Tilghman Smith

Taming the Barracuda Tilghman Smith

"Taming The Barracuda" is thestory of a young man who, in 1867, leaves his home in Hannager, Wales andembarks upon a sea journey to see the world and to try his hand at the goldfields of California. Unforeseentroubles on the ship lands him in Guantanamo Cuba,where he signs aboard a 106 foot trading schooner named "Barracuda" Here, heworks for the next four years with a Charismatic Creole Captain and his sevenLatino crew members. Gil, is the youngest of threebrothers, and through them, has been well trained in all sports, includingboxing and rugby football. His four year odyssey on the Barracuda takes him toadventures throughout the Caribbean and along theEastern Seaboards of North and South America. Over thenext four years the Barracuda defeats an attacking pirate ship, hijacks aFrench square rigger carrying a hold full of armaments, rescues a Mexicandiplomat and his wife from the Cuban police, transports an American miningsafari from South Carolina to South America and up the Orinoco river of Venezuelato a silver mine, drives off a threatening Spanish brigantine, and tracks downfour English mutineers and delivers two of them to London. In his slack time,he challenges the Cuban Heavyweight boxing champion and defeats him in thering. At the end, he finds himself theowner of the Barracuda; a fairly wealthy man in his own right and stands aloneat the window of his large Casa with a heavy heart, thinking of the beautifultawny skinned girl that he let get away.