The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-03-11
THE PIRATES OF CUBA.
SCENE OFF TnE DOUBLE HEADED
SHOT KEYS.

SHUT hkfs.
During the summer Of 1927, we went out,
for our comfort, to the Island of Cuba, that
grand receptacle ofpra,es, scorpions, vel.
low fever, land crabs, and evory other curse
saving and excepting lawyers. Every in.
babllanr Of New Eng who has inhaled
tho sea breeze, knows what Rhode Island
molusses droger ls, and may therefore Judge
OF our situation while combating heod
winds from Block Island TO the pan Of Ma.
ian2as AS for beating craft oithis kind,
we vii! eay bot lIttlo--one fact will answer
on this point, the cook had the curiosity to
try nD experiment, lie threw -four barrel
overheard, and we were seven days nt
tempting 10 beat 10 the winGward Of IT,
for the reason, us tho crew said, TINT the
ruddeT was hung on the wrong end of the
vessel. And even when we had wind
dead aft" tho old halk would make two
attempts to mount sea, aud after all be
compelled 10 90 round il; but il is not my
province 10 dwell upon the merits or de.
merits Of our craft, since sho certaiDly did
all that could be expected from wood and
iron put together after her fashion aud form.
Suffice ito say, that after taking in at our
kiIson, and pumping out al cur deck, one
hnlf Of the water in the Atlantic, we drew
near 10 The end Of our voyage. We pass
cd tho capos Of Virginia, which 10y up in
the horizon like tiny cloud on q summer
day--madc the Hole in.the. wall, upon the
Same enail's gQlIop-run down tho Gull
Stream, like mcjesiic goose, sideways /;
and finally found ourselves Oft the Double
Headed Shot Keys. We made them one
evening just as the sun was dipping his
broad disc beneath the blue waters, which
rolled heavily under the influence Of a
ground swell, although the breeze had gone
down with him. The individual who has
never passed nigh, on the Island or the
coast of Cubo, is no competent judge ofour
situation. The sky, at sunset, tingeG with
the rays Of that orb, looked ike heated
copper, and really when we veniured from
our viliainous cabin which savoured OF
nothing but bilge water, beneath this Grim.
son ccnepy, VIC could not but imagine thn,
all beyond the red sheet which SAID to hu
man eye thus far shalt thou 20, and no
farther" was liquid fire, placed there for
the purpose CT scorcding skin, and breed
ing fovers. And then there was legion
VI iiIf ut wv W cF1s Va
a still evening, is nothing for these sturdy
insects, as wo found 10 our cost; and the
sailors tod ne that i, wac nothing strange
10 SEQ them beating into the barbor Of Ma.
tanzas, against s,lf land breeze. Una.
bio 10 sleep we paced the deck until the
ships bell struck the hour Of ton, and then
stretched ourselves beneath an awning.
thinking 10 WOO the wary god, nnd dream
OF home We might have tossed about for
tie space of an hour or more, when bus.
tie near our head, called US back TO our
senses and the Coss, Of Cuba. II wns the
Csp,ais's watch, and the second mate, one
of your real mailin.spike sailors, who
would grow IA, On raw pork md permis
sion 10 fog the steward, had charge Of
lhe same. When we sprang on oUr feet,
the aforesaid officer was standing on &
gun near by, pceribg OF something through
:he darkness Of midsighi. "Keap your
eve on her Hanson" said he, IN an under
tone TO the man al lbe wheel, "whilc J call
the Old man. fos at sea the captain is the
cold man." be his years wha, they may.
/ fcllosod The eye Of tho helmsnra sad