USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Salem > Salem vessels and their voyages; a history of the "Astrea", "Mindoro", "Sooloo", "Panay", "Dragon", "Highlander", "Shirley", and "Formosa", with some account of their masters, and other reminiscences of Salem shipmasters > Part 12
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Their garb seemed a little odd. One had on a blue cap
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with a dirty gold band round it; the other a slouched hat, with a hang-devil look about his face. On being asked their business, the gold-banded cap individual introduced his companion as the pilot. "Pilot," I said, "I don't want any. I have been here before; there is nothing in our way, and we have only to sail in." "Well," he an- swered, "want one or not, you will have to pay pilotage." "How much is it a foot ?" I asked. He answered, "Five dollars a foot." "What!" I said, "guess you want to eat us up. Ship drawing 21 feet six inches, at $5 a foot is $107.50 ; earning two hours' work pretty easy." I asked him to show me his branch or pilot's certificate. He said he had forgotten to bring it. This cut short our conver- sation on this subject.
He then informed me that Mr. Walker, a native of Mobile, Alabama, had been elected President of Nica- ragua, residing at Granada, the capital; that General Hornsby, a native of Texas, held San Juan de Sud (our port) with about 75 soldiers, and that a civil war was raging, President Walker having seized all the property of the Accessory Transit Co., omnibuses, mules, boats, road, in fact, everything, checking all transportation of passengers and mails. The town was deserted. The iner- chants and United States consul had left. The hotel, for- merly for the passengers, was used as a barracks. All business was at a standstill.
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This was not the news I was expecting, and I made up my mind to proceed cautiously. During our conver- sation the wind hauled off shore, and being about time to tack, I told the pilot to take charge, with this under- standing, that I would pay him for the services what the ship's agent said was right. I told him everything was ready to go round. He answered, in a suave kind of a way, "Captain, you tack her ; I don't understand the square sail rig." I felt as though I could have picked him up and tumbled him over the rail into his canoe. This bogus fellow, for he turned out to be such, hardly knew the bow from the stern. As it was coming on night, I made
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SHIP WITCHCRAFT Pickman & Rogers, owners : W. C. Rogers, master. 1850. From painting owned by Francis Peabody.
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SHIP ROME Stone, Silsbee & Pichinan, owners. 1843. From painting by S. Pelligrini, owned by Mrs. Charles F. Curwen.
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BY GEORGE GRANVILLE PUTNAM
two short tacks and anchored three miles outside the town in 14 fathoms of water, 115 days from Boston.
As soon as the anchor was down, these two bucks jumped into the canoe and paddled quickly to the shore, as I afterwards learned, to report. Mate and myself talked it over that evening and concluded things looked a little foggy. The next morning, to my satisfaction, the wind was off shore, giving me an excuse for not getting under way, as I did not wish to bring the vessel any nearer till I had ascertained the true state of affairs on shore.
Lowered away the boat and pulled for the town. When I struck the beach, found the gold-band-capped gentleman waiting to receive me, with the addition of a sash around his waist and a sword at his side. He stated that General Hornsby would like to see me at headquarters. I started at once with the man as our guide, and was received by the general cordially, and had a very pleasant conversa- tion for a short time, when I asked him if he would be so kind as to let somcoue show me to the agent's house.
He called the orderly, and after a short walk reached the place, and was introduced to a Mr. Smith, as the agent of the company. He seemed very reticent in giving infor- mation, so much so that I was not at all pleased with the meeting. He stated that he was all ready to receive the cargo and wished me to commence discharging at once. I told him that as soon as I came inside I would begin, and called bis attention to the clause in our charter party, where it read, the "Ship to receive $5,000 gold coin upon arrival," and that I should be glad to give him a receipt for the same. He replied that it was not convenient then, but he trusted he would soon be able to do so. The con- versation ended by my telling him that I should not de- liver a pound of coal till the money was forthcoming.
Feeling uneasy, I started on a survey of the town, and in my walk met a Colonel Kewen and Lieut. Saunders, who were next in command to General Hornsby. I was introduced to their wives, both being very intelligent ladies from one of our Southern States, and had a pleasant chat ; also met a young man who had been clerk in the United
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States consul's office, and from him I learned the true condition of affairs.
