Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-02-21
THE IkENNEBEC SLOOP
And the Hnglish Cruisers.
A TALE OF THE LAST WAR.
BY J. II. IgdRAuAM;

the passes of the highlands that form the
north east boundary line between the
United States and Canada, and after
]. flowing through romantic region of
many miles, enters valley of surpas-
3 s,ng beauty, through which il meanders
between level intervals Of the riches!
ve.dure. |...
There is fortress near the mouth OF
4 this river, just on the skirts Of the sea.
q called Fort Hunnewel. II 10 now dis
man.led, and is celebrated resort during
the July weather for the Kenncbeckers.
I,was erected during the las; war TO de-
tsud the entrance 10 the river. II is Sit
ua:ed upon low beach, which, halt a
uils north is commanded by a
bold headland hundred feet in height,
ON which also frown the ruins of bat
\ terry.
AT the period OF our story, which
4 was near the close o. the last war, two
British armed vessels had been cruising
off the mouth of the river for some days,
occasionally running close in with the
fort, SO as TO draw It's fire, and then
|. lacking and standing seaward again.
4 One OF these vessels was a sloop of-war
snd the other brig of sixteen guns
They were ef1ectually blockading the
river, and for some time no vessel had
either come out or gone in. Everything
. was brought 10, even TO the small fishing
boat, and The strictest vigilance was main
,siued frcm the very first day Of their
arrival on the coast.
One morning in June, jus! as The sun
was rising from the sea, finging his fiery
spears far across the sparkling waves,
kindling up every object upon which
4 ,hev lrt, me two English vessels were
teen standing in towards tie mouth OF
the river, under top-gallan, sails, with
the wind free on the starboard quartet
They were abou. half mile apart, their
courses converging TO point. This
point. small Kennehec slooP. was hug
xing The land, and endeavoring to make
the entrance Of The kennebec. Her
4 broad main sail was flung 10 the wind
Ike great white wing and she was
sweeping along across the water like a
Pull flying before storm. She had
been discovered by the cruisers only a
few minutes before, when they tackled
together and pressed after her TO inter-
a rep, her, making all sail as thev went.
Fifteen minutes more Of the obscurity
Of morning, aGd the adventures sloop
would hare got in;o the river and under
the guns of tie fort unseen, or seen too
late 10 be cut of. ..-... .....
& I,wss beautiful sight 10 behold the
three vessels in motion; one small. un-
armed and with bu, tLree sails 10 help
her figfa; bounding along close under
!. she land the others tall, lrowning with
: batteries and covered with Canvass from
deck 10 truck. I..-.. I'D.
The sloop wss two miles in shore OF
,he cruisers, and about The same dis
lance westward CT the mouth Of the
Earbor, being when discovered just
stealing round Cape Small Point. She
had therefore. the same distance to run
10 sain shelter, lha: her pursuers had TO
somc 10 her present position.
The cruisers stood on for about five
minutes after iacking, in the same cover.
ging lines, when the corvette signalized
the brig. which Immediately luffed and
bore up four points eastward, while the
former kept her first course. The OBJ.
ject had in view by this manGuver ol
The brig. il was plainly evident to the
fshe r,nen, who from the rocks on n-which
their huts were perched, were watching
with interest the pursuing and the prr,
ssed, was 10 intercept her; for they had
quickly discovered that direct chase
would be Intellectual, as the sloop show.
ed herself to be very fast sailer. So
the brig stood straight towards the mouth
hoping TO reach it in advance OF the
sloop, while the sloop Sf war kept on
TO capture her if she should turn back
and a,.smp, to escape into HarPswell s'
/ Portland.
I'VE shall be TUX, darn if we shan't
Deacon, cody remarked tall, upgainly
youth Of nineteen, who, with dippei
fastened to a ten foot handle, was bail
1 ing up the water from the sea and throw.
ing il over the main sail Of the sloop, to
swell The threads of the canvass and
make il better hold the wind.
As he spoke he paused in his work
leaned upon his long dipper handle, and
shutting one eye, took deliberate sur
vey of the two cruisers. 81
mot SO long as two timbers Of the
Polly Ann hold together, 'Siah, respon
ded the Deacon. who grasped the helm
and who, with one eye ahead and the
other watching the enemy, directed the
course OF his little vessel towards tht
shelter he sought. 'lfawe'd only hat
another ten minits afore sun-up, we'd |;
got in. But the day amt 'goin to ssoI
for any man, and ! don't 'spect il to-
All we must do is to keep the Polly ou
O. the hands o. The Britis hers, now
they've got their eyes on Us. Wet ,hs
sails, 'Siah-keep victim 'em! l :
4 guess they kind O. guess what W.
have got aboard, Deacon said 'Siah, al
he casts shower Of spray over the main
Il sail, They seem Ito take all-frei
Eonble to catch us. See how tho Polly
s>xs