The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-11-15
EIIS0lsIhlLNN Is6US.
From the Nantucket Inquirer,
BATTLE WITH THE PIRATES,
BY REV. CHARLES RICH.

L "do dh bOulu W S.lud' ~NOtnlUei
ranspirtd worthy OF no,c for the first 6f
teen days Of our passage, with the excep.
lon of single event, t,whch,as it may serveI
as point of introduction 10 the subject of
this sketch, shall be mentioned. 1t was
one of those empurpled mornings which
the tropical sun so often ushers in with all
its pageanIry, while gliding along our sails
laIl filed with stiff trade, wind, liiat dis
covered on the weather quarter, black
rakish looking craft running down with the
intention. apparently, of iDtercepIlng our
course. Al The time of which | write, tht
Southern waters were infested with gang
of The most desperate and blood thirsty
lpiratos which history ever yet mentioned.
War was also existing between ithe Span
ards and the parties Of South America, and
lpIivaleers were constantly abroad for des
tructlon OF the enemy's ships. The new
sail being 10 the windward had every ad
vantage over us, and could therefore bear
ldown upon us with more flowing sheet,
lor haul her wind should she wish to avoid
JUS. In less than three hours after we frs,
saw her. she beam of two miles distant
and proved 10 be n low brig Of nearly Two
hundred TO rs, well armed. All on bJard
wero somewhat alarmed al tho approach of
this new rsler,and especially when chang
ing suddenly her course, she kept along
directly abeam.
"A prale--a pirate! we heard from every
m ou.h and from the captain TO the CABIN
boy there was not one who did not wish
himself safely moored at Manlanzas.
This remained thus ill noon, when the
brig altered her course and steered directly
for us.-Wiihin an hour she shot beautiful
y across our bows, and firing lee gun, ,hel
commander hailed the ship and olderec
Captain N to heave TO, that he might board
lus This was done, and The result was
that after Lalf an hour had elapsed, during
which time Captain N. and myself, wer
cabined with the Lieutenant of the brig, we
were politely informed thai we might pro
ceede on our course, The officer announced
himse Il, as he departed TO be Leulanant -
of the Columbia gun brig L'Eperance. lie
had al first mistaken us for Spanish YES
sells, and af'erward delayed running down
as we looked not unlike sloop of war.
1t was or the third day after this occur
renee, that we made the west end of Por,c
Rico Captain ~ had just gore below ic
breakfast, when taking up the spy glass
discovered in the Mana passage two tap er
ing mas,s, scarcely visible under high
juling bluff.
'He is a pirate, indeed, cried l.; ION deck
quick, Captain, for you will find ihIs fellow
tain n. was Immediately on deck, and up
on second observation, he noticed shat
the vessel was hosting her foIesail, and be
fore he could look he third time, she had
every thing set coming out from under the
Hand TO meet us
This looks suspicious said he. to lie
one moment slowed away like spider,
with nothing 10 be seen, and then within
five minuesto be in full chase, after % sWan
GEL am afraid that we shall not fad i,
such easy work get rid Of him as we dc
the brig the other day what say you Charlie
suppose that his craft prove TO be a pir
ate, will you fgh, him! or shall we heaw
to, and quietly suffer them 10 cut ou
IIhrOalsP
AS TO fighting replied, 'Ii,le can be
ldone in that way for our whole srmamen;
Consists Of only one four FOUNDER, two
muskets, one cu,less, and my iowling piece;
array indeed against 'he force whic h haI
fellow doubtless musters. But can tell
you ono thing Captain N. lis no harder 10
die by a cannon ball or boarding pike than
! being strung up TO the yard arm aud choak"
n ed TO death by degrees. or by having our
n windpipes unskilluIy opened by 'hes'
quack doctors. For one, then, l say, &c