Walker was indeed President, but he had been placed there by the bayonet of the filibuster-terror, and civil war was raging. All business was at a standstill. He in- formed me that two ships that preceded us the agent ordered one to Acapulco, the other to Panama. The Mr. Smith to whom I had just been introduced, was Walker's agent. The bona fide man had to leave after the two ships ran away, Walker telling him if he did not go in 24 hours, he would shoot him. He also said that there was no coal in the place and no means of getting any, unless from our ship, and that the vessel that discharged the last cargo of coal previous to the two that run away, lost her whole crew by deserting the ship and joining the filibusters, and that the captain had to pay $150 per man for a crew to work his ship by the run to Callao; that General Hornsby had instructions from Walker to seize our cargo; that three cannon had been mounted on the cliff at the entrance to the harbor, to open fire on us in case we attempted to sail away. Walker's reason for claim- ing the cargo was that the Accessory Transit Company was in debt to his government $300,000 head money, dues from passengers that had come across the country; also that a steamer was expected from San Francisco inside of a week with another load of recruits for the army. He had established a custom house for the ship, with. tonnage dues, anchorage fee and pilotage. This was all robbery, as when I visited the port three years previous it was a free port. He informed ine that they were very short of provisions, from the General down, had hardly the necessaries of life. Of course, in a country like this, one need not starve. They could live on rice, fruit and fish. It was hard drawing this information from the young man, he fearing his life might be in danger, if it reached Walker's ears; but I promised secrecy.
It was now growing late in the afternoon, and I had heard quite enough for one day, and with the thermometer at 80 degrees I concluded to go on board the ship, cool
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off, and digest it. I started for the boat, and when I reached her the lieutenant was there, accompanied by a soldier. When he informed me that he had strict orders from the General not to allow me to go on beard, I made no answer, but attempted to step into the boat. The soldier pointed his musket at me and cried, "Stop!" As it was two to one and the musket, I concluded to sur- render, and seated myself on the stump of a decayed tree near by, without saying a word, but doing some thinking.
In a moment or two I arose to my feet and said to my opponents, "Let us go to headquarters." Upon reach- ing the house, I demanded of the General by whose author- ity I was detained, and declared that it was a high-handed offence to dotain me. I had mixed with Chinamen, Ma- Jays and South Sea Islanders, but never before had a musket been pointed at me. I told him that if he de- tained me, or interfered with my ship in any possible way, I would abandon her, go home, and call on his government for damages. He knew as well as myself, however, that what I said had not much to back it, and that Walker and his followers rested only on a shell, liable at any moment to be shattered. But something must be said to keep my end up. Had this Accessory Transit Company been English instead of American, a man-of-war would have been lying in the harbor and the ship would have had prompt assistance. But this was in the days of the Pierce or Buchanan adminstration, when our coun- try was ruled by Southern Democrats, plotting thon to overthrow it, so we were left alone to fight it out without help.
General Hornsby answered me by saying: "Captain, we won't mince matters, but come to it at once. Your cargo of coal we are bound to have, and if we allow you to go on board, we fear you will sail away as the other ships did. That is why you are detained." By this time I fully realized that I was surrounded by a reckless, unprincipled set, with nothing to lose; that I was in their power and they could fret and annoy me and increase the ship's
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expenses. So I concluded, after the General had his say, to at once go on the other tack, using a little persuasion and diplomacy. I said, "General, you are making a mis- take. I have not the slightest idea of running away, and nothing to gain by such a course, and no time to lose. The ship is chartered home with guano from Peru. If I am detained and do not reach the port of Callao by the first of November, the ship will lose $3 per ton on her charter, which will amount to $4,600. You will see at once that I have no time to go cruising to find a market. Should I go to Panama, the Pacific Mail Steamship Com- pany, knowing my fix, would not offer me eight dollars per ton, and if I go to San Francisco, it would be a long passage to an expensive port, which would eat up half the cargo. You expect a steamer inside of a week. Per- haps I may receive advices from my owners, via San Fran- cisco, or the captain of the steamer may purchase our cargo, and I give you my word I will not leave."
