CHAPTER II

Pacific and Unpacific

SAUNDERS' First Prize-Harrying the Spaniard-Disasters and Adventures-Many Scuttlings and Big Captures.

AT

T the beginning of September, the Commodore despatched Captain Saunders on an important mission. The Tryal with a crew strengthened by ten men from the Centurion was to cruise off Valparaiso and waylay Spanish merchantmen. Anson meanwhile converted the Carmelo into a man-of-war by mounting guns from the Anna. He sent certain passengers and seamen from the captured vessel to assist the working of the Gloucester. The slender number of hands now had four ships and prisoners as well to look after. With the Centurion and the Carmelo, Anson intended to join the Tryal off Valparaiso during the third week in September. On his way he discovered two ships, one making straight for the Centurion. He correctly took her for a Spaniard. He was preparing to give her a broadside when he learned that she was in charge of Mr. Hughes, Saunders' lieutenant. Saunders had not been long in securing a prize. The second vessel was the Tryal herself with crippled

masts. Captain Saunders went on board the Centurion and reported, according to Walter, that he had taken the ship on the 18th September. "She was a prime sailer and had cost him thirty-six hours' chase before he could come up with her. For some time he gained so little on her that he began to despair of taking her. The Spaniards, though alarmed at first with seeing nothing but a cloud of sail in pursuit of them, the Tryal's hull being so low in the water that no part of it appeared, yet knowing the goodness of their ship and finding how little the Tryal neared them, they at length laid aside their fears, and recommending themselves to the Blessed Virgin for protection, began to think themselves secure. Indeed their success was very near doing honour to their Ave Marias, for, altering their course in the night and shutting up their windows to prevent any of their lights being seen, they had some chance of escaping, but a small crevice in one of the shutters rendered all their invocations ineffectual, for through this crevice the people on board the Tryal perceived a light, which they chased till they arrived within gunshot, and then Captain Saunders alarmed them unexpectedly with a broadside when they flattered themselves they had got out of his reach. However, for some time after they still kept the same sail abroad, and it was not observed

The Tryal's Prize

that this first salute had made any impression on them; but just as the Tryal was preparing to repeat her broadside the Spaniards crept from their holes, lowered their sails, and submitted without any opposition. She was one of the largest merchantmen employed in those seas, being about 600 tons burthen, and was called Arranzazu.”

The Tryal had performed her last service. She had sprung her mainmast, her maintopmast was gone, and in a fresh gale she sprung her foremast also. She was actually in danger of going down and made much water though the pumps were worked vigorously. The Commodore saw her case was hopeless and it was decided there was nothing to be done but to transfer whatever was possible from the Tryal to the Arranzazu-henceforth to be called the Tryal's Prize-and arm her with twenty guns. She had at one time been used as a man-of-war by the Viceroy of Peru and now became a British frigate. Saunders records in his log:-1

"Sept. 26, 1741. Fresh gales and hazy with a large swell from ye seward. This day [received?] my commission from Commodore Anson to be Captain of His Majt's ship, Tryall Prize, wh orders to remove myself and officers, men, provisions, arms, ammunition, sails, anchors, cables, with all His Majt's stores 1 Captain's Logs, 995, P.R.O.

belonging to said sloop Tryall on his said Majt's ship Tryall Prize which when done to sink ye said sloop Tryall to prevent her hull being discovered in these seas, then to proceed and cruize off the High land of Valparaiso taking with me his prize ye Nuestra Senora del Carmela, in charge of Lieut. Saumarez. If not joined by ye Commodore in 24 days to proceed to cruise of Pisco and Nasca in ye latt. s. 14:30 and not finding ye Commodore there, to proceed to Payta in ye latt. s. 1760."

Saunders began to clear out the Tryal the next day with the assistance of a small launch from the Commodore: two days later a heavy swell and fresh winds caused delay, and the moving operation was not complete till the 4th October when the Tryal was scuttled. On the 17th, after thirteen days of moderate or fresh gales, with "large swells alternating with rain" and hazy conditions generally, the Tryal and her companion sighted land "E. by S. to E.N.E." They bore away north keeping land in sight some leagues distant. Early in November, Saunders was joined by the Commodore and was ordered to keep within three leagues of the land in the hope of discovering ships. Anson captured the Santa Teresa de Jesus; in that event Saunders had no hand. This was one of the captures which gave Anson an opportunity of exercising a humanity