Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1845-11-05


with numerous and effective crew.
! All hands pipcd to quarters. Come, my
lads said tho Captain, suppose try the met
al Of that follow We have taken nothing yet
and there is good picking on board some Of these
outward bound Indiamcn. The thing must be
carefully done, however, for if John Bull only
suspects our Inferior force, he will blow us out OF
tho water and laugh at u afterwards
Every rag Of canvass packed on tho brig,
aud it was evident that tho Captain Of the India
men did not like hor appearance. for he tackled
ship and stood of to the southwest. The Wan
derer rapidly gained upon tho chase, and was fast
closing on tho weather quarter, when Capt Will
cox fired gun to tho wind ward nnd holsted ~
rican co!ors. The ship replied by showing
the English ensign, and taking in her courscrs
and topgallant sails-and was evidently preparing
for n brush. No: shot howovor, was fired un-
til tho Waadcrer within hail, when Captain
Wilcox sprang upon guu near the gangway.
with speaking trumpet IN his hand. lc was
fine looking fellow, possessing dign!Aea exterior
and had voice like tho famous Stcntor Of Old.
sFlrs. division, ,ore' shouted he, SEQ al ready
to fre!'' ard then directing his trumpet towards
the huge ship. with heavy cannon portruding from
her nassy sides, ho had tho cool lnpudcucc TO
add Ship ahoy, haul down your colors, and lay
your maintopsail TO tho mast, or I'll give you a
| whole broadsidc.' Thon turning TO his crew
's.nnd by my boys! Take good aim! Thon il
his loudcst tone to tho E.ngIishmon-'E Haul down
your lag, 81 thl5 inmate, or ii oo" you SKY
hight
This throat produced tie desired effect. Tho
Britt ii ensign came Tutoring upon the dock and
tho heavy mainyard of the East Indiainan was
reluctantly bracod round, tho helm Was pat hard
down, and tho ship laid with her main topsail
10 tho mast, having struck to tho United states
! letter ma rl Wanicrcr,
| Capt Wilcox sent his frs: officer on board, nc
companed by his clerk, ia officers uniform, with
orders to send Oh board tho brig the captain OF
tho ship, with his papors, and as many oftho crow
as the boat could convoy. Tho ship proved to be
tho Alnwick Castle, Captain Henderson. ofseycn
hundred and fifty tons, from Bristol bound TO the
Isle Of France, with cargo Of stores. provisions,
&C., of no use 10 tho crew Of Priyatecr Tho
ship mounted sixteen cightcen pound carronadcs.
and was manned by Of forty n.en, all told.
Tho guns all doubIo shotted with round and
grapc--and one broadsido, we'll directed, woail
have mndc fearful work with tho Wal.Iorcr, and
decided tho contest against her.
Bat Captain Henderson was accompanied by
his wife, a young and beautiful woman, 70 whom
he had boen married bat few short mon.h5.-
\ And TO this circumstance mast BIO a8cribod his
reluctance 70 engage in desperate coatost with
a vessel apparently well fitted for fighting aud
evidently his superior. With heavy heart no
handed tho officer his papers, md assisted his
wife into Inc boat and with the greater part Of the
crow, they were soon on board the Nandercr-
The moi: were placed IN irons for greater sccur-
ty. and temporarily so"ed away beneath tho
'quaAcrs,' in tia waist.
/ Captain Wilcox soon aSccrtaIncd by examining
tho ships papers ,t.at he had captured prize Of
little value. lie could not spare sufficient
10 navigate her into an American ports her cargo
consisted of bulky articles which could not be
transferred to the brig; and he issued orders 10
take out every man, wiki all their baggage, and
set the vessel on fire. It was then that Capt.
Henderson venturcd TO demonstrate in gentle
! manly manner against such summary DISPOSE
ton of property, in which he was directly in,or-
estcl, for he was part owner Of tho ship and car
20. He Suggested that by burning tho ship his
own ruin would DO ottoctuay scaled, without
any benefit to his captor; and that by restoring
the ship and cargo tho Legitimate proprictors,
Capt. Wilcox would perform noble and mag
. unanimous act which woulG meet the approval Of
al! good mon, and which would be IN accordance
with tho dictates orbancvolenco and Justice.
/ This was view Of the matter which al
/ together now TO the generous hearted Yankee.
There force IN the reasoning of tao English
man, and his feelings responded to the arguments
set forth. 10 felt that i. was little bot:cr than
piracy to set fire to, and destroy property belong
ing to private and deserving individua!s. when
far away upon tho ocean. But il Is uncertain
what would have been tho result. had ho no. at
that moment caught tho eye Of tho beautiful and
! accomplished Mrs. Henderson. She sad
but charming in her sadness-nnd addressed tho
captain in musical voice. which sounded TO him.
accustomed for months 10 the grutf muttorin-s of
tho sailors, like tho music of the spheres. He
listened 70 her attcntlvcly, who in eloquent Ian
guage she pleaded tho cause other husband; and
4 Capt. Wilcox. who with all sailors galantrv,
adored 4 lovely woman. in his turn completes
ly vanquishod. Eo told her 10 give herself nc
further apprehension; the vessel ana cargo should
be restored 70 her husband. Such was the ,ri-
umph of beauty pleading IN behalf of humanity
and justice!
In the meantime tho English sailors who were
slowed away among the wooden guns, were IN
du'ging in suniry philosophical ramarks.
Il say, Ben" grow!ed rough-looiing tor,
with voice like scrccch owl troubled with the