Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-08-09
GBe Storp GelItr.
The Englishman's Exploit,
AND HOW MUCH HE MADE BY 1T.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

BY SfLVANUS COBB, JR.
Many years ago, when we were mere boy,
we used to sit upon a low stool, at the feet of
Commodore Samuel Tucker, and hear that old
veteran relate the incidents that had come un-
der his own observation during the late strug-
gle with Great Britain. Among the thousand
and one stories that we have heard fall from
the lips of that ocean warrior, the following
has remained fresh in our memory.
On the western shore of Penobscot Bay, be-
tween Belfast and Camden, there was small
club of fshermen's cots, inhabited by hardy
set of men, who had from infancy been brought
up amid the music of the breaking waves, and
who knew no fear beneath the power of NOR
tai man. Foremost among those children of
the sea, and occupying the station of ruler
among them, was midde-aged man, named
Enoch Nightingale, or, as he was generally
called; Captain Nightingale and never was
there man better fitted by nature for the post
he held by general consent than he was.-
Powerful and athletic in his physical mould,
bold and fearless as the forest monarch, and
frank and generous in his social relations, he
was beloved by all who knew him. He was
jolly fellow, too, and often as his small grey
eyes twinkled in their merry mood. close
observer might have seen that keen love of
practical joking lurked in their cleaning
depths.
At that time of which we write, the fisher
men dare not venture far out, for close block
ade was kept up along the coast, and so they
were forced TO forego the advantages of their
best fishing grounds. But new idea had
been taking possession of their brain, and they
had thought of fitting out a privateer 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 for the enterprise could be OBJ
tained, nor could they raise guns heavy enough
for her use, even had they possessed the YES
sci. OF pistols and cutlasses they had enough,
pounder, which served as kind Of signal gun
in case of heavy fogs aud stormy nights.
1t was just at nightfall that Obed Nightin-
gales shallop (Obed was the old mans sony
came up the bay, and as the young man came
on shore, he reported that there was an Eng
lish topsail schooner, clean clipper-built
craft, laying off and on between Manhegan
and the ledges. She was heavily armed, and
seemed to play about the water, as though her
heels were made for running.
Now Capt. Enoch Nightingale had said very
little about the various projects that had been
set on foot with regard to the privaieering ex
pedition, but he had thought good deal, and
as soon as his son communicated the above in
telligence, his thoughts came to focus. A
plan of operation was clearly marked out jim
his mind, and he at once sat about the work
of putting it into effect.
The man who stood second to Capt. Night
ingale, mate, was Jabe Haskins.
'Jabe,' said the captain, 'do you know there
is British clipper just outside 2
sYes.'
Well, s'pose we go and take her!'
Take that Englishman.'
'W-h-e-w y
But I'm in earnest
.Jabe looked at Nightingale. with the utmost
astonishment.
can go out in my little Rhody, an take
her before she knows where she is. Now
will you help met
'l'll foler yer, captain, eff you 60 to thun-
der was Jabe's hearty response, as he saw
the old man was in earnest.
Capt Nightingale took his mate by the arm,
and led him off The night was dark, but
still there was busy scene on board the
schooner Rhody, which was the heaviest fish
ing vessel in the place. Torches were gleam-
ing TO and fro all night long, hammers and
saws were sending forth their music, and when
the morning dawned the Rhody was ready for
sea, the old iron signal gun was hoisted on
board, and placed on rude sort of carriage
midships, the copline buckets and bait boxes
had been cleared away, and take her all in all, /,
she bore some faint resemblance to an embryo
pirate or privateer.
She was managed by twelve men, of whom
Jabe Haskins took command The people
wondered where Capt. Nightingale was, but
Jabe set their hearts at rest by telling them
he would get outside as soon as the schooner
did,
In an hour after daylight the Rhody hove
up her anchor and made sail, and in less than
five hours she poked her blunt nose into the
waters of the blue Atlantic. Shortly after
the schooner had passed White Head light,
the Englishman was made out about two miles
distant to the south I'd and west'rd just off the
Ledges, and hauling his sheets aft, Jabe
brought his vessel up to the sheets wind,
which was fresh from the north I'd and east 'rd,
and stood off towards the latter point. This
looked like trying to run away-at least SO
the Englishman thought-and consequently
the clipper was Immediately put in full chase,
and though she was somewhat TO the leeward,
still Il was evident that she would not be long
in overhauling that Yankee.