Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-01
STAR,
THE PRIvATEER AND ITS VICTIM.
Tale of the Pacific


When the present republics of South Amer
lea were struggling to throw off the yoke Of
old Spain, there was but little law recognised
in the deep solitudes of the Pacific Ocean ex-
cept that of might. The clipper brig, or the
dashing schooner, mounting those death-deal-
ing engines, few guns, prominent among
which might invariably be observed amid
ships, as though conscious of his superiority ,
the "long-tom;" a magazine full of powder,
q complete complement of other ammunition
and small arms, a ruffian for a commander
and desperadOes of all climes for crew, were
often the materials composing the so-called
republican privateers. The commerce of tfis
period between the East Indies and South
America were almost destroyed, and at the
close of the war there were but few merchant
men carrying the Spanish flag that dared
show it on this side of Cape Horn.
However, ut the time spoken of, there was
one who braved all dangers 1t was the cap
tain Of fine Spanish barque of some 400 tons
burthen, that was lying at Whampoa, taking
in a rich cargo of Chinese goods and she lad
also on board eleven eases Of bullion, amount
ing in all to about $50, 900, consigned to
l. merchant in Panams. Close by her lay at
anchor, watching her like a tiger, low built,
rakish, hermaphrodite vessel, suspected by
all honest seamen of being a reckless priya-
teer. Her numerous crew Of ruff anly look.
ing men, the squsreness of her yards, her
long twelve Founders, and the republican
flag at her peak, all confirmed, to the learned
in nautical affairs the above opinion The
Spaniard was also we'll armed, had a superior
crew, and was a fast vessel; and notwith-
standing he was forewarned of the privateer' s
intention to attack him so soon az be left the
neutral port he was then in, he put to sed as
soon as his vessel had completed her loading.
Accordingly, 30 soon as the Spaniard worked
down to the Bocca Tigris, the privatecr fol-
lowed suit, and the same afternoon that the
Spaniard was at sea, running before strong
breeze for his distant port, the privateer got
under way and followed in bis wake; and many
of the crews of different vessels lying in the
Tigress expected in few days to see the Span
ish bark return captive to her ruthless fol
lower.
Years after the two vessels had left the Chi
nese waters, and when both, with all on
board, were supposed to be lost, small YES
sci belonging to the East India Company was
running before a delicious tropical breeze in
the Pacific Ocean. 1t was about one bell in
the middle watch the officer of the deck was
leaning over the quarter rail gazing into the
deep gloom of the surrounding ocean, while a
group of talkative seamen were on the FORE
castle spinning yarns Of their last cruise On
shore, when one OF them rising up, exclaimed:
Hollo! what is that by golly," an
swered another, {" it was the fash of gun
hereaway to windward.n "Flash of a gum
more likely to be lightning" said another.
" That's my opinion chimed in the captain
of the fOrecastle, or q fire made by the ma
tives of one Of those islands that lie herea-
bouts There it is again. said he, as a
faint light fickered for moment in the gloom
Of the far-off horizon
There was now general eommotion on
board, for even at that date the Pacific wa.
enlivened by the dOings ef the picarooning
craft, after all legitimate privateering had
ceased. In few minutes the crew of our
little vessel were at their stations, ready 70
receive foe, if foe it proved to be To
make all things sure, the officer of the deck
went below and examined the chart to see if
any islands were in this track; but no land,
or even bank was marked near the spot ali
was shown to be the clear, open sea.
"Heave the deep sea lead," said the officer
of the watch when he returned to the deck
In a few minutes sOundings were found at
sixty fathoms. He then shortened sail and
kept the lead going, as he was certain that
land or shoal was near. At daylight the
low outline of a small island was distinctly
visible about six miles to the eastward, and
as 1T was not down in the best charts, the cap
tain determined to examine it, and according
ly worked the vessel up to an anchorage and
sent couple of boats on shore
Opposite the place where they had anchored
was an opening about one hundred feet wide
where the sea entered into a kind of lagoon
This beautiful basin appeared to have been
the crater Of q volcano iu former years and
seemed more like the work of art than the
production of nature. 1t was perfectly round,
and probably two miles in circumference, with
u depth of water of sixty or seventy fathoms
to within short distance of its sides After
climbing up to the higher parts of the island,
it was found to consist Of undulating plains.
with masses Of rocks interspersed here and
there, and with patches of the greenest yer-
dure, covered with the feathery Foliage of the
palm and banana, and deep, compact form Of
bread-fruit tree No animal life could be
seen or heard but the wheeling about and
discordant screams of aquatic birds The
view from above Of the basin below was most
beautiful it had the appearance Of an i'm
mense porringer, with fracture next the sea ;
within all was calm and bright as the most
transparent crystal, the banks and trees being
reflected in its unruffied, mirror-like surfa %,
while outside, the sea was rolling in upon the
beach and among the rocks, in marked con.
trast to the repose within
While they were rambling among the cliffs,
one of the seamen saw b smoke curling up
from the palms at the opposite extremity CT
the island, and 1T was at once copjectured
that the trees were on fire, and that il was the
faint light seen the night before. But who
set them on IRE mat was mystery they
determined to clear at once by marching to
the grove; SO they rolled on, like sailors on a
land cruise, shouting aud making all the noise
possible, when in the midst of their fun they
were surprised to see man, stranger to
their party He advanced towards them, and
when within speaking distance, hailed them
in Spanish, which luckily was understood by
one of their number. After their astonish-
ment had abated, they demanded how many
comrades he had with him on the island, how
he came there, and now long be had inbabit-
ed the place But as the answering of these
questions might unship the thread of our
yarn, we will let this modern Cruso spin his
own; but we will inform the reader that he |
was tbe captain Of the Spanish vessel which |
left China some twenty years before, chased |
by the privateer; SO his yarn will commence |
the history of that cruise where We left the |
two vessels, hull down at sea.
When he had introduced his visitors into !
the cave where he lived, and they had com |
fortably brought themselves at anchor on the |
surrounding rocks, he said
"When 1 saw the privateer was on our |
fraob r orouded on ALI the sail the VOC saI