Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1852-09-08
From Geason's Pictorial.
A THRILLING SKETCH.
The Old Man and Pirate.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

Early in the month of August, 1911,
good sized brig started from Bos-
ton, bound for New Orleans. On
board there was an old man, named
Adam Writ, who went out for the
purpose of seeking an only son, who
he had learned, was somewhere OH
the coast of the Gulf of Mexico
-Aham Writ was wealthy but for
years he had been alone to dwell
amid its glitter. When the old man
had taken a second wife to his home,
his son Landon stepped from his
fathers roof, and swore that 80 long
as his step mother lived he would not
cross its threshold again. That sec
ond wife was now dead, and feeling
sad in his Ionliness the old man re-
solved to seek his child. e.
The brig had good weather, and
for several days nothing had occur
red to break the monotony of the
voyage but at length; one of the look
outs reported a sail to the southwark
and eastward. The wind was from
the east, and the brig had il slightly
abaft the beam, as her course lay
southwest. Captain Poole brought
his glass from the cabin and after
gazing upon the ranger some ten
minutes, made her out to be a
schooner standing directly towards
them.
"Where do you think she's bound?
asked old Adam Writ, as he heard
the captains report.
Couldn't say yet replied the cap
tain, again leveling his glass upon
the stranger, Il can tell you better at
ter watching her spell.
Fifteen minutes more passed, and
at the end of that time Capt. Poole
lowered his glass, and while a slight
tremor shook his frame he uttert d.
'.The schooner is falling off"
"And what of that" asked the old
man, who had not failed to notice the
captains manner.
What Oft? why simply that the fel-
low is bound for this brig"
"Wants to speak to US, suppose
said Writ.
Very likely returned the captain,
as he turned his eyes aloft; and again
turning to the old man, he continued:
You need be underno needless alarm
sir, butin all probability that schooner
is pirate
"A pirate reiterated Writ, while
his face assumed livid hue. "Then
what in heavens name shall we doG
We shall have to make the best of
it; for Of two things we may rest as
sured; we can neither run away from
him nor fight him. Look his deck is
crowded with men.
Hha g's crew had by this time
are of the schooner and
l5e supposed, they felt any
out comfortable under the con-
ion thus arrived at: The brig was
e heavily loaded, and at best she
as but an unpromising sailor; while
3 schooner, with the wind full upon
r quarter, came dashing along at
curious rate. A consultation was
Id upon the quarter deck and it
at length agreed upon that the
should be kept on her course,
ordered by the pilot to heavc
~auld do so at once, and of
tancc, which if offered at
1<dsanly render their position
worse.
In an hour and half the pirate :
had come up to within quarter of ,
mile, and fired a gun to wndward, and
in a few moments afterwards the ,
brig was lying to with her main top
sail to the mast. The crew watch
ed the schooner as she began to round {
to, and though they could not rcpress c
an instructive dread, yet they felt {
confident that no violence would be /
used SO long as they showedno resis- t
tance; nor in this were they disap- d
pointed, for as the schooner ranged $
alongside, and the pirates began to b
flock on board, no signs of murder
Gus intent were manifested. +
The pirate captain was the first to y
board the brig. He was young man c
in the prime Of life; and next to fol- q
low him was fair-haired handsome g
youth; who seemed to hang upon his G
commanders steps with a strange a
mixture of devotion and fear.
"Do you command this vessel?" t
asked the pirate leader of Captain 9
Poole.
Yes sir replied Poole. +
'Ihen of course you will have no G
objection to my overhauling your b
cargo, SIR said the pirate with a +
slight smile, for you have some arti- h
cles to which might take fancy Q
IF | am not mistaken returned y
Captain Poole, you will need no per- h
mission from me, as am unable to |
resist 9
tIou show your good judgment, at
least; and if you will lead the way, |
will take n look in at your cabin first ,
AS the pirate captain thus spoke,
he turned towards the companion
way, and was just upon the point Of
starting for the cabin, when his eye
caught the eye Of Adam Writ, and at
the sight he started back as though
he mad seen Il spirit from the other
world The old man too sea,nol