110 FISHERMEN'S MEMORIAL AND RECORD BOOK. 



ious to all civilized communities. The surprise of those having the 

 Horton in charge, as well as the good citizens of Guysboro', when they 

 awoke on that eventful Monday morning and found that Yankee fish- 

 ermen had been at work while they slept, and had taken possession 

 of this captured fishing vessel, can be imagined better than described. 



It was apprehended that pursuit would at once be made, but the 

 captain had made his calculations to elude it. At daylight the ves- 

 sel was outside of Little Canso, and her course was shaped S. S. "W. 

 in order to obtain a good offing. There was a fresh breeze from the 

 N. N. W., and by sundown she was many miles outside of land, with 

 her course shaped for the northern edge of the Gulf Stream. There 

 was plenty of water and provisions on board, as the vessel had been 

 refitted only two clays before being taken by the cutter. This was 

 not known for a certainty, but had to be risked, and fortunate indeed 

 was it that the officials had not removed these important sinews of 

 war. The southwesterly course was 1 pursued until the llth, when a 

 severe easterly gale was encountered, in which the vessel's foresail 

 was badly damaged. Saw one steamer on the third day out, did not 

 speak any vessels, but was continually anxious for fear of being re- 

 captured. The captain had made up his mind that the vessel should 

 not be retaken, and in case an English cruiser molested them, prep- 

 arations were all ready to burn the Horton. The course was contin- 

 ued across the southeast part of Georges Banks, and then direct for 

 Cape Ann, the vessel arriving Wednesday evening, October 18th. 



The passage was made without any charts or nautical instruments, 

 with the exception of the compass, the captain relying entirely on his 

 own judgment in shaping his course. 



EXCITEMENT PREVIOUS TO HER ARRIVAL. 



The Monday previous to the Horton's arrival, a rumor prevailed 

 here in town that an English 'war steamer was cruising in the bay, 

 for the purpose of intercepting and capturing the fugitive schooner. 

 But very few credited such a sensational rumor, but as there was a 

 probability that such might be the case, Collector Fitz J. Babson took 

 immediate measures to insure protection to the Horton in case she 

 should be waylaid. He at once corresponded with Collector Russell, 

 of the Boston Custom House, and suggested that an American gov- 

 ernment vessel be sent to watch the movements of the Englishman, 

 and prevent any outrage in our waters. He also telegraphed to Port- 

 land to secure the services of the cutter McCulloch. In the after- 

 noon, during the absence of Collector Babson in Boston, on business 



