Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-08-27
9 Gbriumg shett9.
THE CAPTAINS YARN.

a rev years ago 1 nau cOmmanu VI tue
brig Nimrod, and was bound up the Medi'
tsrranean with an assorted cargo, meaning to
bring home liquors and fruit. On the tenth
day out, just at night, I was overtaken-by
the United States sloop-of-war Preble. She
had been in sight nearly all day, and at
length overhauled us. She spoke to US, found
out where we were bound, and Informed US
she was bound in the same direction. At
dark she was still up ahead, not having gain
ed two or three miles. As the sun went
down there were signs of bad weather, and
We shortened sail some. About midnight we
thought that we could see something that
looked like fire clear away off the starboard
bow; but it lasted only few minutes, and
then went out.
On the next morning the sloop of war was
Just in sight, but We lost her before noon
The wind was from the southwark and quite
fresh About two o'clock in the afternoon,
one of the men who happened to be aloft,
said he saw something away to the southwark
and eastward, that looked like boat. I TOOK
my glass and went up into the foretop, and l
soon made out a boat full of men tossing a.
bout upon the water, with red shirt hoisted
upon pole. I came down, and at once stood
for the boat, which We came up to in balf
an hour She was long large, light built
boat, square -bottomed almost, and different
from the common boats of sea-going vessels.
There were twenty-five men in her, and as
they came up over the sides I was not much
pleased with their appearance; but their
gratitude, however, soon won upon me-. They
were hard looking fellows, stout, dark and
reckless; and even as they thusstepped from
death into life, I fancied I could see pecu-
rcarelessness in their manners which seem
ID to indicate that they only received, what
they had expected. Perhaps I did not no.
tice this so much then, because they profess
ed to be very grateful, and I have no doubt
they we're.
The leader of the saved ones gave me his
name as Samuel Lowbray. He said he was
captain Of barque from Havana, and bound
to Lisbon. The night before, his vessel
caught FIRE, and when he found that it could
not be extipguished, he and his men took to
their boat. So they had only been in the
boat some sixteen hours. Of course, that
was the fire we had seen, and thus knew
that so much of the story was true. This
Lowbray was a Spaniard, though he spoke
the English language very we'll. But of
course knew he had not given me his true
name, for there was nothing Spanish about
that.
We got the boat over the side, and stow
ed it away amidships, and then I directed my
mate, Mr. Allen, to provide some sleeping
place for the newcomers. Five days passed
away, and at the end of that time began
to mistrust that all was not right. The stran-
gers jabbered together in their own jargon,
and I knew from their looks that they were
up tosome mischief Or, at any rate, I fear
ed so I had seen enough to assure me that
that they all had hidden arms, and that they
we're unscrupulous fellows. communica'
ted my fears to my mate and he acknowl'
edged that he had held the same fears. We
talked the matter over and at length came to
the conclusion that we would make run
for the sloop-of-war.
We had of our crew only fifteen hands,
all told-fourteen beside myself; so we would
stand little chance with the interlopers. Fol-
forty.eight hours we ran with all the canvass
we could crowd on, but I.found We had nc
hopes of overhauling the Preble. I began
to feel uneasy. But it seems that wasu't
to be in doubt much longer, as you shall
hear.
The night after we had made up our
minds that we could not catch the sloop-of.
war, went down into the cabin to look over
the days reckoning. 1t was ten o'clock. |
was alone, and had just got my dead reckon
ina out, when I heard some one behind me-
Turned around and saw one of the boats
Grew. At first was little startled, but ]
quickly saw that this was the only one of the
whole gang who had deceut-looking face
He was good-looking youth, not over TWEEN
ty.one or two, and I had been puzzled by
his presence in such company. He look