by Dean King
One day hur sun invited me and my linkister [interpreter] to ride out into the country upon an excurcion. We stop’d at a wine house and took a little refresment. In our return, about two miles from town, he took a small whissel out of his pocket and begin to blow it. I understood before that it was a signal. I begin to be a little doubtful of him, and seeing two men on horse back came riding out a wood towards us, I put myself in a posicion of defence and my comrod likewise. The young officer burst out a laughing and when these men came up he told my linkister they ware friends and I need not be under any apprihension while we ware together. In entering the town we stoped at a very genteel house and introduced me to a hansome young woman and told me that was to be his intended bride. They treated us to some good wine. We then returned home.
We had now been about a month in Viana. By consulting with my linkister, I thought it best to prepare for Porto Port, as I wished to get on b[oar]d. There was 12 men in all, beside myself. The Counsel gave me the money that was allowed for the men, beside money I drew upon my agent in Porto, which was Sq[uire] Cazy. This gentl[eman] and his wife understanding that we ware going away the next morning, he came with us a cross the river and after landing, walking up the road, we came to a church, and who should I see but his wife and a servent girl with two baskets, one with provisions ready dressed and the other with wine, and desired us all to come into a large porch and regale our selves before we went any farther. We then started on the road, and while walking about a mile, she fill’d my pockets with amons [almonds], raeaons [raisins], and different kinds of dried fruit, unpurceiv’d by him. Coming to the foot of a hill, we parted and arived in Porto the day following.
Shortly after the Netley came off the barr, and we went on board. Runing off Vigo, we fell in with an English brig taken by a Spanish privateer, but she was in ballast. I was sent on b[oar]d to take hur into Porto, where she had been bound to for port wine. When I came off the bar and was runing in, the fort fired me off, thinking we ware load’d and not water sufficient for a loaded vessel, but being light there was water sufficient as the head pilot inform’d me afterwards. The wind being dead on shore from the westward, I had to hall close to the wind to get off shore as fast as I could.
It conn[ti]n[ue]d on to blow hard from the S.W. I found the ship was making water fast. I found by three Spaniards, prisoners I had on b[oar]d, that she had receiv’d some shot between wind and water, and we could not find out where the leaks was. We kept one pump constantly going. By 12 o’clock in the night it blew a gale with rain. I got hur under close reef topsails and foresail, but carreing away our fore and aft mainsail, I then took in the foresail and fore topsail and laid hur two under the main topsail. She then lay two very well, but the ballast in the whole was sand and nothing to prevent the sand from washing to the pump. It would choke, though we pumped a great deal on deck, and while lifting the pum[p] to clear it and put it down again the leak gained on us. We then got both pumps agoing, but they soon choaked again. In lifting the larboard pump, as we had the starbourd three of four times, we found it was splised, therefore it was useless. In bending an other mainsail and lifting the one pump so often, that by daylight she was two thirds full of water, but the gale had luled a good deal, but the ballace washing about begin to heave hur on hur side, or on hur beam ends, I found there was no hopes of saving the vessel.
We got a six oard boat out, and in hoisting hur out in a hurry we lost three oars, but with great difficulty we got hur under the stern. We could not get either bread or water, being below. I allowed we ware about ten or a leven leagues from the high lands of Viana. I found it time to leave hur. They all got over the stern by a rope, excepting a Portegee boy and myself, which was the last, and he begin to cry. He understood the Spaniards was going to cut the painter and leave us behind. I having a brace of ships pistols in my belt, I drew one and told them I would kill the first man that let go the rope till the boy was in the boat. I hove another rope over the stern, and while they ware receiving the boy, I was down likewise.
