CAPTAIN CHARLES PORTER LOW
Captain Low, a younger brother of A. A. Low, a partner of Russell & Co., was a
Salem man and commanded some of our fastest clipper ships, and in his "Recollections" he
describes his vessels, with the voyages he made. From accounts he must have been a lively
youngster, for it was said of him in Salem that when he set out on his first voyage, the city
was able to dismiss a third of its constables. When the "Mazeppa," belonging to his brother
Abbot and R. B. Forbes, sailed in 1841 for China, young Charles Low was taken by his
brothers to Sandy Hook to see her start out, and just before the tug cast off he hid himself
in one of the bread-lockers of the "Mazeppa," in the hope of being taken to sea. His
brothers, however, were on the watch, and, missing him, searched the ship and found him
in his hiding-place, almost suffocated. The next year he was given a berth as "boy" without
pay on the "Horatio," under Captain Howland, and set out on his career with only fifty
dollars and a sailor's outfit given him by his father. The "Horatio" was very short over all,
and often stood so straight on end that the sailors called her "the pile-driver." On Low's
return to New York he shipped on another vessel as a seaman at eleven dollars a month.
His next position was on the "Houqua," named after the well-known Chinese merchant,
which was launched on Friday, towed down on Friday, went to sea on Friday, and arrived
in Hong Kong on Friday; she was nevertheless a successful ship, and one of the most famous
of the clippers. A model of the "Houqua" was presented to Houqua when the ship reached
China. Captain Low relates an amusing incident that happened on the voyage. A pet
monkey upset a keg of black paint over the beautifully holystoned deck. The second mate
was so exasperated that he grabbed the animal, swabbed the paint up with him until he
could hold no more, and then hurled him overboard. By chance the monkey caught in the
rigging, and climbed back on board and then proceeded to run up and down the clean deck.
He was finally caught by his owner and shaved, while the crew turned to clean ship. Low
was soon made captain of the "Houqua," and then of the "Samuel Russell," named after the
founder of the house of Russell & Co., his stay ashore between the two commands being
only six days. His next vessel was the " N. B. Palmer," owned by A. A. Low & Co., as were
all the others mentioned above. While taking the "N. B. Palmer" into San Francisco
Harbour the pilot refused to take the vessel to the wharf until the next day, on account of
the heavy wind that was blowing at the time. Low & Company's agent ordered her to her
dock at once, therefore there was nothing left for Captain Low to do but to bring her up
to her pier, himself, and this he succeeded in doing with all sails set and much to the
surprise of the other seamen in the harbour. The pilot, in the mean while, stayed in the
cabin. Low later married and purchased a house in South Dennis, later moving to Brooklyn,
where he took up business on his own account. Hard times came, and, like so many other
captains, he turned again to the sea to recoup his fortunes, this time again commanding the
"N. B. Palmer" to the East. There were many ships in Shanghai at this time, waiting to
purchase tea, while the Chinamen kept telling them, "Too many ship in Shanghai; cost too
much money; must have tea, Chinamen in no hurry, bye and bye must pay Chinaman's
price." And they did pay the price. Mrs. Low was one of the few captain's wives who went
to sea with her husband, and she has been called by Captain Clark in his "Clipper Ship Era"
one of the "veritable sea belles" of those days. Captain Low and his wife, who was very
beautiful, made their home on the "N. B. Palmer," and while in port, especially in China,
they gave many attractive entertainments on board the well-known Yankee Clipper. A relic
of the vessel, a carved sailor holding a compass, can still be seen in front of the office of
Messrs. Negus, New York, makers of nautical instruments. This sailor and binnacle had to
be moved from the "N. B. Palmer" because the helmsmen used to complain that the blank
stare on the face of the figure interfered with their steering.
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Source:
Other Merchants and Sea Captains of Old Boston, State Street Trust
Company, Boston, Mass., 1919
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