This seemed to strike him forcibly, for he at once said : "Captain, you talk reasonable and your face looks like an honest man. I will not detain you, but after you reach your ship, if I see any signs of a move on your part, I will send a crowd of men and take charge."
I bade him good afternoon and started, breathing a little more freely. When I reached the ship, I talked the matter over with the chief officer, and we both con- cluded that the fog had not lifted any, but seemed thicker than on the previous evening. From what I had learned through the day I feared the Accessory Transit Company's ability to carry out the terms of our charter party, and that Walker's crowd would not long be in power. Appar- ently they had control long enough to ruin the company. My proper course would have been to lay out my lay-days (45), as per charter party, enter my protest, and call on the company for damages; but if they had no bottom, every day's detention made it worse for my owners. I made up my mind, as soon as the opportunity offered, hit or miss, I would take my chance and sell the cargo to the highest bidder, and if this could not be done, as the last
SHIP OCEAN ROVER, 776 TONS, BUILT AT PORTSMOUTH, N. H., IN 1860, From a painting showing the ship entering Hong Kong, Feb 20, 1865.
BRIG OLINDA Tucker & Mansfield, owners ; Richard Wheatland, master. 1825 From a water-color by Anton Roux, owned by the Peabody Museum, Salem.
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push I would slip our chain and sail away in the night ; and while waiting for something to turn up, I must steer clear of breakers and keep ship and myself out of trouble with the daredevils on shore.
The next morning carly, I started for the town, with our boat loaded down with provisions. Our cabin flour was in 50-pound, tins, air-tight, --- flour, hams, cheese, but- ter, biscuit, with a few cabin luxuries for the ladies. Up- on landing, I dispatched these stores to the officials, from the general down, and gave them an invitation to spend the next day on board and take dinner. All came in the ship's gig but the general, who had started that morning for Granada, to see Walker. They all seemed to enjoy themselves very much, and were well pleased with the change and dinner. Just before leaving, Col. Saunders came and quietly said to me, "Captain, you shall not lose a man from your crew." I thanked him and said it would be a great help and saving of expense if they all stayed by the ship. After tea I went on shore with them,, and remained a little while in the evening. When I started to leave, the captain of the guard gave me the counter- sign to pass the guard, as the town was surrounded by a picket guard at night, so that the Nicaraguans should not surprise then.
I trust it may not be out of place if I drop a word or two of advice to the younger readers of this sea story. After 38 years' experience as master, visiting almost all the noted seaports of the world, associating with all nationalities, I made it a point always, if possible, to be civil, courteous and accommodating with all I had to deal. This helped me over rough and jagged places, bringing to a successful termination many crooked ques- tions. I do not hesitate to say that that boatload of pro- visions, which did not cost over thirty dollars, and the dinner where I gained the confidence of the officials by a few kind words, saved the owners of our ship some thousands of dollars.
The next week was an anxious one. I went on shore daily, so as to allay all suspicion of any intention to leave,
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mixing with the authorities, if such they could be called, always having a ready excuse in case I was asked why I did not bring the ship in, which seemed to satisfy them. A few days later I had an attack of fever, caused by anxiety and exposure to the sun. The shore doctor at- tended me, and his report helped to keep all quiet. One morning, about ten days after our arrival, the steamer Sierra Nevada, Captain Blitham, arrived from San Fran- cisco. This was the one we had been looking for, and I sent the chief officer on board to ask if the captain would call and see me. . He came before he went on shore, bring- ing a gentleman whom he introduced as Commodore, presi- dent of the company in San Francisco. I said, "I am glad to meet you, Commodore; tell me what is best to do for all concerned." After waiting a moment, he answered slowly, "Captain, I cannot advise you in this matter; . you must use your own judgment."
