The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-04-03
From Blackwoods Magazine for November.
TOM CRINGLE'S LOG.
THE PICCARO0N.
TConcluded.1

C0ncMded.
We set sail for Boca Chica, and began
working up under the lee of the head
land of Punto Cano. When offthe San
domingo Gate, we burned blue hight
which was Immediately answered by a.
mother in shore of us. In the glare, we
could perceive two boats full of men.
Any one who has ever played at snap.
dragon, can imagine the unearthly ap-
pearance of objects when seen by this
species Of tirework. In the present in
stance, it was held aloft on boat hook ;
and cast a strong spectral light on the
band Of lawless ruflians; who were SO
crowded together that they entirely filled
the boats, no parts Of which could be
seen. 1t seemed as if two clusters of
fiends suddenly vomited forth from hell,
were floating on the midnight sea, in the
midst Of birthstone flames. In a few
moments our crew was strengthened by
about forty as ugly christians AS ever
set my eyes on. They were Of all ages
countries, compilations and tongues, and
looked as if they had been kidnapped by
press gang, as they had knocked off
from the Tower of Babel. From the
moment they came on board, Captain
Vanderbosh was shorn of all his glory
and sank into the petty officer, while to
our amazement, the Scottish negro took
the command, evincing great GOODNESS,
energy, and skill. He ordered the ship
to be wore, as soon as we had shipped
the men, and laid her head off the land,
then set all hands to shift the old suit of
sails, and to bend new ones.
Why did you not shift your canvass
before we started T. said /, to The Dutch
captain, or master or whatever he might
be.
wy Won't you be content to takea quiet
passage and hax no question: was the
uncivil rejoinder, which ! felt inclined to
resent, until remembered we were in the
hands of the Philistines, where quarrel
would have been worse than useless. ]
was gulping down the insult as well as !
could when the black captain came aft,
and with the air of IN equal, invited us
into the cabin to take glass Of grog.
We had scarcely sat down before we
heard noise like the swaying up of guns
or some other heavy articles from the
hold.
caught Mr.. Splinter's eye--he nod
ded, but said nothing. In half an hour
afterwards, when he went on deck, we
saw. by the light Of the moon, twelve
eighteen pound caronades mounted six OF
a side, with their rammers and sponges,
water buckets, boxes Of round, grape,
and canister, and tubs of wadding, while
the combings Of the hatchways were
thickly studded with round shot. The
tarpawling and lumber forwards had dis.
appeared, and there lay long Tom ready
levellcd, grinning on his pivot.
The ropes were all coiled away; and
laid down in regular man Of war fashion;
while an ugly gruff beast of Spanish mu-
latto, apparently the officer of the watch,
walked the other side ofthe quarter deck
in the true pendulum style. Look outs
were aft, aud ut the gangways and bows
and who every now and then passed the
word to keep bright look out, while the
rest Of the watch were stretched silent
out evidently broad awake, under the lee
Of the boat. We noticed that each man
had his cutlass buckled round his waist
that the boarding pixies had been cut
loose from the main boom round which
they had been strapped, and that about
thirty muskets were ranged along a fixed
rack that ran athwart ships near the
main batchway.
i BY this time we had reconnoitcrcd
thus far. the night became overcast, and
a thick bank Of clouds piled upon clouds
began to rise to windward some heavy
drops of rain fell, and the thunder grum-
bIed mt distance. The black veil crept
gradually on, until il sbroudcd the firm.
ament. and left ms in as dark night ms
ever poor devils we're out in. By and