The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-07-24
VOL. TX.

a SleStG upon the bosom OF the Deep n pleas
ing mixture of land and water seen by giorl-
Gus moonlight, is apicture worth the copying.
1t was night, the heavens glowed with myrlads
of stars, and the mellow light was softly shed
in the glittering waves, as they laved the dark
hull of the craft which had so lately anchored
in the bay. She was of construction to
delight a seamen's eye; her hull was low and
graceful in its mould, and so constructed as
to float like sea bird riding the waves. On
the stern, now swung shoreward by the COM
ing tide, in golden letters on dark surface was
her name, The PERI.
About an hour before midnight the vessel
was moored still nearer the shore, and the
work of unloading her cargo commenced by
an hundred hands, who soon accomplished
their task, as the gray streak of light that
foretells the breaking of day appeared in the
East, the sails Of the Peri tapped heavily in
the wind; then filling, she bore away with
the morning tide to sea. All was again qui-
ct on board the swift craft as she swept
gracefully seaward, leaving in her wake long
bright column of foam; at the wheel sat
watchful mariner, wrapt in his boat cloak
an officer walked the quarter deck, while IN
the waist lounged the morning watch, hall
sleeping as they rested themselves against
the guns or mainmast. The dozen canDons
that lined the vessels side were rugged for
immediate use, and every thing about the
deck showed scrupulous regard TO neatness,
and strict discipline in the commander.
AS the Peri rounded the mouth of the har-
Dor, the young officer carefully scanned the
horizon in every direction, but more particu-
larry in that of Boston harbor, where his eyes
rested and his countenance assumed an anx-
ious expression. A message was sent below
for the Captain who Immediately appeared
on deck-the same individual who SO lately
embraced his son on the shore.
Capt Lowell said the officer, touching
his cap, 4 think the sail bearing down for us
from the Southwest is a Revenue Cutter, and
therefore took the liberty to call you
You did well, sr,' replied the captain,
'Tis the Royal Gutter Alert, and the fishing
craft that passed US last night has given infor-
nation of our visit to the coast. Pipe all hands
TO make SAIL
The boatswain's whistle sounded shrill and
clear on the morning air as it piped the crew
of the Peri TO make all sail on the ship; every
yard of canvass that would draw was spread
to the breeze from each vessel. Both were
built for speed, and they actually leaped over
the foaming waves with almost Tightening
speed. The chase was lorg and doubtful /;
twice had the Commander of the Alert thrown
from his heavier fiieghted craft quantities OF
shot, to tighten her, and was now evidently
gaining or his antagonist. AT about midday
the Revenue Gutter fired the first gun; the
shot came bounding and skipping over the
water and cast a shower OF spray upon the
Peri's deck. This was followed by another,
and still another, which, better aimed than It's
fellows, carried away the the fore-topmast OF
the smuggler's craft, Immediately lessenine
her speed, while the Cutter came up hand
over hand. Capt. Lowell had cleared his
ship for action, and his hundred men armed
to the teeth, were no mean enemy, but on came
the Cutter, her crew at quarters, and her com
mander apparently intent upon laying Inc
Peri aboard.
Good said Lowell, 'close quarters fol-
met
As the grapnel irons were thrown from thu
Alert on board the Peri, Capt. Lowell gave
the order to fire, when the twelve cannons
double shotted and all brought to bear upor
the crowded deck ofthe cutter, discharg
ed among its crew, killing at least score o
men aud wounding more. Capt. Prince, o
the Cutter, calamity intent upon boarding
gave his orders cooly and and to that effect
In spite of the desperate courage OF the SNUG
glcrs. footing was gained on the PERKS deck
and now commenced the fight in earnest Tit
two crews headed by their captains, had tough
for MANY minutes, and the dead and dyin:
strewed the deck. Ike smugglers had as ye
kept inviolate the quarter deck OF their craft
but Capt. Prince with his crew had tough
their way to the manmast, when stern We
musical voice was heard above the din of bat
tie to cry,
Peri's-larboard and starboardP
The smuggler crew knew well that voice
and every man obeyed its order, while thei
antagonists surprized at the movement. drew
back and crowded together forward. Th'
smugglers opened right and left at the wort
ofcommand, and in a moment the roar OF
doubly shotted piece of ordnance resoundet
from the quarter deck, engulphing the ship
in dense cloud. AS the curling smoke roll
ed off TO the windward, what sight was pre-
scented to the view! On the quarter deck o
the Peri stood the raven haired boy, with tn
smoking match yet in his hand with which h
had fred the cannon at his side; on the fore
castle of the vessel where the cutters GREY
had gathered, LAY nearly forty dead and dyin
bodies. disabled by that one raking shot o
grape.
Capt. Prince finding hardly score of fol
lowers around him fit for service, ordered
| retreat, which was hastily accomplished b
. his crew, but he was taken prisoner himse
by Capt. Lowell, to whom he resigned hi
sword.
The smugglers now flushed with success
and outnumbering their enemy, were abou
TO board the Alert in turn, but were ordere
back by Lowell, and the grapnels cast loos!
The second officer of the latter thinking hi
CAPTAIN dead, deemed it best to make his wa
for Boston harbor.
The wounded topmast of the PERI was 500
! repaired and bore away to sea. In the cor
test the smugglers had lost ten killed an
i twenty wounded, while the loss Of the Alel
l was estimated at more than sixty killed! Th
' dead were quietly committed to the deeE
5 while every attention was paid to those VIII
: suffered from their wounds.
n Days passed and the Peri bounded safel
on her southern course. Capt. Prince wa
: treated by the smuggler Captain and his so
h more as a companion than aprisoner. He wa
= a noble minded, brave fellow, of about two an
I..,+x- with :. fine form and fare of unusu: