Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-02-22
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.

Neutrality-suspicious. less than twen-
ty, already experienced sailors, are APP
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 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 ISL 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
lantic.
Beginning in 1917, with capital
cf OF ~
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 TWEEN
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 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
or 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
1sh dollars. Then for six months an
embargo was laid on all foreign YES
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 Cane
or 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.
and 1t so happened that I was the
only master Of foreign vessel then
III port of whom 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 I knew would considera.
Oily more than pay the whole cost OF
my ship and cargo, sold the residue
and invested the proceeds in a full