The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-07-11

sen.
When he had introduced his visitors in'o
the cave where he lived, and they had COM
loriabIy brought themselves at anchor on
the surrounding rocks, he said
"when saw the privaieer was on our
track, crowded on all the sail The vessel
could carry, and held my own with the brig
aniine for nearly three weeks; bu, from
some cause or other, perhaps from altera.
ton Of Trim, she at las. gained upon us, and
brought her bow.chasers TO bear. We then
KEEP, ~ running fight, which eventually
was the means Of destroying both. | knew
tina, il l allowed the priva;eersio boarc me,
that all hope mus, cease on my part, on ac-
coun, Of the disparity OF the number OF our
crews so I packed on sail after sail, until
my vessel fairly staggered unler the weight
of her canvass. We continued in Ibis way
for three days, doing each other but little
damage, on account Of unsieadiness OF aim,
owing to The heave of the sea. Ultimately
the breeze freshened into a gale, and as !
feared to take in sail, l carried all my sticks
would bear. Day and night the long chase
Continued, and many dark night as we
dashed along at a rnaddenins speed, / feared
some acciden, nigh, happen to us both. 1t
was to be so. Tor on the third night OF the
gale. my bark suddenly struck Oh The reef
surroundin. this island. Down came my
mas,s, aud the heavy seas forced my vessel
on the rocks, washing my men overheard
and dashing everything 10 pieces tina, came
within its fury. It being dark, the pIiya.
ieor, who was so eagerly ben, on our de-
s,Iuc,ion, came plunsing on, struck heavily
upon The same reef, abou, quarter Of a
mile from the spot where we were fast
breaking to pieces. shall never be able to
blot rom my memory the horrors Of thai
night-the shricks of dying wretches, and
the curses OF scat Of demons, who, to
avoid meeting death manfully, deprived
themselves Of their reason with liquor, and
jumped ike maniacs into eternity. AT
length the morning dawncd, and showed u
our true position, flor both vessels held to-
selhsr through the mighty We fund our
selves on the south side OF the island, about
quarter Of mile from The entrance tn the
lagoon, and so near the shore tina, IL we
could have maintained order IN the nigh,
many lives might have. been saved and
much misery avoided +; was now no time
TO be idle, so the bOa's from both vessels
were manned and stores linded; and by
sunset In, greater part Of our provisions
landed, for our common calamiiy had made
friends OF us all, and wo worked together
for the general good The same cave serv-
ell a. n magazine for our powder, and our
firearms were piled amicably side by side
in the same tent. We worked at The same
raf which conveyed to the beach the spars,
sails. masts. yards. &C., from which we
raised capital tents for us all. Fifteen from
The brig and twelve from the bark lost their
lives through he night. The night after
we had emplied the wrecks OF their cargors
and stores, they went to pieces. At first
we felt as though we had los, the only link
that connected our fate with civilization.
In this stale, a month or two passed away,
and tho most industrious Of cur community
cultivated piece Of ground. Potatoes were
planted, and whea, and barley, used on
board to feed poultry, were sown; each
man felt himself the owner Of something ;
AID thus, while The occupation Of sowing
and expectation OF renpins occupied their
minds, but little thought was bestowed on
tho chance Of our return 10 civilization
Although no outward aci showed il, still
decei, and mistus, were ut work. A hall
dozen Of the privateer's men, who KEEP,
themselves aloof from the rest, and who
were lazy aud fond Of drink, were constant.
" quarrelling, the monolony OF their life
was their chief curse, and led 10 intoxfca-
ton for relief. at last this conduct set the
example to others, and ultimately the ma
ioriiSbf the privaleers, and many Of my
SPaniarjs, considered grog as their best
friend. The demon Of mischief, however,
was the eleven eases Of bullion which we
had landed amongS, the rest Of the cargo,
which occlsioned ccmmOlion between the
men. They deemed the treasure OF no I'M
poriance, until one morning our hopes were
frightened that there was possibility Of
our one day being taken or the Island by
seeing ship pass within few miles. We
shouted, waved flags and fred muske,s,
bg, all to no purpose as the surf was hea-
w the roaring Of il dIowned our feeble
vuices. Doubtless they thought on board
they had discovered an island, as they stood
in close and appeared TO examine the rocks
which surrounded the Islands, then bore
away on their course, aud we never saw
them moro. Bu, this little episode in our
existence was pregnant with mOmen,ous re-
suits. The drunken part Of the PIivaieer's
men saw a, once iha, IN the event Of q ship
again making the Island and landing, that
party having possession OF the bullion woulp
be considered owners, and they drmOns,ra-
ted that the bark aud her rich cargo would
have been their prize OF both vessels had
no. been wrecked; and that they were
therefore still entitled 10 whatever might
remain as spoils Of war.
A dispute arose between US in conse-
quence Of this demand, which ended in IA
tai affrays; and IN abou, an hour, the roo,
OF all evil changed owners. and six of my
SpaniaIds and five OF the priva,eers los, their
lives. Worse followed; murder was lei
loose upon the Island my crew looked up