Thus thrown upon my resources, I offered him the cargo as per charter party at $22 per ton. This he de- clined, but was willing to pay that price for 300 tons, which I sold him. After talking this matter over for a half-hour, I agreed to sell him the cargo at $17.50 per ton, and cancel the sale of the 300 tons on these condi- tions: That I should have all the time till his steamer sailed again for San Francisco (about ten days) to con- sider this offer, hoping I might meantime hear from my owners. The steamer to tow the ship into the anchorage, to take the cargo as per 13 per cent. lading, no weighing, to give Captain Blitham power of attorney to act for him after he left, to pay me the five thousand dollars in gold coin down, the balance payable on return of steamer from San Francisco in drafts at ten days sight on Morgan & Sons, New York. I drew up a strong agreement, which we both signed. The captain sent the steamer to tow us to the anchorage, when we commenced discharging at once, much to the joy of the filibusters, as with our cargo they would have coal enough to keep the steamers running back and forth to San Francisco, bringing recruits. This was all they wanted, and they did not worry us any more on
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that line. We soon put the 300 tons on board, as the steamer hauled alongside and we swung it over from our hatch and rail down his.
The time soon came for them to sail, and as they were heaving up the anchor, I went on board and told the captain the cargo was his, having heard nothing from the owners. Soon she was on her way, and we were left alone. The days rolled by quickly, working on cargo and ship. Every now and then something would turn up on shore to discuss ; often the mate reported hearing the musket-balls as they whistled through the rigging, owing to the random firing on shore. The fact was, they were a reckless, un- principled, desperate sot ; like their leader, Walker, there to get the most they could out of it. The discipline was bad, and almost every day some trouble arose among them. One afternoon, in a street fight, a soldier killed his com- rade by running him through the bowels with his bayonet, and I don't think he was ever brought to justice.
I went on shore almost every day, as it was policy for me to keep on the right side of them, to save the ship trouble and expense. One day I had an invitation to go out and see a duel fought, between the captain of the artillery and the judge of the district court. The trouble originated in this manner. In some argument together they came to hot words, when the judge picked up an empty beer bottle, throwing it at the lieutenant, striking him in the head, for which he challenged him to fight a duel with pistols, which be accepted. Seconds were cho- sen, and we started out to a level piece of land, about a mile from the town. Upon reaching the spot, they com- menced on business at once. Twelve paces were marked off, pistols loaded and cocked, combatants placed in posi- tion, and the signal to fire was one, two, three, and fire when the word three was pronounced.
I noticed on the way out, the judge was very nervous and excited, while the lieutenant was cool and collected. I said to myself, the judge, in his condition, might fire a random shot broad of his mark; so I glanced around for a place of shelter. Fortunately a large tree, on an
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angle of about 45 degress from the battlefield, was near by, and behind this I barricaded myself, well protected, so I could see on either side. Stillness reigned around ; twelve paces seemed like death to one or both; pistols were banded to them, and word given to be ready, in a clear voice. "One, two, three!" when, to our great sur- prise, the judge took deliberate aim and pulled the trig- ger, but the cartridge failed to explode. The lieutenant was on the watch, and could have shot his antagonist dead, but took in the situation at once and discharged his pistol in the air. This so overcame the judge, that he apolo- gized, and both shook hands, and to our great joy all re- turned to town alive.
While lying here, a New Bedford whaling captain by the name of Norton, arrived in a pilot boat that he had purchased in San Francisco to cruise on this coast for seal oil. This was just the craft the filibusters wanted, and, on some slight pretext in relation to custom house business, they seized and confiscated her. This was about all the property the poor captain owned, and it made him sick, but he could get no redress. They turned the vessel into a so-called Nicaraguan man-of-war, changing her name to Granada, and placing her in charge of Commodore De Buessot and other high-named officials. Walker sent her north, in the Gulf of Fonseca, 150 miles away, on a cruise. While sailing about they overtook, one day, a big canoe crossing the gulf. Among the passengers was a Nicaraguan gentleman belonging to one of the first families in the state. After this capture, they squared away for San Juan, and at the time they arrived I was on shore and saw the poor fellow as he landed, and sick at the time. They mounted him on a mule the same even- ing, and the day after he reached Granada. Walker tried him by court martial and sentenced him to death. The same evening he was taken out on the square and shot by a file of soldiers. Many such scenes took place in the reign of this cold-blooded, heartless man; but his time came at last, for, not many months after he was driven out of the country and went across to Honduras to try to
Stone, Silsbee & Pickman, owners. SHIP AURORA
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play the same game there. But the authorities were on the alert, and if I remember right, he was seized as a spy and shot in the same manner that he had shot many others.
