The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-05-14
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY H. WEBB.

| N""Sio'Su eiA pOunuer5,tWclV'
@uskets, and the same number OF beardin,
pixies, and brace or two of pistols, m,
private armament consisted of a good rife, :,
large ducking gun, double barrel 10,
elanton, pair of duelling pistols, apd
patent pistol capable of dischsrgng 81,
balls in as many seconds; and l accounted
myself good shot with all of them.
At eight O'Clock it was nearly calm, the
chase about two miles on the lee quarter
and heading directly for US.
Mr. Tomkins was six-footcr, a rea
down east Yankee, who had been mate o
the Ark. for all knew, and who was eoua
to any man in tha, capacity, although he
might be taken for twenty years of age, il
seen going aloft, there was people who had
known him at least that time as chief m ale
lie always obeyed orders promptly, never
failed to have an answer ready. and exacted
from ak under him the sane prompt and
strict obedience that he paid TO his superior
officer. The second mate, Mr.. Turner,
was young man Of good education, looking
forward TO promotion, and promising to do
honor 10 himself as a commander after a
lew years more experience. My crew
were all active youRg men. and the cock,
Tor Docfer. as he was called) was real
specimen OF first rate runaway Virginia
slave; no could cook, as we'll as he could
hddIe'and on Saturday night, he would
amuse all hands, by a tale Of a'Possum hun,
or deer drive. Having now described
our crew, Our vessel. and all we knew of
the stranger, will hasten to put the pa,en,
reader in possession Of the facts for which
ne is anxiously locking. My orders were
as follows, and they were obeyed in as
short time as shall take write 10 them:.Mr:
fomkins, ioaa .a,ai. arms, vnv-sa,,
and foui backshot in each, look to the fints
also load the great guns with round and
canister.
Aye, aye SIR
'Docter, pu, two iron bolts in the ,and
ke.p them led hot; and fill '0PPefs
with hoili..s wdIer.
Mr.. Turner, muster all the hats and pea
jackets, and stick one on each handspike
near about the ports, it will make him
think that we are we'll manned; and trice
up all the ports, sir and put log Of wood
out Of each, and give them dab Of paint
Mr. Tomkins, send old Brown to the helm,
and tell him to steer small
Aye, aye sir
These arrangements being completed, l
vent down below, and loaded my arms:
and on examining the Doctor, found that
he was quite familiar with that instrument
of death the rife; accordingly gave him
my fash and bag of balls, and other mater
ials, telling him should call upon him to
load Tor me when the time came.
'Oh, neber fear, Massa, glib US breeze,
and him not catch us so easy said he, grin
ming from ear TO ear, and vetling his long
knife on stone.
put ball and four slugs into my doable
barrel, and half handful OF bucksho. into
my ducker, and quantens spDfch OF balls
into the pistols. l had scarcely made
these arrangements when Tomkins cal
led.
! HIS swr-r:..s his -viU" on' ei' anu
reckon he's to slab long Tom into US
Jumped on deck, and as j. was now
dead calm, it was too evident this was nj
intention
Down fiat upon deck, every soil OF yo'
shouted |. All obeyed except Tomklns
who cooly looked through the G lass.
.There she flashes, sir, and in anoshe
instan. heavy shot whislled drought on
!, main'op, gallant-sail'
He shoots well, that's fact. said Toe
E kins,
r | looked as the smoke lazily curled AVA
r and saw that he had NO, the same flag hj
4 in,. .Tomkins. what's that al her psak'
H 1T look, sir, like red shirt with the De
g tors head in it, and couple OF bones ri