The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-02-18
Many Being Accepted for Train
ing by the United States
Shipping Board.
GOES BACK TO THE OLD DAYS
Traditions Of the Service Justify tho
Choice Of Lads for Responsible
Positions-Career Of Cap
tain SiIsbee.

ty, already experienced sailors, are az
plying these days to the United State
shipping board for training as officer
In the new merchant marine. Many o
them are accepted, and not few al
ready are serving as juniors on tn
bridges of some of the largest liners
passing through the war zone water,
Of Europe.
Lads Of twenty were sturdy seafar
Ing men, ruling their quarterback
and tanning the rough company OF
their forecastles by their own plucl
and resourcefulness, in the days wheI
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 at
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 a costly cargo OF
merchandise and bound out from Mas
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
1antic.
beginning in 1917, with capital
consisting of a Testament, a Bow
ditch quadrant, chest Of sea clothes
and a 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-sfx 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 a
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
4 profit that dazzled her commander.
AS fast as he could, he turned the
paper currency he received into Span
sh dollars. Then for six months an
was laid on all foreign YES
,els in port. During this time the
spanish dollars Increased to three
lines the value Of paper money, and
,et, for lack of an outlet, the products
4 the island did not advance In price.
Nathaniel Silsbee abandoned his
Ian of keeping on to Calcutta He
old his Spanish dollars, loaded coffee
nd spices. and started for home.
Proceeding no farther than the Cape
f Good Hope, he scented another
nance to fatten his owners pocket
oOk
1.-THE Cape Of Good Hope was held
Y the Dutch" he said in later years,
md it so happened that was the
ally master of q foreign vessel then
port of whom a bond had not been
,quired to proceed to French port.
wo other Salem ships were in port;
put on board them such portion Of
Y cargo as I knew would considera-
y more than pay the whole cost of
Y ship and cargo, sold the residue,
I'd invested the proceeds in a full
rgo of wine and other articles which
knew to be in great demand in those
ands.'
Captain Silsbee sold his cargo for
rec times it's cost at the Isle Of
ance, and again loaded for home.
Warned by Governor. |
He was nearly ready to sail when he
t word that another embargo was
ely. Hastily putting to sea, he was
liged to anchor next day at the Isle /
Bourbon for provisions. A mysti- II
ng experience that he met here he II
ated thus: X
Just as I was about stepping from
. wharf into my boat, the French
yernor of the island ordered me to oil
presence. I obeyed with strong ap- n
hensions that some restraint was la
be put upon me. On meeting the il
'ernor, he asked me: How long do c.
/ contemplate staying in Bourbon es
answer was, Not more than day st
two Cant you leave here to- at
hit? he asked. replied, If you tn
h It, Then he added. AS you had er
politeness to call on me this morn tn
and as should be sorry to see pi'
injured, hearken to my advice re
leave here tonight If possible MI
he cautioned me to secrecy, and / tn
on board as soon as possible after ics
ing him.
There was war-brig at anchor in
harbCr, little to windward OF
own vessel; toward midnight had MI
anchor hove up without noise, and ere