Newport daily independent., 1918-03-02
TAKE LADS OF 20
 AS SHIP OFFICERS
Many Being Accepted for Train ing by the United States
 Shipping Board.
GOES BACK 10 THE OLD DAYS
Traditions of the Service Justify the Choice of Lads for Responsible Positions-Career of Cap
 tain SiIsbee.

Washington.-Lads less than twen- ty, already experienced sailors, are ap- plying these days to the United States shipping board for training as officers in the new merchant marine. Many of them are accepted, and not 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 mer- chant marine whose achievements form one of the finest pages of Amer ican history.
 Nathaniel Silsbee of Salem, who af- rewards became United States sena- tor from Massachusetts in company with Daniel Webster, took command of the new ship Benjamin of l61 tons burden, laden with costly cargo of merchandise and bound out from Mas sachusetts bay to the Cape of Good Hope and India, in 1792, 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 1877, with capital consisting of a Testament, a 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 em- 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- ritius), Captain Silsbee fell in with 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
 +hot Io0 lad ndQr
 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 yes sels 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.
 "The Cape of Good Hope was held by the Dutch," he said in later years, land it so happened that l was the only master of foreign vessel then in port of whom bond had not been required to proceed to French port. Two other Salem ships were in port; I put on board them such portion of my cargo as I knew would considera- bly more than pay the whole cost of my ship. and cargo, sold the residue, and invested the proceeds in a full 1 cargo of wine and other articles which I knew to be in great demand in those islands.'
 Captain Silsbee sold his cargo for three times it's cost at the Isle of France, and again loaded for home.
 Warned by Governor. He was nearly ready to sail when he | got word that another embargo was 1 likely. Hastily putting to sea, he was obliged to anchor next day at the Isle of Bourbon for provisions. A mysti- l 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. I obeyed with strong ap- prehensions that some restraint was | to be put upon me. On meeting the | governor, he asked me: How long do you contemplate staying in BourbonY | My answer was, Not more than day or two.' Can't you leave here to- night? he asked. I replied, If you wish it. Then he added, AS you had the politeness to call on me this morn l ino and aS I Shnuld be SOrrY to see