Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-11-04

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Lyard-arm was suspended what would seem
the body ofa man, while over him foated
Etriumphantly the terrific. black flag. The
ST. Vincent as the brigahtine bore down
upon them, gave themta broad side, but it
wos returned with such q destructive fire
Ithat they were obliged to surrender and sue
ffof mercy rom tIlSp slaFsas q sfhese ftous
whom mercy could hardly be expected.
The vessels were in few moments side by
side, and the bearded pirates poured upon
the deck of the St. Vincent, cutting down
all who stood in their way. Some Of them
remained on deck, while others entered the
cabin to seek for plumber. On entering,
the first object they beheld was Ellen New
berry, whom two Of them rudely seized and
conveyed almost senseless, on board the
brigantine. After they had stripped the
st. Vincent of all the valuables which she
had on board, they cut away all her boats,
and set her on fire. The captain then
turned to the crew andthus addressed them:
"Those Of you who would rather come
with us and sail under the black pen-
non than to turn salamander and revel in
these flames, can 60 with us and receive
an introduction to that miserly Jew who
can show his heels to any craft, that skins
the seas Come said he, my lads, we
have no time to loose, save your lives, and
make them iolly ones"
Some ofthe crew now came forward,
among whom were Newberry and Devol-
son. The captain then gave orders to
leave the ship, and they were soon on board
the brigantine and under sail, leaving on
board the fry hulk those who had preferr-
ed death to dishonor, and the fames of a
burning ship to the flames Of a conscience
guilty and blood stained. The scene on
board the ST. Vincent after the departure
Of the brigantine / viii not attempt to de.
scribe, but beg the reader 10 picture in inn
agination q vessel almost enyeloped with
flames, while at the extremity are to be seen
a number Of hapless beings, some Of whom
are seen to fall to the deck from the in.
tense heat, while others seek thor last re,
pose beneath the briny wave. Each mo-
ment the little group is becoming smaller,
until the fire reaches the magazine of the
ship, and the tragic scene is closed, The
crew of the pirate vessel, after witnessing
the explosion Of the St. Vincent, gave three
cheers for the Wandering Jew and drank
success to their captain and to their next
enterprise. They were, however, inter-
rupted in their reveIry by the report of a
gun, and the rafting shot clattered the dis
NAL death knell to the startled crew, and
brought q number ofthe spars Of the brig.
antine to the deck. All was confusion,
hurry and astonishment; they had been at
tackled without receiving the least warning,
for the daring stranger had not the civility
to hail his victim, and learn his character.
The captain Of the brigantine, thinking to
pass for an English trader, as he had often
done, gave orders for the colors Of old Eng
land to be hoisted, but on looking aloft he
discovered the magnet that had attracted
the fatal balls. The black flag which they
had neglected to pull down, still huttered
from the main peak, and had told their
character too plainly to need an explana-
ton. He turned to the crew, then point.
ing to the fatal tell-tale, he exclaimed,
sit is of no use, my lads, our colors are
there, and our only chance is superior sail
ing; hoist every sail, and tell the man at
the helm to alter the course ofthe brig two
points,"
The order was Immediately obeyed and
the light vessel bounded over the waves, as
though sensible of the danger to which it
was exposed.
i SHOW" said he, ''let the long gun be
manned, and, ifpossible, cut away her masts,
otherwise, we shall be overtaken, for that
vessel sails more like the tabled Water
Witch, than like ship,-as know her to
be well manned, and full Of port holes."
By the time he had finished speaking,
the smoke was seen to issue from the mouth
Of the long gun on her deck, and the nexI
moment the main mast of his own vesse
fell, disordering the sails that remained Sc
much that the speed of the doating Brigan
tine could be no more depended upon, anc
before the fallen mast and sails, which
were dragging in the water, could be GU
away and the remaining shattered sails
repaired, the strange vessel was SO near
that from each Of her sides, alternately
poured a FIRE, SO destructive that the idea o
repairing the sails was entirely abandoned
and the captain concluded to suffer his yes
sci 10 be boarded, and then sell their lives
as dearly as possible. In few moments
the .grapnels Of the schooner Farewell
were thrown upon the Brigantine, and
Henry Morton, and his bold followers,
jumped upon the deck. Newberry, ana
most of the men that belonged to the St.
| Vincent fought the pirates with great brave
ry; but Devolson and some others, navlhg
minds congenial with the gang tney hao
| Joined, fought with desperate courage 70
behalf of tho 4awless band Of maranders, ol
A.