The Story of the American Merchant MarineSpears, John Randolph
History
The Story of the American Merchant Marine
Spears, John Randolph
Merchant marine -- United States
"15.--Between 2 and 3 this morning we saw two sail which chased us, the
ship fired three shots at us which we returned. They came up with us by
reason of a breeze which she took before we did. She proved to be the ship
Cornwall from Bristol.
"23.--We now begin to approach to land. At eight o'clock two Teriffa
(Barbary) boats came out after us, they fired at us which we returned as
merrily. They were glad to get away as well as they could. We stood after
one, but it is almost impossible to come up with the piratical dogs.
"Dec.--10.... In the morning we heard a firing and looked out in the Gut
and there was a snow attacked by 3 of the piratical Teriffa boats. Two
cutters in the Government service soon got under sail, 3 men-of-war that
lay in the road manned their barges and sent them out, as did a privateer.
We could now perceive her (the snow) to have struck, but they soon retook
her. She had only four swivels and six or eight men.... They got some
prisoners (of the pirates) but how many I cannot learn, which it is to
be hoped will meet with their just reward which I think would be nothing
short of hanging."
Tales of the resourcefulness of the foremast hands on the colonial vessels
are of special interest here. As an example, consider that of the brig
_Sally_, which turned bottom up while on her way from Philadelphia to
Santo Domingo, on August 8, 1765. Six of the crew who were on deck saved
themselves at first by clinging to such wreckage as floated beside the
hull, and then, when the squall was over, climbed to the upturned keel.
Then, to procure food and drink, they cut the wreath (a flat bar of iron
encircling the mainmast head) from its place, using their jackknives, it
may be supposed, and with that as a tool made a hole through the bottom
of the hulk. It took six days of continuous labor, watch and watch,
of course, but they succeeded, and got out a barrel of bottled beer
and another of salt pork. During the six days of work they subsisted
without water, and with no other food than the barnacles on the planking.
Moreover, they built a platform of staves and shingles upon the sloping
bottom of the hull, upon which they could sleep without danger of rolling
into the sea. In this fashion they lived until September 1, twenty-three
days, when they were rescued.
Of the lost rudders that were replaced with pieces of spare spars bound
together with rope, and the small boats made by castaways who had nothing
but barrel hoops and staves with canvas for planking, no more than mention
need be made.
In the log of the sloop _Adventure_, Captain Francis Boardman, during a
West India voyage, in 1774, are found the following entries:--
"This Morning I Drempt that 2 of my upper teeth and one Lower Dropt out
and another Next the Lower one wore away as thin as a wafer and Sundry
other fritful Dreams. What will be the Event of it I can't tell."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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