Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1918-02-14
Many Being Accepted for Train.
ing by the United States
Shipping Board.
GOES BACK TO THE Old DAYS
Traditions Of the Service Justify the
Choice Of Lads for Responsible
Positions-career Of Cap
tain Silsbee.

shipping board for training as officers
in the new merchant marine. Many Of
them are accepted, and not a few al
ready are serving as juniors on the !
bridges of some of the largest liners
passing through the war zone waters
of Europe.
Lads of twenty were sturdy seafar-
ing men, ruling their quarterdecks
and tanning the rough company Of
their forecastles by their own pluck
and resourcefulness, in the days when
our forefathers were creating a mer-
chant marine whose achievements
form one of the finest pages of Amer
lean history.
Nathaniel Silsbee Of Salem, who af
forwards became United States sena-
tor from Massachusetts, in company
with Daniel Webster, took command
of the new ship Benjamin Of 161 tons
burden, laden with costly cargo of
sachusetts bay to the Cape Of Good
Hope and India, in 1892, when not
nineteen years old.
The first American flag had entered
the harbors of Bombay and Calcutta
only four years before, on the ship At
lantic.
beginning in 1917, with capital
consisting of Testament, Bow
ditch quadrant, chest of sea clothes
! and mothers blessing, Nathaniel
| Silsbee, then only fourteen years old,
left the paternal mansion in Salem full
Of hope and good resolution to en-
bark on his first voyage. which was to
| Baltimore as captains clerk; at twen-
tw-eight he had made his fortune and
retired from the sea; at thirty-six was
the head of the largest American
house in China.
The resourcefulness of Nathaniel
Silsbee was never better illustrated
than by his first voyage in command
of his first ship, the Benjamin.
Sold at Big Profit.
! On the passage from the Cape Of
Good Hope to the Isle of France (Mau-
: French frigate that gave him news of
the beginning of the war between
France and England. On this news
reaching the Isle of France. prices
rose by leaps and bounds. The cargo
of the Benjamin was quickly sold at
profit that dazzled her commander.
As fast as he could, he turned the
paper currency he received into Span
ish dollars. Then for six months an
embargo was laid on all foreign ves-
sells in port. During this time the
Spanish dollars increased to three
times the value Of paper money and
yet for lack Of an outlet, the products
of the island did not advance in price.
Nathaniel Silsbee abandoned his
plan of keeping on to Calcutta. He
sold his Spanish dollars, loaded coffee
and spices, and started for home.
Proceeding no farther than the Cape
Of Good Hope. he scented another
chance to fatten his owners pocket
book.
1.-THE Cape of Good Hope was held
by the Dutch" he said in later years,
, land 1t SO happened that l was the
only master Of foreign vessel then
in port Of whom a bond had not been
required to proceed to French port.
Two other Salem ships were in port !;
> put on board them such portion Of
my cargo as l knew would considera-
bly, more than pay the whole cost Of
t my ship and cargo, sold the residue.
! and invested the proceeds In full
cargo of wine and other articles which
knew to be In great demand in those
islands.v
Captain Silsbee sold his cargo for
three times its cost Mt the Isle Of
France, and again loaded for home.
3 Warned by Governor.
He was nearly ready to sail when he
got word that another embargo was
likely. Hastily putting to sea, he was
i obliged to anchor next day at the Isle
8 of Bourbon for provisions. A mysti-
flying experience that he met here he
|. related thus:
+. "Just as I was about stepping from
the wharf into my boat, the French
governor Of the island ordered me to
his presence. obeyed with strong ap.
o prehensions that some restraint was
X to be put upon me. On meeting the
governor. he asked me: How long dc
n you contemplate staying in Bourbon 2
v My answer was. Not more than day
or two.' Cant you leave here to
il. night? he asked. replied, IF yor
- wish IT, Then he added, AS you had
- the politeness to call on me this morn
ing, and as should be sorry to SEE
you injured, hearken to my advice
ID and leave here tonight II possible
a "He cautioned me to secrecy, and
Q. was on board as soon as possible after
!" leaving him.
"There was war-brig at anchor II
the harbor, little to windward o.
INV own vessel iowa I'd midnight I hat
~ the anchor hove up without noise. and
a. let the ship adrift without making nnl
j. sail until we had lost sight Of the war