Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-06-26
glass. be told the lieutenant % beat 70

morning before publication.
i glass. he told the Lieutenant 10 beat TO
quarters, and prepare the brig fos ac-
hon. Calling his men around him, he
lupbraided them for their want Of obe-
ldience, and their mutinous conduct, and
ltold them he had work for then, TO do.
\ They had complained Of being issi
Hong idle. and il should not be his fault
lifi. continued so any klonger. " Then,
assuming cheerful tone, he praised
,fthcm for the bravery they had display
ed in all the actions into which he
|had led them, and that he PLACED im--
lplicit confidence in theirscourage and
afskill; then pointing tothe vessel insight,
Ihe told them, while fierce smile light.
led his grim features, that, the flag at
her peak must give place 10 his own,
and that mol one must be left to tell
the tale. "Shall it be sol" he asked.
"Aye," AYE, sir!" shouted the whole
crew, death, death.t the one that will
finch, when our captain leads"
"To your quarters, then, my lads;
this day must wiposout all your form-
or transgrcssions." f s'rife .7s5
Then the brig was put about, and
sailed away in contrary direction, i'm
order, to ascertain if their motions
were observed; and no sooner was this
done, than the stranger also altered her
course. and as far al. the wind would
admit edged her way down toward
the pirate. = EAgain the course Of the
brig was changed, and likewise that Of
the stranger-they each time drawing
nearer to each other. The pirate had
the advantage, being to windward, yet
this advantage was lcssened owing to
being in shore and consequently una
bic to pass cut to sea without coming
within the range Of he enemy's gun.
Black Beard again took his glass, and
attentively viewed the motions of the
stranger ship, now about iaree miles
distant, then turning 10 Mr.. Brace, he
said, awe have an ugly customer to
deal with; if mistake not, yonder
ship p1is;commanded by that boy Waltoni
Should it be so, there will be few Of
us alive 10 night, for, by the powers Of
darkness, either he or shall perish ere
this contest is ended. Alter the briggs
course few points, Mr.. Brace. We
must sail down towards her, whilst I
arm for the conflict" as ''o
Passing into the cabin, where Jean
, was prisoner, he told her, with ma.
, licious grin, that he should see her boy
lover in few hours--that his vessel was
only two miles distant--that she should
. hear him send his compliments 10 him
as soon as he returned on deck-and
that, at daylight tomorrow she should
have the pleasure of seeing him llangl
As soen as he returned on deck.
orders were given to clear the long
gun, and to lay the broadside towards
}, the enemy. After it was loaded, the
pirate pointed 1t himself, and it was
aimed at the ships mast--but without
effect. 1t was re-loaded and fred sew.
eral times in order to disable the enc
my's rigging, SO as to give every posi-
BILE advantage to the pirate; but the
damage done was immaterial. The
Letter Of Marque (the pirate had not
mistaken who his enemy was,) had not
yet opened her fire. Her guns were
double. shotted with round and grape,
and orders were given to aim at the
port>holes of the brig, and not throw
away shot among the rigging; the or
der was also passed to take the pirate
captain alive if possible. The vessel
had now come within pistol shot, and the
ship sent crashing broadside into the
brig, that tore her bulwarks and scat.
tered the spllnters in every direction,
killing and wounding several Of the
crew. Yet the fire was returned with
nearly equal effect from the brig. An.
Iimated by the voice OF their daring
captain, they fought with such coolness
and courage, and handled their guns
with such dexicrity, as to render the
result of the contest extremely doubt
ful. Broadside followed broadside for
a full half hour without intermission, at
tended with frightful slaughter leach
captain and crew doing their utmost
10 disable their antagonist. Towards
sundown, hover the fire Of the pirate
brig began to slacken. Her deck pre-
sented shocking spectacle. being SO
4 strewn with the dead that one could
scarcely step without stumblidg over Or
treading upon the prostrate and mans
gled bodies. Full half the crew were
| disabled--still the rest were undaunted,
and willing to fight 70 the last. But
Black Beard, seeing that his chance
was lost. determined to escape, hoping
that in the darkaesssit might be easily
done. Ordering all sails to be set, he
soon got out Of the reach OF tho ene--
my's shot, and sailed Ia tho direction Of
| Nantucket shoals. But the ship was