Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-06-15

was one of those queer rugged
non-descript things called a yatch, for
merly owned by the British, and which
had seen much and severe service. Age
had weakened her joints, and the bar
nacles found an undisturbed resting
place upon her bottom, where they
quietly reposed side by side, untroubled
by the rude visits of the scraper. Taking
advantage of fair ,'ind-for she would
sail with no other-he, amidst the jokes
of his fellow captains commenced his
voyage for Bermuda. 1t was deaden-
ing sight TO observe her creeping aud
sgueaking over the waves, complaining
with her timbers, like man afflicted
with the govt. a fair wind, however,
carried them to the latitude of Bermu-
da, though the captain found that he
was to the leeward of his port of des-
tination, and he was under the neces-
sity of beating his vessel there against
a head wind, thing by no means so
easily done as said. Having tried
This maneuvre for three weeks, he
ascertained that he was still farther
from that island, than when he arrived
in its latitude; for his craft, like man
in fit of intoxication, although she
looked strenuodsly in one direction,
yet, Paddy fashion, advanced backwards
from the point towards which she was
aiming at. Finding it in vain to at
tempt reaching Bermuda with head
wind, and being out Of patience with
the length and fatigue of the voyage,
he was on the point of bearing away for
the West Indies, when one morning he
discovered, close hauled to the wind,
vessel at his stern which looked rather
rasish, or, in common parlance, like an
armed vessel-to attempt escaping 1t
he wished it, was in vain. ltwas morli-
fying 10 observe the comparative speed
of the stranger, as in naval pride she
doomed lightly ever the waves, tossing
OF the spray from her dark sides, as
the war horse filings the foam from the
hit-a few moments exhibited the ports
OF ship of some force, and soon the
bugle of the marines was heard above
the roar of the waters; the glanclng of
sabres and muskets was flashed from
the deck, and without hesitation the
stranger ranged alongside, and the
boarding officer ascertained the charac-
ter of the vessel, and her disabilities
of The voyage she had undertaken. The
motions and commodities of the vessel,
consisting Of provisions, etc. attracted
the eye of the officer, and, as the coun-
tries were then at war, he proceeded TO
help himself to squash, knocking open
the butter kegs and beef barrels as
though he felt himself perfectly at home.
The captain of the yatch, who, with the
assistance of beard of three weeks
growth, had something almost fero-
cious in his appearance, yet this feroc-
Ky was wholly exterior. and he was
in fact lover of fun. As he presented
himself on deck, and discovered the
proceedings of the officer, be addressed
him in harsh tone, inquiring what he
was about; the officer informed him that
his vessel was lawful prize 10 his Maj
esty's packet, then bound to Bermuda,
and he was now reaping the benefit of
his capture. The Yankee, however, for
tade him from meddling with his
property, and deliberately drew forth
his pencil, enumeraiing The articles
taken OFT with scrupulous nicely. Still
the officer proceeded in his duty, and
having obtained proper amount of the
delcacies, left crew on board his prize,
and hawser was made fast to the
watch, and she taken in tow by the cap
tors. 10 three days they tugged her in
to the port of Bermuda, where fleet of
British men of war were then lying,
and she was anchored some distance be-
low them, and the packet proceeded TO
town.
The difficulty which presented itself
to the Captain of the Packet, was SIM
ply this: he had no commission to cop
ture, but only letter of Marque; yet
the Temptation Of the Yankee cargo was
so great that it could not be resisted;
and the yatch was left below the town
for the purpose of having no inierlop-
ing frigate 10 share profits, while the
packet went up TO obtain the proper
documents for capture having procur-
ed which, they proceeded to take pos
session under their new commission.
The Secretary of the Governor accom-
panied the captain of the Packet, and
stepped on board the Yatch "as one
having authority" The Yankee march
ed up 10 him "savage as meat are"
and asked his name and capacity; the
reply was, am secretary to the Gov
ernor of Bermuda.
"You are % ....
81 am; and declare your vessel to
be good prize" " Well,' replied the
American Captain, "You are the very
man I wished IN see have Won a knife ~