I went aft and took charge of the boat. I kept hur before the wind and as the see fell I edged in for the land. All our crew in the boat was 9 in number: 3 Spanish prisoners, 3 Portegees beside the boy, ware friendly with the Spanish at that time, the capt[ain’s] son which was left on board, being sick, and myself. We puled with two oars and steared with the other. We continued all day and all night in that situation. In the morning before day light we ware within 3 or 4 miles of the shore. They became so weary that they hove the two oars across the boat and fell asleep. I endeavoured to encourage them, but all in vain. I found the boat was nearly as full of water as we had left the ship, and as I had not before mentioned when we ware about 500 yards she was under water.
The men sitting on the seats asleep, I laid my stearing oar in and turned to bailing till I had got hur nearly clear of water. I then roused up the Portegees and they assisted to clear the boat entierly. They took fresh courage. We got in shore about 4 o’clock P.M. but could not land, the surf being very high. We pulled a long shore till we made the entrance of Comenia River, a Portegee fort being there, and night coming on, I was determened to risk it through the surf, beside I understood by the Portegees that the Spaniards wanted them to land on the north side, under the Spanish fort, beside, for the want of water and nourishment, we ware nearly helpless. I up hellern and away we went. The Portegee soldiers looking at us, they came on the beach to receive us, but the boat struck a rock that lay under water, which we could not see, and stove hur to peaces, and we ware left a floating in the surf, nearly helpless. The soldiers came in to their necks in the water and brougt us out, but they put us into the fort, not [k]nowing weather we ware friends or enemies, but the Portegees that I had with me inform the commander who we ware, and knowing the Netley protected there coast, he took me to his own room. I having money, I gave him a half joe and he sent two soldiers to a public house about a mile off and brought a feather bead, wine, and fowls for the capt[ain] of the fort and myself and a good supply for the few soldiers that ware there and the men that ware with me, which refresh’d us very much that night.
In the morning the commander inform’d me that we must go to Commenia to be overhall’d and give information from whence we came, which was four miles out of our road. However we started with a guard, and ariving there, was overhall’d by the Squiers, and all being rectified, they gave me a passport and a small sum of money to take us to Viana, which was 4 leagues. That evening we arived in Viana. Being acquainted with the Counsel, beforementioned, I applyed to him. He informed me there was a capt[ain] of a vessel had been taken by the Spanierds and was then on his way to Portoport, and if I could make it convenient, we could both start in the morning, and he would find mules for us both, and inform’d me where I would find the capt[ain] in the morning.
I took my departure from the Counsel that evening and went to see my old friends, which I have heretofore made mention of. Ariving at there habutation, they ware rejoiced to see me, and supper was provided, but he purceiving my shoes was torn in traveling, without saying anything to me, he went out and brought some new shoes to fit me, he supposing that I had lost everything and moneless [moneyless] (by the acount they had received), which was true excepting money. When the shoes was fited he then went into his bedroom and brought out a bag of money, opened it, and would insist on my taking as much as I thought proper. It was all silver and gold. I refused and told him I had money, but he would not be satisfied till I show’d him nine half joes, beside what I had spent. Then he apeared to be satisfied. He would not receive any money for the shoes and likewise when I was in his house before mentioned would not receive any money from me. I then having two watches about me, I beged he wout give the one I gave him to a watchmaker to clean it, as it had got wet in the boat, and to keep it till I sent for it, being then valued at 25 dollars. He promised he would, but it was not my intention ever to send for it after the kindest treatment I could receive from my greatest friends.
We had an excelent super, but I must confess my felings was hurt by the conduct of his wife. He served my plate upon his left hand and his wife on the right, then serving himself. His wife observing, according to hur opinion that he had taken the preference to himself, she took hur fork and put the prime piece into my plate and put what he had put into my plate into his plate, which would apear very singular in many parts that I had travel’d at that time, however it all pased as kindness to a stranger, which it apeared to me that it pleas’d him in hur so doing.
