Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-08-06
ISCELLANY.
THE FRIGATE'S TENDER:
OR, THE NAUTICAL RusE.
A TALE OF THE LAST WAR, FOUNDED ON FACT.
CHAPTER /.

CHAPTER l.
1t was early on sunny morning during the pro-
gress OF the last war with Great Britain that a
young naval officer standing the battery at New
iorK, had his attention drawn to group of persons
earnestly engaged in watching two vessels lust yis
bic far down the harbor.
What Is it, my friends he asked in frank. hear
ty tone, as he joined them.
The tender, again, chasing in schooner, sir.
answered an old tar, touching the point of his hat
as ne noticed the anchor button on the officers coat
Here is spy glass, sir, said masters mate who
$1,000 near, at the same time respectfully handing it
to him.
lhank you, my man, answered the lieutenant
with smile, as he took the instrument and placed
it TO his eye.
BY its aid he could clearly distinguish an armed
schooner OF about ninety TONS crowding sail in chase
OF trading fore-and-after, that was making every
eXerilon to escape, both by towing and throwing
water upon the sails.
The chase is about half mile ahead sir said
the masters mate; but the tender sails like shark
In chase OF dolphin The fore-and. after don't
stand chance of getting in past the fort.
The tender can sail, and am the one that ought
to know 1t, said stout, weather-beaten looking man.
she was pilot boat and the fastest craft that ever
danced over the waves. Three weeks ago and
my crew Were out in her, when yon English frigate
suddenly made her appearance out of fog bank and
brought us to. But took to my yawl, and pulled
Tor The land league away, and escaped for the fog
was so thick the Engshman could not get a
glimpse of me. 1t is my schooner they've turned
ln'o tender, SIT, and that's made so many captures
the last three weeks, of our small coasters.
She carries forty men, and long thirty two so |
hear, observed seaman in the group.
And is commanded by lufl and REFER, added
the masters mate
1t would be a blessing Observed man-of-war's
man. who had not yet spoken, il that craft could be
caught mapping. 1t amt safe for sloop to put her
nose out of the harbor, beyond the cape /; but while
the trgate was there alone, they could skip along
the coast in light water, and show her their heels
but now, every thing that ventures out is brought
to by that long gun Of the tenders.
That's fact then, responded another seaman
She has taken or driven back into port no less than
twenty-slX crafts in the last three weeks | shall
be glad for one when fgate lying off there gets
her armament aboard for then think we'll swallow
the English fTgate outside and pick our teeth with
the tender.
All these remarks were heard by the young off
Ger, who all the while continued to look through the
spy-glaSs at the tender and chase
There goes gun! cried several Of the spectators
as a flash and jet of azure smoke came from the
! tenders bows
| That is bold enough, observed the young officer
as if speaking his thoughts aloud, the inpudent
tender is almost up with the fort and dares TO fire
at the chase in the very face of the batteries.
IT is only to try and do her mischief sir. said the
masters mate for she finds the fore-and after will
escape her-so she fires gun to cut away some
| thing.
You arc right my man, responded the officer, for
she has put about and stands to seaward aoap.
He continued TO watch the retiring tender for
some moments in silence
It's pity we hadn't an armed cutter in port that
would sail faster than she can, so that we might