Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-06-24
ADVENTURE AT SEA.

hcafse,n one OF trS many tndt nave auend-
cd my naval existence. il as, / behave, the
most interesting, and therefore paere BETTING
your ears ! was on board a Suaall schooner,
from the island OF Cuba, bound 20 Philadcl
phia, laden principally with tobaseo. Our
force consisted OF only the three sailors, cap
tain and mate. with two passengers and my
salE We lad arrived among the Keys, OF
small islands. when the wind, which had been
quite fresh lulled into light breose.
The gloomy peaks aed barren soil Of an
uainhsbited island lay two leagues 80 wind
ward, hosting its rugged barriers against the
clear blue sky, with stero, frowning aspect
Far 10 thehorlzon lay, in gloomy outline, the
dark shade and faint tops Of a more dstant
and Of a less imposing appearance, because
mellowed out by theyas space between. As
we gradually approached the headland pro-
ieetng northward from the frat Islaad, /
discovered a sail floating against the dark
shade at the winding hills fha cry Of -"sail
holn echoed smeug the crew, long and sp
sparontly motionless We strange vessel lungin
the distance, like fegcy cloud that straycd
from its etherial throne, and settled upoA the
blue wAters.
Continuing our course few nles farther;
che dim island began to shake off its niurky
aspect and rear its dark tories liz stert
contrast with the recedIng headjan1. And
then, from a narrow nook, guarded ty "A
frownng cape, started nsw strange san
hovesiug along the Indented shore with
strange and mysterious appearance This
new vision sesmed signal word for tbs first
which could be family seen lingering 10 the
opposite direction, for with the glass, we be
held her bear away, with adj sad spread
shooting along before the wind with perccp-
ible rapdity. The second likewise tlDfuriad
hsr top sails, and heading from the shore,
bore down in seeming Triumph upon us.
The vessel which first attracted our atten
ton had the greatest advantage Of the wind
and consequently gained upon US, IN despite
OF all our sailing, and as she seemed connd-
erably smaller than the second, there was al
SO sufficient evidence ofhsr coming along side
some time before The second.
The large stranger was q brig, the small
one d schooner; one was armed--the ether
was not, and as chance would have ii, the
vessel with which we were first to contend
with was the latter. For both were piratesl
The bloody pennon stresmed In the soft air!
flashing saDreo .slealnea among She ropcsl
But as The schooner possessed no ordnance
we were determined that She should be recei-
ved as well as a twelve pound carronade,
which honored our decks, was capable of be
slowing, and guarded by the netting which
was soon extended round the gpnwale, with
each fire Jock, and desperate mind, gave us
some hopes OF making manly resistance
But still, Of what avail could the resolution
have been--whiis even il wo succeeded III
repelling this enemy, there renamed second
double in power, both with men and guns?-
Certainly nene---yst better die in the arms of
bravery, than under the knee 81 aowardie~.
Death we expected: it hung as if ready to
stamp its destiny upan our heisla What
could be expested ffota theso tnyrinydems Of
blood bst death? Ay. death rendered ten
times more aecute. when inflicted with impu-
nityl Nothing Therefore our resoluhoo
was taken to make q bed Of oar deck--a
death bedl and the price should be the price
of blood
The grim messenger OF our doom, slowly
dug the sparkling wave IN chase, while the
second, apparently her eontort, diligently
hugge<t the wind; and olthotelh every yard
and brace strained with the belflng csnyass,
che seemed TO hang in tss distance as If lock
ed IN the wsterst
We were completely hemmcd IN, without
hope OF escape: the wind opposed one obsta-
>.aie, while ii we attempted TO run before Re,
scar pursuers had equal, if nos mors advaR-
tags; the brig lay far away TO the lesNsrd,
would be nearly the sane. as running within
&her grasp, and TO undertake flight iE the
I othar direction, would be IN shs end, like
st5row wing ourselves within the sehoousrs
power s
The only resource that remained was to
ebfing our own vessel little more into the
wind, which was effected, and sndsevor, IL
possible TO pnss the brg IN windyard: bat
then our speed would be- iesseasd, and The
schooner an chase possessed of more advan-
9age. However, she fee TO wiadward syas
rrsariy within haij--our littlG .guU Rs'vued be
meath the netting! each nran placed himself
under cover of some article, behind the mast
water CASKS, and companion way, which hap
pened 10 be ray station, while two or three
remained ready at the gsa-and firm and re-
.solveU 4
The pirate now ssnt his hollow mandate a
long the deep--to heavo to!' But we were
our own masters, and needed not the COM
,mand. Five minutes might have passed, and
then came a crash OF small sTms, followed by
a shower of balls, wbish passed, whizziag
through cur sails, netting and ropssl Then
succeeded a small qua, mounted over the gun
svvale like our own, which in consequence of
no ports, had not been seen this piece hol-
bow ed sloag the deep, as az tho tiend himself
hhad arisen to aid his grim followers, sending
fits iron ball with screaming sonad through
she Enanma ST, W hieh toitsFed sHd raeled TO
She seal We minded it not; hut answered
with cur caFronadc aud small arms; all
government ever the ycsselWas abandoned .