Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-02-21

'Doin'? I'm goin' to give 'em gun.
darn'd if I'ain'l If these here guns
has got 10 go TO Dayy's locker, I'll git
one Gre out on 'em first, guess' r
AS 'Siah spoke he threw down mo-
vable section Of the bulwark amid ships,
leaving an open space to the sea, before
the muzzels of three OF the enormous
cannons that lay upon the deck He then
took UP his huge cartridge, and thrus,ng
| it into the muzzle of one of them, be-
gan to ram il down with a handspike.
.Wha, on airth is the critter a.!' cried
the Deacon. ' ~
'Siah made no reply, bu. having ram
med the cartridge home, he rolled a
! thiriy-two pound shot towards il, and
giving it q lift showed il into the muzzle
after the powder. p. ..'
Now Tor prming her and then Iguess
if don't give 'em Fourth o. July sa-
lutte, they never heerd one! #.. -
AS lie spoke he poured handful of
powder upon the vent, and then jumping
to the caboose, caught up lighted pine
knot, and waving i. to keep it bright, ap-
prOacheG tne gun.
Stop 'Siah, stop! shouted the skipper
al the top of his voice; you'll blow the
Polly Ann to Jericho, if you fire that
are gun aboard on her.
Il don't calculate I'll be took priso-
ner by the Bri:ishers, Deacon, and be
put in Darlmore, guess! don't mean
to fire jist yet, but take chance for
good aim, and then give 'em saltpetre!
I'm shake every bone out of the Pol
ly!' said the captain in alarm.
As he spoke the brig now within
mile distance, fred a shot across her
bows.
That means to heave to, Lot said
the skipper; 'Siah, put out that pine
knot
Il mean to by'm by, Deacon! Wal,
till get shot at 'em! amt afeerd of
hurlin' the sloop bit! You ins; ya~
her little bit, and bring the muzzle o
my artillery piece right agin the brig,
and if | don't show 'elh how Yankee
gun can speak, don't never want to
see the inside o. kennebec river again.
! A second gun came from the brig, and
the sho, passed within ten feet Of the
captains head, made rent fathom
long in his main sail, and the caused his
peak halya to part, and let the peak
main sail down. This caused the sloop
to fall off point or two; and while the
skipper unAinching and with quiet
look was trying to bring her to the wind
again 'Siah, taking advantage of mo-
ment as she swung, in which this loaded
gun bore upon the brig, Instantly applied
the torch TO the vent! The roar. the
flame, and the copcussion were terrific.
The little vessel ieeled under the re-
coil Of the vast gun till the waves poured
in over bows and stern. The skipper
and Lo, were laid fiat upon the deck.
! while 'Siah found himself hanging by
the heels in The lee shrouds. For a few
minutes the Deacon thought this vessel
would go down, she walowed and plnng-
! ed so, but she soon steadied herself, tho
with her deck flooded. her Ub blown "a
, way, and her windlass unshipped.
, Il guess if they got The shot, ill settle
EN- said 'Siah, as he dropped feet first
ou! of The rigging, into which he had
; been blown, upon deck, and tried see
through the smoke.
you ought to be settlec, you tarnal
, criiter!' cried the Deacon, enraged; you
like TO have sunk her, darn ye!
!, sDon't swear Deacon, want to see
il the brig got IT, g. ... -.
Got it, you fool! guess you'll get
: il if ever see shore again!'
As the smoke slowly rolled away, the
r brig was discovered, no longer standing
, down bu, knocking abou, at the mercy
/, OF the waves and winds, her foremas
gone by the board, and dragging over
I the side with all its yards and sails
$ The shot had cut off her mast within
! ten feet Of the deck, 1.1
!, .Siah was perfectly confounded. bu
' he manifested no surprise, while lht
: Deacon and Lo. set up a loud hurrah o.
r triumph.
e why, what is the matter! Why
don't you halto!' exclaimed the Deacon
a taking breath.
/, Coz it ain, nothin' more'n meant tt
] dot responded 'Siah, with inimitablt
: sang froid; i amt surprised. if you b,
9 Deacon
d In twenty minutes more the sloor
3 with her valuable cargo was safely shell
e tered under the guns Of Fort Hunnewell
, The sloop OF war lay upon the rock iii
$ the next tide, and the brig lay by her
a rigging jury.mast. Before sunset botf
I vessels made sail and steered eastward
on the way towards Halifax, to repair
: damages. Thus the blockade was rails
a ed, greatly TO the relief of the commerce
: Of the river
e ''Siah is now one of the most populaI
of the Eastern steamboat captains.
8 "Madame de Genlis," says some.
body, "reproved her Librarian for putting