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Domestic News
July 20, 1786
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Capt. John Tibbets arrived in Portsmouth on July 20 from St. Lucia, reporting a July 7 encounter at sea where three armed ships fired on his vessel but he escaped unharmed.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
PORTSMOUTH, July 20.
Capt. John Tibbets, who arrived here on Saturday last, in -- days, from St. Lucia, informs, that on the 7th inst. in latitude 34:00 north, longitude 66:31 west, he saw three ships standing to the eastward, which lay by and made a signal to speak with him: supposing them to be merchant ships bound to some part of Europe, he hoisted American colors, and being to windward, bore down to speak with them. One of the ships hoisted colors to her main-top mast-head which he supposed to be Dutch, and then hauled them down again: as soon as he got within two hundred yards of her she hoisted her colors to her mizen-peak, and fired four shot at him, on which he immediately hauled his wind to the northward: the other two ships fired four shot as he passed them, but luckily without effect. The three ships, on seeing him make sail from them, immediately hove about, and setting all the sail they could, chased him about an hour and an half, when perceiving he out-sailed them, they bore away and stood to the eastward, after firing a Shot to bring him to. One of them appeared to have thirty guns, and the other two, eighteen or twenty each.
Capt. John Tibbets, who arrived here on Saturday last, in -- days, from St. Lucia, informs, that on the 7th inst. in latitude 34:00 north, longitude 66:31 west, he saw three ships standing to the eastward, which lay by and made a signal to speak with him: supposing them to be merchant ships bound to some part of Europe, he hoisted American colors, and being to windward, bore down to speak with them. One of the ships hoisted colors to her main-top mast-head which he supposed to be Dutch, and then hauled them down again: as soon as he got within two hundred yards of her she hoisted her colors to her mizen-peak, and fired four shot at him, on which he immediately hauled his wind to the northward: the other two ships fired four shot as he passed them, but luckily without effect. The three ships, on seeing him make sail from them, immediately hove about, and setting all the sail they could, chased him about an hour and an half, when perceiving he out-sailed them, they bore away and stood to the eastward, after firing a Shot to bring him to. One of them appeared to have thirty guns, and the other two, eighteen or twenty each.
What sub-type of article is it?
Shipping
Arrival Departure
What keywords are associated?
Ship Encounter
Fired Upon
Chase At Sea
American Vessel
St Lucia Arrival
What entities or persons were involved?
Capt. John Tibbets
Where did it happen?
Portsmouth
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Portsmouth
Event Date
July 20
Key Persons
Capt. John Tibbets
Outcome
no damage; escaped pursuit
Event Details
Capt. John Tibbets arrived from St. Lucia and reported encountering three ships on July 7 in latitude 34:00 north, longitude 66:31 west. They signaled, he approached under American colors, but they fired shots at him. He escaped northward, chased for an hour and a half, then they gave up. Ships: one with thirty guns, two with eighteen or twenty each.