963
Semuel Ashton came to Hongkong in the early fifties as third officer of one of the then well-known American opium schooners, engaged in the trade between India and China. His pluck and general ability brought him to the notice of Captain Roper, his chief, and he was soon promoted to the rank of Chief Officer.
It was while serving with Captain Roper that the pluck of "Little Sammy", as he was called by his associates, showed itself. At the head of an armed cutter, he led an attack in the Macao Roads against a large piratical junk, boarded her, carried death and destruction in all directions and finished up by sending the pirate junk to the bottom of the sea.
An amusing story is told of Ashton while still under the command of Capt. Roper. While lying in Hongkong Harbour he received orders to colour the ship from truck to keelson with coal tar. Without waiting to ascertain the reason for this strange order, Ashton soon had all hands busy and when Capt. Roper came on board at sunset, his ship was as black as Hades — masts, yards, houses, poop and deck.
Apparently, the skipper had been jesting when he sent the order out to his ship. Infuriated by the general appearance of his trim craft, he ordered his chief mate to be confined to his cabin. The crew, however, signed a petition praying for the release of Mr. Ashton, and the captain agreed to forget the matter.
From the opium schooners, Ashton was transferred to one of Messrs. Dent and Co.'s American-owned river steamers; and became master in a short time. His rapid promotion earned him the jealousy of other officers. These rivals ascertained that an alien could not legally hold a command under the American flag and drew up a petition asking for his dismissal. Capt. Ashton's employers, however, were anxious to retain his services and asked him to take out a set of American papers in order that his brother-officers might be silenced. Thinking it was merely a matter of pounds, shillings and pence, Capt. Ashton called on the U.S. Consul at Shanghai and asked to see the papers he would have to sign. All went well until the skipper's eye alighted on the words "renounce allegiance to your Sovereign and native land."
Immediately there was uproar in the Consul's Office, and in a few minutes an indignant Master Mariner stormed out, announcing that he would rather go second mate in a British ship than "go back" on his Queen and country.
Capt. Ashton's action had its reward. In 1865, the head of the firm of Douglas Lapreik and Company offered his stubborn, albeit loyal, countryman the command of one of the company's steamers. The offer was accepted, and such good service did Capt. Ashton give that, at the time of his death he was Commodore Captain of that deservedly popular and well-managed line of British steamers.
While in command of the Haitan, Capt. Ashton became conspicuous for his declarations on behalf of the British Mercantile Officers and his unceasing efforts to obtain for British mariners the right to rest on the Seventh Day. Largely as a result of this agitation, Capt. Ashton was elected President of the local Marine Officers' Association. This office he held for two and a half years, doing yeoman service for his colleagues.