Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-04-04

OuI naVlnB sam TWO OF our number. As the bat
tie closed, kind providence, as if in pity, sent n
| SUN land breeze, and in few minutes we were
moving rapidly along, secure, at least for the pres
ent, from further danger
| When the day dawned our foe was discovered
about three miles asern, and as the land breeze
was dying away, and consequently very light, he
! had two boats attached to the schooner. rowing
ahead TO quicken his speed. In consequence Of
this assistance, the pirate gained rapidly upon us,
and when the sun arose, only quarter of mile
| separated us. The shot were again hyinr fast.
carrying away a large part Ct our mizen top-mast,
! ana spIlnterlng the main-yard-arm. Our sails were
! completely riddled yet fortunately no one was IN
! lured. Preparations were again made for boarding.
and two boats were this time sent, both filled with
men. On they came, with their pixies and cutlasses
! cleaning in the morning sun. 1t was now dead
calm, and there we lay with no means of defence
compared with hat Of our enemy, unable to move
| a single inch, and bloody set of men within a
| quarter of mile, maddened by their former i'll
! success rowing up prepared 10 wreak upon us VEN
geance by every imaginable torture. The fifteen
! minutes which elapsed after the boats left the
| schoouer were to us period of most intense ago
! ny. We know That we must die and that too by
inches, unless that overruling Power, "withont
whose notice not even sparrow falls to the ground
! should Interfere for our rescue. The parting hand
was taken by all, no distinction now existing be.
! tween officers and crew. A letter, previously
! prepared by the captain, stating our situa NJ,
ton, was placed IA bottle, which, with its mouth
securely scaled committed TO the ocean, to tell
! our fate to those we loved at home. Many prayer
offered by hearts that never prayed before and
! eyes which had never wept were now filled with
tears Each prayed for himself, but wcpt for 9TH
ers wept, that this little band of honest hearted
| men should fall like sheep before the murderous
knives of their desroyers.
81 would not wish, my dear shpmates," said
! Captain ~, to 90 before the bar of INV God a. I
/ npt in tnttr l. Al
| necessarily stained with the blood of my fellow
| beings, but hold sef-preservaon to be the great
| hrst law OF our nature; and, although to all human
| appearances we must die, even if we should sue
! coed In destroying thrice number of the enc
my, yet we will endeavor to rid the world Of some
| of these monsters"
According to directions then given by him, four
barrels were placed on the quarter deck and coy
| cred with boards, upon which temporary platform
the little four puunder lifted by all hands load
/ ed to the muzze with pieces of iron. The object
of this was TO raise the gun above the rail- for the
| pirates being asern, 1t could not be directed
towards them through the port holes in the sides Of
the vessel. Captain n, aimed the gun himself, not
pointing 1t directly at the boats, but at a spot about
twenty rods distant from the ship, with the inten-
tlon OF dlscharglng the piece when the boats COW
cred that spot The pruning was poured on, and
IN GREATNESS anxiety we awaited the encmy's APP
proach.
IL
countenance. In the eastern board was observed
dark ripple skirtng the horizon, a sure evidence
mat the sea breeze was setting in. If the wind
reached us before the ship boarded, we were
safe. The pirates also observed the indications of
the rising breeze, and therefore piled their oars
with all their strength.
"Stand by with your natch-rope," said Captain
N 4, without moving his eye from the range Of the
gun, "and the very second lift my hand do you
fire."
Almost Immediately the signal was given and the
gun discharged. Unerringly did those iron mes
sengers Of destruction do their word. One boat
was completely shattered TO pieces and as far as
we could judge, at least twenty sunk into a bloody
grave. Those in the other were apparently unin-
Jured, but were obliged to stop and rescue their
drowning companions. This delay saved us for
before the enemy were again prepared for the at
tack the sails beautifully stretched themselves to
the full under the first blast of the breeze which
reached us, and the noble ship carecned over with
the pressure, as if bowling in defiance TO the fends,
Immediately shot away from danger. Never did
the air ring with nine moro hearty cheers than
arose from the quarter deck of the Java The
change was electrical; and the revolution OF feel
Ings in every bosom was legby written on the
countenancc.
Some danced, and some, among whom was our
captain even wept for joy; and many were the
long yarns and Jokes told on that day. Still we
were not entirely free from danger; for although
we might hope that the pirate thus bafiled aud
weakened would abandon The chase, yet he might
also resolve upon being revenged for our existence
and pursue us even 10 our destined haven.
Early in the morning we had observed sail on
our weather bow, but so far distant that her hull
could not be distinguished. After the breeze had
taken US we soon gained upon her, and by noon
had come up abeam. She proved to be the French
brig LAmcite, from Hayrc bound to Vera Cruz
with two hundred passengers on board
Yah! Monsieur" said her cADtnin in broken
English "it you be Won honest man, you viii please
tell me vat TOR dat vessel fire many guns at you Z"
We replied that it was pracal vessel.
Mon Dieu! Won pirate did you say? Oh! sa-
ere l esteem you Won very grand man to escape
very nicely. Monsieur oh Monsieur, vat shall
| do ? my vessel is Won slow sailor and de pirate
will catch us and kill us ALL Oh Monsieur, will you
be so much good man as to keep vid we little
while ~
To this request we knew not what to reply The
brig, as the captain SAID, was dull saller, and if
we kept company we should be obliged to shorten
sail and thus again be exposed TO our old enemy
On the other hand, we could not endure the thought
OF deserving so many of our ieow-bengs in a mo-
inent OF extreme danger, and yet if we remained
with them we could not defend ourselves, much
less another vessel We however took in some f
our light sIs aud kept with the brig for nearly an
hour. Finding, however, that the pirate gained
rapidly upon us, only one alternative remained and
that crowd all sail and leave the brig to the
protection Of Providence, unless indeed we were
willing to remain like men bound hand and foot to
be captured. The commander of the brig was
therefore advised TO alter his course and steer in
northerly direction, the pirate being SO eager to
secure Vi the larger vessel, and 10 repay Us for
our incyilily to his men, might leave the brig UNI
moested. Tho light sails being again set, we
parted, and parted, too, forever sadly did we mis-.
take the probable movements Of the pirate, Tor i'm
medlately upon our separation, he hauled his wind
and stood for the brig.
Gladly would here close my sketch, and if pos
sble the darkest oblivion across the bitter recollec-
ton Of that hour But it can never be efiaced from
my memory; it has haunted me by day and by
night, and even now, though many years have in
tervened, as recall it more wildly before my mind
hot scaldng tears are gathering.
The brig soon oyertaken. For few mo-
ments there was desperate conaict--yard-arm