Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-11-20
VOLUME l3---,NUMBER 6.

suspicious stranger with velocity that made US
hope we should soon oyertake her. In this, how.
ever, we were disappointed. No sooner did she
perceive our intentions, than throwing off all dis.
guse, she went away dead before US, crowdng on
every rag Of canvass TO the trucks; while the fe-
lucca on her thther quarter hauling up between
Us and her consou. daringly fired a gun as we set
our ensign, and run up in defiance the Barbary
flag. The insult reused every man on board, un-
Ill nothing was heard but wishes to overtake the
pirates. The consciousness, moreover, that the
stranger was her prize; that in all likelihood she
was an American; and that her wholecrew would
be condemned to the worstof saveries, inhamed
US with the most enthusiastic desire to avenee
their wrongs, and chastise the arrogant Algerine.
The men gathered forwardingroups, scrutnizing
the foe, or conversing with eager gestures; while
many compressed lip, and muttered execraton,
told of the indignation burning in his bosom.
"Our noble ship appeared to partake of their
honest warmth, dashing along as galantly as
courser to the death. In less than half an hour
we had gained so much upon the feucca, that
shot from our bow gun brought her huge lateen
sail to the deck; and availng ourselves of our
good fortune, we came up hand over hand, pour.
ed IN broadside, amid deafening huzzas, and
rounding across her bows, swept her decks with
storm Of grape, that left scarcely man alive at
his station. Sill, however, she kept her ensign
doggedlv flying. 1t was only when we had rid
died her sides with another discharge, and she was
obviously sinking, thather commander consented
to haul down his flag. How was | astonished
when mounted her deck as boarding officer, to
see in advance of the pirates, hastily released to
otiicate as interpreter, the gentlemanly captain
Of the ship in which Beatrice had sailed. The
truth flashed like lightning upon me. Good God
and was she in the hands of lawless pirates.
Shuddered at the thought: sickness came over
me; | reeled, would have fallen, and staggered
against the mast but momentarily recovering
myself, rapidly interrogated the captain, learn
ed TO my horror that Beatrice and her family were
in the other vessel and turning my eyes in that
direction found, that in our eagerness to overhaul
the lelucca, we had totally neglected the captured
ship, so that, taking advantage of our caressness
she had edged up to windward, and was already
at an almost hopeless distance. Years have pass.
ed since then; but the emotions of that moment
are still fresh in my memory. A despair, bor-
derng on madness, took possession of me, CIV
ing vigor and energy to my faculties they had
never felt before. ! saw all depended on haste,
and aware that the fellucca was already sinking,
instantly hurried our prisoners out of her, sprang
into my boat, pulled wildly back to the frigate,
rushed up to the commodore, and without paus-
ing to breathe, informed him of what had heard,
concluding by invoking him for the love of God,
to rescue our countrymen. But the gray haired
veteran need no incentive. Snatching the trum.
pet in his hand, he Numbered out, before my ap-
peal had been half finished,
"All hands make sail-quarter master, up with
her,"
SAY, ay, sir" growled the old sea.dog, as the
gallant frigate danced to windward.
He paused awhile, and then demanded,
"What does she mako!"
"Twelve knots, sir!"
"a point more, quarter master!"
"Ay, ay, sir"
ave are nearing her now, Think"
"Rapidly, STRIP
"Then keep her to it-and now, gentlemen
make up your minds for warm work. Away up
here, where the haze hangs on the horizon, is the
coast of Africa; and know enough of those ras.
Gals to predict, that unless we overtake them be.
fore they reach it, they will fly to their boats car
ry off their booty and prisoners, blow up then
prize, and plunge our fellow countrymen into 6
| lingering slavery" And as he spoke, turning
momentarily away, he took his solitary station on
the weather quarter.
The prediction of the aged commodore doubly
infamed our impatience. Not man on board
but, in the progress of the chase, became wrought
up to the highest pitch of excitement; and before
the pursuit had been continued an hour, officers
landsmen, and weather-staned veterans We'd witt
each other in the intensity of their feelings. l
was still uncertain whether we should overakt
the chase before shereached the coast; for thougl
our velocity was almost incredible, it but LITTLE
exceeded that of our opponent. She was beside
already dangerously near the land, and before w
could hope to board her would beashore. Wha
were my feelings during these moments of sus
pense? Words cannot describe nor imagination
picture them. Hope and fear aternated rapidly
in my bosom,-a thousand dreadful surmses fol
lowed each other in terrible succession. Now
trembled lest our approach should infame the cap
tors into desperation, and she, loved so deeply
become the victimof theirrage-and now shud
dered, as saw how slowly we gainedupon them
and that in all human probability, it would be il
vain to hope for rescue. These contending e
motions, lacerating my bosom with anguish, pre-
sented hopeless prospect on either hand. Bu
we were now approaching within range of sho
and al once brisk, and we'll aimed fire was open
ed upon the chase. My own feelings seemed t
, have taken possession of the crew; and not
shot but was sent with the precision Of rifle
ball. They burned to release their counryme
from bondage worse than death. They knev
that all depended upon disabling the foe; and a
: they grew warmer in their work, the balls tol
with unerring certainty, splinterng spar, or pei
: forating sail at every discharge. Still, howev
: er, nothing of consequence had been shot away
but after some fifteen minutes firing wild huzz
: rung through the frgate as the main topmast
: the chase went cracking over the side, bearin
with it the royal sky-sail, and web of hamper