Our discharging went on smoothly, they taking away our coal as fast as we could deliver it. Every Saturday I gave one watch liberty on shore; at 6 P. M. I sent in our boat for them, when every man returned promptly and sober. I never had such a quiet time in port with my crew, and the boatload of provisions and dinner cer- tainly paid good dividends in this case. After a month's time, we had discharged all our coal but 300 tons, which we agreed to keep on board for the steamer on her return. I then took in 400 tons of ballast, keeping the coal in the middle of the ship, with our ballast forward and abaft, the coal separated by a plank bulkhead, so that, after we had put the 300 tons on the, steamer, we should be about ready for sea.
It was now 40 days since the steamer left, and she was daily looked for. To me this meant a good deal, for if she should not return, after landing all our cargo our voyage might wind up badly, as the only guarantee I had was the agreement with Mr. Garrison. One morning, a few days later, to my great delight, we sighted smoke in- shore to the northwest. Soon the hull of a steamer was in sight; in an hour or so she anchored, and proved to be the Sierra Nevada from San Francisco. I went on board and found the purser all ready for me, with drafts signed for full payment of cargo. I also found a gentle- man on board going across the country to take the steamer for New York, who kindly took my letters, and so I was relieved of an anxiety that had been hanging over me ever since the steamer sailed away. The next day she hauled alongside and we soon put the balance of coal out.
A short time before I sailed, the authorities gave me what they called a banquet, the like of which I never wish to attend again. Speeches were made, toasts drank, and, by 11 P. M., it began to be very lively, when I begged to be excused, as it was necessary for me to be on board,
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feeling thankful that the time was daily growing shorter when I should not be compelled to mix with such a crowd. Coming on shore, next day, I was informed that many of them were under the table by midnight, and had the Nic- araguans come in that night they might have taken. pos- session of the town and murdered all hands.
In settling up I had to pay $288 port charges. This was robbery, as it would have been a free port, had not these usurpers been there. Another heavy charge was for ballast, which cost, put alongside, $925.
However, we got away fairly reasonable; the whole disbursement account, including the above, was $2172. Soon as the coal was out, all we had to do was to take away our bulkheads and level off the ballast.
Saturday afternoon came, and I was all ready for sea. Sunday intervening, I concluded to wait until Monday. In the afternoon, I took a walk out on the main road and met a man coming in on horseback, holding up something in his hand. As I greeted him, he handed me two letters -- one from my family, and the other from the owners, dated St. Nicholas hotel, New York, in which they in- formed me that if I had not already done so, to sell the cargo, as they had read the agreement I had with Mr. Garrison, and it was the best thing that could be done. These were the first letters I had received from home since leaving Boston, and they were a pleasant surprise, and paid for waiting over Sunday. Early on Monday morning we hove up the anchor, set all sail, saluted the lookers-on with the Stars and Stripes, and gladly sailed out of this God-forsaken port.
We have now a dead beat of nearly 1500 miles to the south, to reach our port, as the trade winds blow from the south most of the year, along the coasts of Colombia and Peru. So we braced the yards sharp up, close-hauled on the wind, course full, and, by taking every advantage of the slants of wind, sometimes we were close in shore, then off for a hundred miles or so. It was a very monotonous passage, hardly a sail being seen, fine weather all the time, only the Andes for the eye to rest upon, towering
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up into the heavens, upward of 12,000 feet, and seen sometimes, on a clear day, over 100 miles. Thus the time passed quietly, the good ship working to windward and shortening our distance daily. This coast is not like ours, dotted with villages and life, with the exception of Guay- aquil and Payta. It has no desirable ports until Callao is reached-what towns there are being inland.
We did have a little excitement for a short time one night. If I remember right, it was just after midnight. The chief officer coming running down to my stateroom calling out, "Captain, breakers right ahead." "Hard down the helm, and go on the other tack," I answered. When I came on deck, the main yard was swinging round, tacks and sheets flying, and all excitement, for the mate, with no uncertain sound, had called all hands, and every man was doing his best to save the ship. Soon the head yards were trimmed sharp, and we were heading off with our stern to the breakers.
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