Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-08-12
From Gleasons Pictorial Drawing Room Companio
THE EMGLISHMAN'S EXPLOITS,
AND
HOW MUCH HE MADE BY 1T.
A SEA SKETCH.
rr sYLyANus conn. JR.
. SEA SKETCH.

Ri sfLVANUS COBB, JR.
Many years ago, when we were mere
boy, we used 10 sit upon low stool, nj the
feet OF Commodore Samuel Tucker, and
hear that old veteran relate the incidents that
had come under his own observation during
our last struggle with Great Britain Among
the thousand and one stories that we have
heard fall from the lips ofthat ocean warrior.
the following has remained fresh in our mem
ory;
On the Western shore Of Penobscot Bay,
between Belfast and Camden, there was a
small club Of fshermen's cots, Inhabited by
hardy set OF men. who had from Infancy,
been brought up amid the tho music OF the
breaking waves, and who knew no fear be-
meath the power of mortal man. Foremost
among these hardy children Of the sea, and
occupying station of a sort OF ruler among
them. was middle aged man, named Enoch
Nightingale, or, as he was generally called
Captain Nightingale; and rever was a man
better fitted by nature for the post he held
by general consent than was he. Powerful
and athletic in his physical mould, bod and
fearless as the forest monarch, aud frank and
generous in his social relations; he was he
loved and respected by all who knew him.
lie was Jolly fellow too, and often as his
small grey eyes twnkled in their merry
tnood, close observer might have seen
keen love OF practical joking lurking in their
cleaning depths.
AT the time oI which we write, the fisher
men dared not venture far out to sea, for a
close blockade was kept up along the coast,
and so they were forced TO foreeo the adyan.
tages of their best fishing grounds; but new
idea had taken possession OF their brains,
snd they had thought OF fitting out privs.
'eer against the English. For two weeks
had this matter been talked, over and all the
arms necessary to personal welfare had been
procured, but no vessel suitable Tor the en-
Ierpnse could be obtaiued, nor could they
raise guns heavy enough for sea use, even
had they possessed the vessel OF pistols |
ana cutissscs they had ennuph. and that was !
all, unless we add one old iron six FOUNDER, |
which served as kind OF signal gun in cases /
Of heavy logs and stormy nights.
IL was just bighIfall that Obed Nighlingale's |
sballop (Obed was the old mans son) came
up the bay, and as the young man came on
shore, he reported that there was an English |
'opsall schooner, clean clipper built craft. |
lying of and on between Msnhegan and the !
Lcdges. She was heavily armed, and SEEM
cd 10 play about in the water as though hen
heels were made for running.
Now Capt. Enoch Nightingale had said
but very litIie about The various projects that
had been set on foot with regard TO the pti |
va;celing expedition, but he had thought |
great deal, and as sooo as his son communi |
Gated the above Intelligence, his thoughts |
came 10 focus. A plan OF operation was
clearly marked out in his mind, and he at |
once set about the work OF putting il into ef- |
feet The man who stood second TO Capt. |
Nightingale, mate, was Jabe Haskins.
'Jabe.' sald the captain. did you know
there was British clipper just outside!
Yes
We'll. spose we 60 and take her!'
do what
'W-h.e W.
But I'm in earnest.
Jabo looked at Nightingale in utter as
tonishment.
Il can GO out in my little Rhody an take
her before she knows where she is. Now,
will you help mel
'PIl foller yer, cap'3. efyou 60 L ihunder,'
was Jabc's hearty response, as he saw that
the old man was in earnest.
Capt. Nightingale took his mate by The
arm and led him of. The night was daik,
but still there was busy scene on board The
schooner Rhody, which was the heaviest
fishing vessel in the place. Torches were
cleaning TO an fro all night long, hammers
and saws were sendng forth their music.
and when the morning dawned the Rhody
was vcady Tor sea. The old iron signal gun
was hoisted on board. and placed on rude
sort Of carriage amidships, the cod line buck
els and bait boxes had been cleared away,
and. take her all in all. she bore some faint
resemblance to an embryo pirate or p,ivateer.
She was manned by twelve men, Of whom
Jabe liaskins took The command. The
people wondered where Capt. Nightingale
was, but Jabe set their hearts at rest by tell.
ing them he would Get outside as soon as the
schooner did.
10 an hour after daylight the Rhody hove
up her anchor and made sail, and in less
than five hours she poked her blunt nose in
TO the waters Of The blue Atlantic Shortly
after The schooner had passed Whiro Head
light, the Eoglishman was made ont about
two miles distant, TO the south'rd and VEST
I'd just of the Ledges, and hauling his {
sheets fiat aft. Jabe brought his vessel up TO :
the wiud, which was fresh from the nor,h'rd
and eastrd, and stood oiftowards the latter J
point This looked amazingly like irving I
TO run away--at least, so the EnrIishman
consequently the clipper was :
put in full chase. and though she was some }
what TO tho leowsrd, sill, il was evident that {
she would not be long in oyerhsuIing the !.
Yankee.
About four O'Clock in the afternoon, The
Euglishman came almost within halliDg dis
tancc, and fired a gun. AS the slot came I
whizziDg over the fshermau's deck. Jabe 4
tlsskins at once hoye TO and ere long tho !
clipper 6 came up. 4
Schooner ahoyr n
tlellow!' returned Jabe. q
DO you surcuderr
Wal, efyou want take us, s'pcse | cant
help myself %