. All
these complications existed when the
United States was at peace with the
world. How much more complicated be-
came the commercial situation when this
country was fighting England, England
was fighting France, and France was
fighting nearly every country in Europe
and &few in Africa, may be conjectured
Captain Silsbee's Experience
With what deftness this international
snarl was unravelled by Capt Nathaniel
Silsbee, one time commander of the
privateer Herald of Salem. is shown In
a few of his experiences. Early in 1885,
just before hostilities between the United
States and France broke out, Slsbee.
while in command of the merchantmen
Portland of Salem, was captured in the
Mediterranean by a French privateer and
carrier to Malaga. Late in the afternoon
he was taken before the French consul
and minutely examined as to the nature
of the Portand's cargo. BY IL o'clock
that night the examination was COM
pleted the papers filed and the Yankee
skipper was~ told that he might return
to his ship pending the consuls decision.
In response to Silsbee's question as
to when he might expect that deci-
sion he was informed that it would re-
cure possibly two or three months, but
certainly not less than one month.
Thereupon Silsbee declared that he
would not leave the consufs office, un-
less elected by force, until the decision
was made. lie records:
"Toward midnight the consul and his
clerk, together with owner and officer
| - y,riya of thp office
leaving me there in charge of two por-
ters and a watchman, with whom / re-
manned during the night and saw MOTH
ing more of the consul until about g
o'clock next morning, when on enter
ing the office he expressed some sur
Prise at finding me there"
Apparently the Salem skipper's de-
termination had its desired effect, for
after more formalities the Portland was
released and Silsbee fastened aboard,
having passed the preceding 40
hours without a moments sleep and
without refreshment of any kind what
ever" At that period there were about
so neutral vessels detained at Ma
1aga, nearly all of which were con-
demned. Their masters expressed sur
prise at the celebrity with which the
Portland's case was disposed of and
more particularly of its favorable out
come.
Strategy Needed Also
Stategy also must be added to tho
gifts of this successful privateer COM
mander Shortly after his release at
Malaga, Silsbee put into Genoa. A day
or two after division of Napoleon's
army, ordered for service in Egypt,
reached that city and took into requisl-
tion every craft in the harbor for-trans
portation across the Mediterranean, in
cluding the Portland. which, being the
best ship, was selected for the staff of
the army. Silebee made every plea to
secure the release of his ship but in
vain. the French general expressing
surprise that the "honor of conveying
the staff officers of the republic" did
rot outweigh sordid commercial con-
siderations. Furthermore, he said Sup
pose God had one ship here and the
republic wanted it. He must give it,"
1t was then that Slsbee employed
strategy. He learned that there was IA
shortage of salt provisions in Genoa
which threatened to delay the departure
of the transports. 1t so happened that
the Portland was we'll stocked with
these commodities and having 40 bar
rcls of salt pork, which he could spare,
the American commander determined to
employ them to advantage On a dark
night he caused the pork to be secreted
at a point several miles from the city
innocently asked if he would not like
some salt provisions.
OF course the general would. The
republic needed them most urgently.
This section of the great army could
nt t sail without them Serious delays
would follow and Napoleon would be
d'srleased--which meant dire penalties
Tor those staff officers.
Silsbee said he had 40 barrels of
tie coveted salt provisions which he
would surrender if the Portland We're
released. The general stormed, raved
and threatened. He must have the pro-
visions. also he must have the ship.
~ he general was excited by my propo-
sition and angrily threatened to take
tie provisions into requisition and to
make me regret having insulted him
With such a proposition" ''Very we'll,
coolly replied the Salemite, take them
If you can find them
For two days and nights French sol
dicrs secured the city and harbor OF
Genoa for those pork barrels and final
ly came to conclusion that they
did not exist Then the general Sent
for Silsbee and commanded him to in
form him promptly where those barrels
of provisions were. The American
frankly said that he had concealed
item and would not reveal their hiding
place unless the Portland was excused
from transport duty.
| Again the general threatened awfu
things. but the Yankee remained obdur
ate. For another day the French vainly
searched for those precious barrels o
pork. Time was getting short. Napoleon
| had very unpleasant way of dealins
with generals who failed to carry out hi
orders promptly. No one knew this bet
| ter than this general-and Silsbee, him
I self kinder guessed as much.
The Yankee was sent for again and tn