Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-04-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
A BATTLE WITH THE PIRATES.
BY REV. CHARLES RICH.

| was at sea, bound for Cuba. Nothing trans.
PRED worthy Of note for the first fifty DAYS of our
passage, with tile exception Of single event,
which, as 1t may serve as a proper introduction TO
the subject of this sketch, shall be mentioned If
was on one Of those empurpled mornings which
the tropical sun so often ushers in with all his pa-
geantry, while gliding along with our sails all fill
ed by = stiff trade wind, that discovered, on the
weather-quarter black raksh looking craft run
ming down with the intention, apparently. of inter
ceptlng our course. At the time of which write.
the southern waters were infested with gangs Of
the most desperate and blood thirsty pirates which
history has ever YET mentioned. War was also eX.
lsting between the Spaniards and Patriots of South
America, and priyateers were consequently abroa d
for the destruction of the enemys ships The new
SAIL being to windward, had every advantage over
us, and could therefore bear down with a more
flowing Sheet or haul her wind, should she wish to
avoid us. In less than three hours after we first
saw her she was abeam Of us about two miles dis
tant, and proved to be a low brig of nearly two
hundred tons, well armed. All on board were
somewhat alarmed at the approach of the new WIS.,
ltor, and especial when changing suddenly her
course, she kept along directly abeam
"a prate-a pirate" we heard from every month,
and from the captain to tie cabin boy, there was
not one on board who did not wish himself safely
noored in Mat0nzas.
Things remained thus till noon, when the BRIG
again altered her course and steered directly fol
us. Within an hour she shot beautifully across
our bows, and firing lee gun, her commando,
hailed the ship, and ordered Captain N. to heave
to, that he might board US. This was soon done
and the result was, that after an anxious half houl
had elapsed, during which time Captain N. and
myself had been cablned with the lieutenant of the
brig,we were very politely informed that we might
proceed on our course, the officer announcing him
self, as he departed, to be Lieut. ~, of the Co
lumbla gun brig LEsperance. He had at first mis-
taken US Tor spanish vessel, and afterwards de-
layed running down, as we looked not unlike q
sloop of war.
1t was on the third morning after this occurrence
that we made the west end of Port Rico Captain
N. had Just gone below to breakfast when takino
up the spy glass, discovered in the Mona PASSAGE
two taperlng masts, scarcely visible close under {
high iutting bluff.
Here is pirate indeed" cried; con deck
quick, Captain, for you will find this fellow 70 h.
no scarecrow of man.of-war" Captain N, WA
Immediately on deck, and upon second obserya
ton, he noticed that the vessel was hoistng be
toresail, and before he could look the third limo
she had every thing set, coming out from under th
llnd TO meet us.
"This looks suspicious" said he, "to lie one mo
ment slowed away like spider, with nothing to b.
seen, and then, within five minutes, TO be in fol
chase after stranger ain afraid that we shaI
not ind 1t such easy work to get rid of him as w
did the brig the other day. What say YOU Charles
suppose this craft should prove to be pirate, wi
you night him? or shall we heave to and quietl
suffer them to cut our throats:'
"As to lighting" REPLIED g little can be don
in that way, for our whole armament consists c
only one four FOUNDER, two muskets, one cutlas,
and my fowling piece a sorry array indeed agains
the force which that fellow doubtless musters. Bl
can tell you one thing, Captain ~, it is no harde
to die by cannon ball or boarding pike, than b
being strung up to the yard arm and choking t
death by degrees, or by having our windppes un
skilfully opened by these quack doctors. For one
then, | say, get clear if we can, but if the wors
cones to the worst, why, fight Them"
Inc true character Of the suspicious vessel wa
soon ascertained, for, not being able to outsail III
she ie astern into our wake, at the distance of les
than half a mile, and discovering her error in nc
haylpg cpt Us oil at once, she fired lee gun an
holsled the Spanish flag. OF this we took no mo
tlce' Ahother lee gun was fired, and the Amer
can nag was run up. This was also suffered /
windward double-shoted, and as The run u, ~
away The black fay i0hh DEATHS head and C cro
bones was seen flying at the mainsaii peak. ''''