It was also thought that Cochrane had his eye on the merchantmen, who he knew were taking on board large sums of money. And our coming in at this time, was another very fortunate circumstance for them, as Cochrane, no doubt, felt quite sore at the loss of his prize, which we so neatly took from him, a few months previous. There was an American shipmaster here, who had been several months waiting the arrival of his ship from China, and was here when the Esmaralda was cut out. He told us a very amusing story originating from our adventure at Guamas. When Cochrane first heard of it, his rage knew no bounds. Capt. Guise was immediately arrested, and the command of the ship was taken from him.
The poor ship-keeper was sentenced to ten years imprisonment, and the twelve marines most cruelly flogged. Guise was subsequently liberated, and his command restored; the sentence against the officer revoked, and when the story first reached Callao, it caused much amusement. The highest encomiums were passed upon the chivalrous conduct of Capt. Downes, in managing the affair with so much wisdom. Cochrane, after he had somewhat cooled off, would send for the ship-keeper, and make him recapitulate the whole story; and all this, while he wTas confined to his cot, in consequence of the gunshot wound in his thigh. While the man was telling his story, Cochrane would burst out into an immoderate fit of laughter at the Yankee trick; at the same time adding, " That Downes is a keen fellowT, and I have always felt afraid of him ever since he has been on the coast.
He has been the means of taking many thousands of pounds from me." Many of the merchant ships were somewhat out of repair, and applied to Capt. Downes for the use of his carpenters. As there was not much carpenter work to be done to the frigate, he complied with their requests. I had made a new spar-deck capstan on our passage down the coast, and had put new bottoms to several of our boats; made up all the spars that were required, and now was somewhat at leisure. I took my carpenters on board the vessels that required our service, finished the jobs up in good shape, and charged three dollars per day, all round. I paid the men one dollar and fifty cents each, and was allowed by Capt.
Downes to retain the remainder for my own use. I stripped and coppered a small English brig, while lying off in the harbor. We hove her down by a long-boat filled with water; and having no proper purchases for the occasion, we used common tackles, with luffs, and by a little management, got along firstrate. My bill was two hundred and fifty dollars, which the captain declared lie could not pay me on board; I must receive it on shore. This I remonstrated against, telling him what he knew before, the difficulty and danger of bringing dollars from the shore. But on his agreeing to pay me a premium for receiving it on shore, I consented to run the risk.
The captain then gave me an order on a merchant who lived a half mile from the outer gate. Next morning, I obtained liberty from Mr. Maury to go for my money, and previous to leaving the ship, put on a pair of white duck trowsers, a blue jacket, and a black silk kerchief round my neck, and made myself look as much sailor-like, and as much un-officer-like as I could, and still retain my respectable appearance as carpenter of the frigate. When I got on shore, I commenced reconnoitering the soldiers, and fixing my plan for a safe retreat with my money, if I should succeed in getting through the gates with it. I passed out through the gates to the merchant's house, presented the order, which he immediately accepted, and asked me if I was aware of the risk I should run in getting to my boat with so much money, as nobody was allowed to have more than twenty-five dollars on their person at one time, and one dollar nu*re than that sum would be confiscated.