“THE SILVER CAPTAIN.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 14, 1 September 1911, Page 8

“THE SILVER CAPTAIN.”

On October 11 tli, 1799, Admiral Sir Henry Digby, then captain commanding the British frigate Alcmene, on a cruise of the Spanish coast, had shaped Ins course for Capo St. Vincent, and was running to the southward. At 11 o’clock at night, when in the latitude of Cape Finistorre, Sir Henry rang his hell to summon the officer of the watch. He asked the lieutenant, “How are we steering?” “Sonth-south-wost, sir,” was the reply. “What sort of weather?” “The same, sir, as when you left the deck—line, strong breeze, starlight night.” “Arc we carrying the same sail as at sunset?” “Yes, sir. Double-reefed topsails and foresails.” Digby looked at the officer of the watch attentively for a moment, and then asked him whether, to his knowledge, any one had entered the cabin. “I believe not, sir,” was the reply, “but I will enquire of the sentry. Sentry!” then called out the officer of the Fateh ; “has there boon, anyone in the captain’s cabin?” “No, sir; nobody.” “Very odd,” rejoined Digby. “I was perfectly convinced that I had been spoken to.” The officer of the watch then left the cabin, an,d returned to the quart-er-deck. At -2 in the ! morning the captain’s boll was again rung, the same questions being repeated to the then officer of the watch who had relieved the former one, and the same answers given. “A most extraordinary thing,” said the captain. “Every time 1 drop asleep I hear somebody si;outing in my car, ‘Digby! Digby! go to the northward.’ I shall certainly do so. Take another reef in your topsails, haul your wind, tack every hour till daybreak, and then call me.” The officer of the watch acted in strict accordance with those strange orders. When relieved at 4 in the morning by a third lieutenant, the officer expressed great astonish* rnent at finding the ship’s course altered. “What is the meaning of this?” ho said to, his messmate. “Meaning!” replied the other; “why, the captain has gone stark, staring mad, that’s all.” And then he told his story, at which they both laughed heartily. There being no help for it, however, those strange orders were strictly obeyed, and the frigate was tacked duly at four, at five, at six, and at seven o’clock. She had just come round for the last time, when suddenly the man at the mast-head called out: “Large ship on the weather bow, sir!” On nearing the strange sail, a musket was discharged to bring her to. She was promptly boarded, and proved to be a Spanish vessel laden with an enormous booty in dollars, and a very rich cargo of cochineal and spices as well. By this prize the fortunate dreamer secured a large portion of the great fortune which ho amassed in the naval service. As to the practical results of the dream, the share of the proze money thus won by those on board the Alemane is stated to have been: The captain, £40,7110 18s sd; the lieutenants, each £5091 7s 3d; the warrant officers, each £2463 10s 9kl; midshipmen, each £791 17s Old; seamen and marines, each £lB2 14s 9sd. The treasure captured is said, moreover, to have been so weighty that sixty-tluec artillery tumbrils had to bo requisitioned to convey it from Hamoaze to Plymouth Citadel.