236 CAPTAIN ZACHARY G. LAMSON 



murder was heard between decks. We 

 passengers were between decks and such a 

 scene we do not often see as her decks pre- 

 sented. As many as six or eight couples 

 were fighting between decks and it ap- 

 peared that they were killing each other 

 below with knives. I advised Captain 

 Lewis to draw a rope across the deck by 

 the mainmast and threaten death to any 

 one who came abaft. We all agreed to sup- 

 port him and by adopting this course we 

 kept the quarter deck clear, and by day- 

 light we discovered a large sail which we 

 took to be a man of war. I advised speak- 

 ing her and putting the principals on board. 

 At ten A. M. spoke her and to our astonish- 

 ment, we were informed of the American 

 government's declaring war, 1 and we were 

 a prize to her. She proved to be the Eng- 

 lish fifty gun ship Antelope commanded by 

 Captain Carpenter, bearing Admiral Duck- 

 worths flag. 2 I was detained on board the 



1 War declared June 18, 1812. 



2 Admiral Sir John Duckworth, best known for his 

 rather inglorious passage of the Dardanelles in 1807. 



