The Boys of 1812 and Other Naval HeroesSoley, James Russell
History
The Boys of 1812 and Other Naval Heroes
Soley, James Russell
United States -- History -- War of 1812 -- Naval operations; United States. Navy -- History
Ship Sukey. John Macy. 7-1/2 Months out, 150 barrels, 75 days
from Lima. No oil Since Leaving that Port. Spaniards Very
Savage Lost on the Braziel Bank John Sealin Apprentice to Capt.
Benjamin Worth fell from the fore topsaill Yard In A Gale of
wind Left Diana Capt. paddock 14 day since, 250 Barrels I Leave
this port this Day with 250 Turpen 8 Boat Load Wood Yesterday
Went Up to Patts Landing East Side to the Starboard hand of the
Landing 1-1/2 miles Saw 100 Turpen 20 Rods A part Road Very
Bad.
Yours Forever
JOHN MACY.
This was a fair sample of the letters left at the Galapagos post-office.
Captain Porter remained a fortnight among the islands, searching every
hole and corner to find the whalers, and in the intervals exploring the
land, and making sailing directions of the coast, while the men spent
the time when they were not busy with their duties, in catching turtles
and in killing iguanas,--the big lizards that swarmed on the islands,
which though not very pleasant to look at, were excellent to eat. Jack
always likes a frolic on shore when he is not too much hampered by the
restraints of civilization; and the sailors of the "Essex" took great
pleasure in their sports, although the heavy turtles had to be dragged
over the rocky slopes a long distance to bring them to the ship. There
was plenty of fishing, too, for those that stayed on board the ship, and
flocks of penguins and pelicans and other strange birds lined the shore.
Altogether it was a pleasant break, this stay at the Galapagos, and the
ship revisited the spot several times, making it a sort of headquarters
for the next six months.
But all this was not war, and the men began to remember that it was not
prize-money; so when, after a fortnight of it, on the morning of the
29th of April, the cry of "Sail ho!" was heard, every one was glad, and
all the crew rushed eagerly on deck. A large sail was seen to the
westward, and the "Essex" started in pursuit. Soon two more sail were
discovered farther off. They were evidently whalers. If they should only
prove to be enemies! The crew went to work with willing hands, and
bearing down under British colors, by nine o'clock the "Essex" had
overtaken the nearest of the strange ships, the British whaler
"Montezuma." The master came on board and was shown into the cabin,
where he spent an hour in giving his supposed countryman such
information as would help him to capture the Americans. While this
interview was going on, his people were taken on board the frigate as
prisoners, and a prize crew was thrown into the whaler; and when the
master came on deck he was overcome with surprise at finding himself in
the hands of an enemy.
[Illustration: "'WE SURRENDER,' AND DOWN CAME THE FLAG."]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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