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Bold Northwestmen
By Unknown, Published by Leonard Deming in 1834
Come all ye bold Northwestmen who plough the raging main,
Come listen to my story, while I relate the same;
'Twas of the Lady Washington decoyed as she lay,
At Queen Charlotte's Island, in North America.
On the sixteenth day of June, boys, in the year Ninety-One,
The natives in great numbers on board our ship did come,
Then for to buy our fur of them our captain did begin,
But mark what they attempted before long time had been.
Abaft upon our quarter deck two arm chests did dtand,
And in them there was left the keys by the gunner's careless hand;
When quickly they procuring of them did make a prize,
Thinking we had no other arms for to defend our lives.
Our captain then perceiving the ship was in their power,
He spoke unto his people, likewise his officers;
Go down into the cabin and there some arms prepare,
See that they are well loaded, be sure and don't miss fire.
Then down into the cabin straightway we did repair,
And to our sad misfortune few guns could we find there;
We only found six pistols, a gun and two small swords,
And in short time we did agree "blow her up" was the word.
Then with what few firearms we had we rush'd on deck amain,
And by our being resolute, our quarter deck we gain'd;
Soon as we gain'd our arm chest such slaughter then made we,
That in less than ten minutes our ship of them was free.
Then we threw overboard the dead that on our deck there lay,
And found we had nobody hurt, to work we went straightway;
The number kill'd upon our deck that day was sixty good,
And full as many wounded as soon we understood.
'Twas early the next morning at the hour of break of day,
We sail'd along abreast the town which we came to straightway;
We call'd on hands to quarters and at the town did play,
We made them to return what things they'd stolen that day...
And now unto old China we're fastly rolling on,
Where we shall drink good punch for which we've suffered long;
And when the sixteenth day of June around does yearly come,
We'll drink in commemoration what on that day was done.
And now for to conclude, and make an end unto my song,
Success to the commander of the Lady Washington!
Success unto his voyages wherever he may go,
And may death and destruction always attend his foe.
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 Haida art of a raven courtesy of Hancock House Publishing
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