142 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



Mount Hope, David Cottle master. In quick succession they learned of the capture of the Alli- 

 gator, Hope, Manilla, Ocean (brig), Eauger, Fame,* Eose, Kenown,* Sterling, Edward, Gardner, 

 Mouticello, Chili, Eebecca, and others, and it may be easily imagined that the prospect for the 

 islanders had but little in it that appeared encouraging. New Bedford, too, although at this time 

 her interest in this business was far less than that of Nantucket, suffered from the capture of her 

 whaling vessels.! 



" Again did war put an effectual stop to the pursuit of whaling from every port of the United 

 States save Nantucket, and again were the inhabitants of that town, knowing no business except 

 through their shipping, compelled to strive to carry their commercial marine through the tempest 

 of fire as free from complete destruction as possible. A new source of danger presented itself. 

 Prior to the declaration of war between Great Britain and America our whalemen on the coast of 

 Peru}: had often suffered from piratical acts of the Peruvian privateers, being continually plun- 

 dered and cut out from Chilian ports, whither they had gone to recruit. The chronic state of 

 affairs on this coast beiiig one of war, the Government of the United States had sent the Hon. Joel 

 E. Poinsett, of South Carolina, to those parts to see that American commerce was suitably pro- 

 tected, but for several mouths his remonstrances had been worse than useless. The declaration of 

 war between England and the United States gave the Peruvian corsairs a fresh pretext for the 

 exercise of their plundering propensities. They claimed that they were the allies of England, and 

 as such were entitled to capture the vessels of any power with which she was at war. An expedi- 

 tion was equipped by tbe authorities of Lima and sent on its marauding way. This army suc- 

 ceeded in capturing the towns of Conception and Talcahuano. In the latter port was a large num- 

 ber of American ships, many of them whalemen, who, having obtained their cargoes of oil, had put 

 in to recruit with provisions and water before making the homeward voyage. Among these were 

 the ships Criterion, Mary Ann, Monticello, Chili, John and James, Lima, Lion, Sukey, Gardner, 

 President, Perseverance, and Atlas, of Nantucket. 



" This was in April, 1813. These vessels were detained in the harbor by the Limian armament, 

 which consisted of two men-of-war, with about 1,500 troops. Having found a bag containing about 

 $800 on board the President, they carried her captain, Solomon Folger, ashore under a guard and 

 imprisoned the remaining officers and crew, excepting the mate, one boat-steerer, and the cook. 



"Learning of this condition of affairs, Poiusett immediately joined the Chilian army and 

 directed its movements. On the 15th of May a battle was fought between the, contending forces near 

 the town of San Carlos, but when the day had closed neither side could claim the victory. Taking 

 advantage of the cover of the night, Poinsett put himself at the head of four hundred picked men, 

 with three pieces of light artillery, and, leaving the main body, marched directly to Talcahuano, 

 whither the enemy had withdrawn. The town was immediately carried by storm and the detained 

 whalemen were released. Some of the ships having had their papers destroyed, Poinsett fur- 

 nished them with consular certificates. The friendly regard for the United States which diplo- 



"*The Fame was used in the English lishery, and the Renown, under the name of Adam,' while engaged in the 

 same pursuit under the same flag, went ashore on Deal beach and bilged in 1824 or 1825. 



"In 1812 the brig Nauina. Capt. Valentine Barnard, of New York, sailed to the Falkland Islands on a sealing and 

 elephant-oil cruise. The British ship Isabella having become wrecked, her crew were rescued by the Nanina, and 

 showed their gratitude to Captain Barnard by seizing his vessel and setting him, with Barzillai Pease, Andrew Hunter, 

 and E. Pease, of his crew, ashore on New Island, one of the group. A protest signed by the four was published iu the 

 Hudson Bee, and also in the supplement of Niles's Register for 1814." 



"tThe ship Sally, Clark master, was captured while homeward bound with 1,200 barrels of sperm oil on board. 

 Value of vessel and cargo, $40,000. The Triton also was captured, involving a loss of $16,000." 



" J These vessels belonged almost exclusively to New Bedford and Nautuckot." 



" See Nantucket Inquirer, August 9, 1824 ; also Inquirer and Mirror, September 14, 1672. In the latter paper IN 

 au account of the affair written by Capt. Nathaniel Fitzgerald, one of the crew on one of the detained whalers." 