The young officer, being present at supper, was to escort me before daylight to the place where the capt[ain] was to be ready. We had not went above half way to the main street when two soldiers came up to us drawing there swords. We both drew, but he steped forward and cried out “Leguardo,” and they seeing him in officers uniforms, they run and was soon out of sight. We went on and found the capt[ain] preparing. The young officer being aquainted with the family, we remained till daylight, ful of friendship and mirth. We took our departure. The Counsel had a flat and the mules with a man to bring them back. We cross’d the river and arived in Porto about 9 o’clock that night, which is call’d 10 leagues, but cruel, bad roads, rocks, sands, swamps, and rivers, where a horse could not go.
I remained sum time in Porto til the Netley arived and then went on board. Laying off Vigo, we fell in with a brig of sixteen guns bound into Vigo, taken by a French cutter mounting 18 long 18 pounders. She proved to be American brig [Nymph]from Philadelphia bound up the Straits. This was in the year [26 March] 1800.Iwas sent on board to take charge, though the capt[ain] when taken was left on board. He told Capt[ain] Bond that the French cutter was crusing for the Netley in the latt’d of Lisbon. I was ordered to take the brig into the first port that would be most convenient.
I run off Porto barr, came to an anchor, and having but a light air of wind and the pilots would not atempt to take a vessel in without being high tide and a favouable wind, beside having a boat a head with a ketch anchor, I then begin to lift my anchor, having but 5 men with myself, and the capt[ain] walking the quarter deck. Having no windless or capstan, we had a leading takle to the quarter deck, and when the takle was a block we had to stoper the cable till we fleeted our purchase. In the meantime, being calm, I had my topsails hoisted to the mast head, the fore topsail erased aback to heave hur head off shore, and the main topsail to shiver the wind. We pulling with all our might to get the anchor to the bows, I observed the swell was drawing us in shore.
I said to the capt[ain], “Will you give us a pul till we get the anchor to the bows?”
“No,” said he, “but if you get my vessel on shore, I will blow your brains out.”
It inraged me. I let go the fall, and the four men held on and took a turn standing, looking on. I run to the armchest and took out a brace that I had loaded myself and steped on the weather side where he was. “Now, Sir, I am ready. Is your pistol loaded?”
“Yes.”
“Then lay holt of it, or walk down into the cabin. I will let you [k]now that I command this vessel.” He said no more but walked into the cabin. We turned too and got the anchor up, cated [catted], and fish’d, and secured. We ketched a breeze, sprung up from the N.W., and kep away for Lisbon.
In the evening he came on deck and apeared to be very sociable. I overhall’d the guns to see weather they ware in order, as there was a great number of small privateers lurking about the Burlins, a few leagues to the N. of the rock of Lisbon. Laying near the entrance on the north side of the river Tagus, it is a remarkable high mountain, 22 miles west of Lisbon, Long’d 9°35’W., Lat’d 38°42’N., and Porto port lays in 41°15’N. L’d, Long’d 10°W. by account.
On the passage the capt’n was very desirous I would run away and he would take me as his chief mate. When we got into Lisbon I saw his deception and put no trust in him. Whin we came to Bellam Castle we had to come to an anchor till further orders. In lifting our anchor he went and got some more men to help us to take the vessel up. When coming to an anchor, our agent came on b[oar]d. The capt[ain] demanded an order from me to the Counsel to pay those men, thinking he would trick me. The agent told me to give it to him and the Counsel would laugh at him. I gave it to him. He then required me to go with him. I did so and went to the Counsel. When he gave it to him, and he looked at it, the Counsel looked at me, and we both laughed. The Counsel told him if he hired a hundred men he would have to pay them, as one eighth goes to the vessel that retook hur from the enemy. The Counsel laugh’d and I laugh’d and he bit his lips with anger, and I thought I was about square with him for his trickery to me. The brig was delivered up to the capt[ain], and shortly after the Netley came into Lisbon. I went on board.
