New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-08-14


had on board a company Of Infantry bound
home, and about fifty passengers. She also had
eight guns well mounted between decks, and a
tolerable stand Of small arms, including cut
lasses. As soon as I had cor1prehended all this
and much more, ] found an opportunity to tell
the Captain that wanted a few words with him
in private He Immediately led the way to the
cabin ordered wine, and we were alone Ithen
in the fewest words possible, told him who and
what we were, and how | had been entrapped
on board, and what station ] held, as well as
my plan of escape: which was to go ON board
and make an understatement'of his strength to
Captain Tralle, and persuade him to send more
boats on board to take possession Of the chip,
while he, the Captain OF the ship, got every
thing ready to receive rs when we came on
board | was then to leave the side Of the
brig men and take command of the crew and
passengers Of the ship, and kill and disable as
many of the pirates as possible, before they
could return to the boats. did not dare to
remain long, therefore left much to the discre-
ton of Capt. Gordon, willis hurried on board
the brig. ss ~
arrived there told Capt. Tralle that had
no doubt but that the ship would be valuable
prize, and that two or three boats crews would
be sufficient to take Possession of her with but
little fighting. j told him thatif he had suffi-
cieht confidence in my Judgment and ability, 1
would volunteer to take her with thirty men. 7
knew was playing a game that wouId,free me
or cost me my life, and 1 determined to die be-
fore would strike one blow as pirate. have
already stated that the first mate was sick, and
was we'll persuaded that Capt TraiIe would
not trust the ship with the secend mate there.
fore, | was well satisfied that.my plans, would
carry. Tralle unused for a few moments, when
he told me to order away the first, second and
third cutters. and to call for thirty volunteers
did as he directed me, and the whole crew
stepped out to go in the boats, which created the
necessity for Capt. Tralle to select his men,
which he did in a few moments, and directed me
TO go into the first cutter as commander of the
expedition, the second mate to take command Of
the second cutter, and the boatswain of the
third ~
He then turned to the boats crews and ad-
dressed them for a few moments he told them
to support me with all their power as was a
young hand in such things, as he wished me:to
have an opportunity to distinguish myself;
SC for said he, pointing TO me, g | believe in
that man you see your future commander 1
expressed my thanks to Capt Tralle for his good
opinion of me, and walked to where he was,
gave him my hand, and told him that Il was go
ing ON an expedition of danger, and that We
might not meet again in tais world, for | was
determined to conquOr or die. | requested him
to have a launch and twenty men ready to come
to my aid if should want them, of which l.
would let him know By firing pistol to the
windward or towards the brig, and then bid
him good by, jumped into my boat, and gave the
order to SO shove Off let fall, give way. With
what pride should have commanded anexpedi-
ton of this kind against the enemies of my
country! Instead Of which was leading pi-
rate horde-they supposed, to victory-I knew,
to death. I directed the second mate and boat
swain to board with their crews from the bows
of the ship, while would go over the weather
gangway. a., -s'
We ranged alongside in good style, and soon,
were on board, where we found but few men,
| who appeared perfectly unconcerned as to who
we were and what we wanted As soon as
least my eye around was perfectly satisfied.
| that Captain Gordon understood me fully, and
for the first time my heart almost failed ME, for
we'll knew what slaughter there was soon to
be upon the decks of the then. quiet ship; but
the thought for my own life, and the lives of the
women and children which were on board, and
\ who were going home t. meet friends from whom
they had been long absent, nerved me again,
and sprang to the side Of the Captain, who
was standing in front of his cabin door, which
was thrown partially open, and gave the signal
cry of's death to the pirates!'' Instantly there
was thrown from the upper bulwarks a thirty
two pound shot, right into the centre Of each Of
our boats, which were alongside with man in
each, and from the cabin there poured out like
bees about forty armed men, mostly of the pas
sengers and crew, and commenced a hand to
hand fight with the pirates, Captain Gordon
and myself 1eaehng the way. I,
| could not thus far tell what had become of
| the military company which was on board, but
when the pirates had pressed US hard and drove
us TO the quarter deck. the fore hatch was sud-
denly thrown off, and they poured up from the
hold with fixed bayonets, and attacked the pi-
rates in the rear, which soon decided the day
for us. The shot had sunk the boats for they
went right through their bottoms, which was
seen by Captain Tralle, when, without waiting
for my signal, he dispatched the launch TO what
he supposed my assistance, but they too were
sent to their death They came alonside at the
very moment when victory was ours, and nearly
all were shot down as they came on board Some
jumped overheard. but were Immediately shot
by the soldiers. Nine only had surrendered as
prisoners, which, with four that remained COM
plete,l the sixty that had left the brig. l i'm
mediately jumped upon the poop deck, so as to
show myself to Captain Tralle, and commenced
giving orders This completely deceived him,
as expected, for he assembled his crew on deck
and gave us three cheers, which was heartily
returned by us.
l ordered the dead to be thrown overheard
and the wounded to be looked after, for among
4 the latter were several OF those who belonged tt
the ship. l found that the ship had eight guns
mounted in her waist, with PORTFOLIOS so con
trived as to deceive any one, even when neal
her These | directed Capt. Gordon to loac
with a ball and stand of grape each, to knocl
open his ports, and run the guns out, while
was getting ready above for an excursion that
had IN yiew l kept the officers Of the ship GU
of sight as much as possible, for did not wisl
to undeceive Tralle until the proper time, whicl
had not yet arrived ] put a guard over tn
prisoners, to prevent them from getting to an,
place they could make a signal to the brig.
directed the magazine to be opened, the men t.
be stationed at quarters, and the company o
soldiers to load their muskets and to take theil
t stations under the weather bulwarks, will
orders how to act. When all was ready,
ordered the ship to be laid up to the wind, anc
, steered for the brig. All this time / occupiet
the poop deck, and while bearing up to the brig
l trod that deck with all the pride Of my ances
tors. and all the vengeance of human nature,
! discovered by my glass that all ON board the
brig were still deceived, for they appeared to bt
! exhibiting their joy in various ways at wha
they supposed my success. 4
As we neared the brig, and when within gooC
pistol shot, | turned to Capt. Tralle, and re
peated my toast given the evening OF our frs
day ut sea--s' Success to him that WINS, whel
, he ordered his crew to give us three cheer
5 more, and while they were doing this, CAV
the order to fire, when our four larboard gun
poured their deadly missiles on board the bri
| in good style, and the company of soldier
, Jumped upon the bulwarks and dealt out the