In a few days we put to see and run off Vigo. Cruising, at about 10 o’clock A.M., we ware standing to the south, we discovered a sail standing for us till she could make out that it was the Netley. We ware in the rig of a galyot chiefly, but in 20 minutes we could be a schooner, but they had been deceived so often by us that the sight of us was a dred to them, but this was the cutter [La Légère]that the French capt[ain] told the Americans he was cruising for the Netley and wished he could meet us, but now when she perfectly new what we ware, she hailed hur wind, standing to the north to get into Vigo. We put about and stood after hur, but we still kept to leeward betwen hur and the shore. The wind being light, they got their swepes out. We then got our sweeps out and in a dead calm we could pull the Netley three mile in an hour. She proved to be the same vessel before mentioned.
We ware prepared and had our (boarding) nettings up, knowing hur force, which was 18 long 18 pounders and one hundred men. Our force was 16-24 pounders and our full compliment was 60 men, but by taking so many vessels we often had more. We sailing faster than the cutter, we came up alongside of hur. They ware for boarding, but our boarding netting being three quarters of an inch and nearly up to the catharpens [catharpins], which made it very difficult, the French got into the riging and netting to cut away, but we being prepared with cutlash, pistols, and boarding pikes, beside we had a brass 4 pounder we could ship fore and aft with musket balls that they dreaded. Being close quarter, our great guns was not used except an oppertunity served. Likewise, we could fier our guns twice to there once, there guns being long.
In the smoke I purceiv’d the French capt[ain] drawing a pistol from his belt to fire at our capt[ain] that was giving command. I drew a pistol at the same time and let him have the contents. At the same time a stout Frenchman made a blow at me with a large hanger, from the netting, but the man behind me saw the blow and covered my head with his boarding pike, which was cut that it fell and the bare pint struck me in the head and I fell, but the man ketch’d up the pike and run it into his body and he fell between the two vessels. I recovered in a few minutes.
They finding they could not board us, and there capt[ain] slain, and our small brass piece made a scattering on their decks, they found it in vain and struck their colours [29 May 1800] in less than 30 minutes. We had no men killed but a good many wounded. What was kiled on b[oar]d the cutter we had no purticular account of, as some went over board, but a great many wounded.
We cleared the decks and repaird the riging and took hur into Lisbon. We refited and refreshed the crew. The cutter was sold into the Portogees service as a man of war.
We put to see again. Runing off Porto we took a Spanish lugger. I went on board, and in going to Lisbon, the Netley in company, we took two more, and the Netley going on a cruise, left me in charge of them. I took them in, and laying there under the charge of Mr. Lynes & Gill, our agents, Mr. Lynes had bought a privateer schooner that had been taken, and I laying in one of the luggers, close two hur off of Buckeys Stairs, about the center of the town, which is a square where the gentry generally walk and meat [meet] upon acasion on the River Tagos. Mr. Loynes wished I would “give an I,” or take charge of the schooner, as well as the rest, having only one old man on board, a Portegee, and all hur powder on board.
One fore
noon, being on board my own lugger with the men and one of the prisemasters belonging to one of the luggers, we purceived the flames and smoke coming up the main hatchway. I jumped into the skiff and asked who would follow me. They, knowing the danger, refused, till one man by the name of Wm. Grimes came with me and a bucket. We got on b[oar]d as fast as posseble. The merchant ships that lay all around hur wore away their cables to the klinch, [k]nowing she had a good deal of powder in and expecting she would blow up every moment. We got on board, and the old man was sitting before the fire in the hatchway and the bulkhead all in a blaze. There was the lazareet between the magazeen and the fire, which was not more than 10 or 12 feet.
The oul man, as soon as he saw me, cried out, “O, munta frees,” and rubing his hands, which was that he was very cold.
“Yes, dam you,” said I, “you will be hot a nuff presently,” jumping down the hatchway, with a crowbar in my hand, and stove away the bulk head, as he kept heaving water wherever I stove down the bricks and boards. Some bricks in the fireplace had been broken, therefore the bulk head ketched fire on the opposite side. We got the fire out but could not be certain. I hailed the nearest ship to send there boat to take the powder out of the schooner, but the mate told me he could not get a man to go. I inshured him there was no danger.