Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-03-06
MARCH 6, 1858.

they were fighting for their country, and II
was their duty to hold their lives cheap but
( you are now passenger, and should be under
my protection--yet ask you to share my
danger. / wish some one to stand by me on
the platform, and help me to manage the swiv-
I, ell Hands are scarce and don't know where
else to place you"
The hardy fellows eyes glistened as he made
the proposal, to which | of course instantly
agreed.
"Thankee, thankee, /" he replied, and relapsed
into his former character.
Twas strange; he had always appeared on
board his vessel as common yankee captain,
with little to say, and with rough, uncouth
/ manner but little removed from his men; yet
he at once, though evidently inadvertently, as
sumed the air and manner of polished gen.
tleman, and it certainly struck me that the
latter character appeared more natural in him
than the former. There was evidently mys-
1 terry about him, and determined to find it out
when more opportune circumstances should
occur.
i We went on deck, and the men were still
hanging about waiting for the orders of the
captain to make them start. These were soon
| given. The cooper and carpenter were order
ed to bring up all the hatchets and other often
sive and defensive weapons, and with the
muskets and rifles they were distributed among
the crew, who received their orders to use
them in repelling any attempt to board.
The schooner had now come down within
half mile of us, when she suddenly took
down her square sail, hauling her wind to
have look at u.s. dare say she did not
know what to make of our seeming indiffer-
| ence.
Presently cloud of smoke bursted from her
side, and a ball came skipping over the water
and passed astern of us.
81 thought SC" said our captain, snow lads
show her our stripes"
A ball of bunting flew up to the end Of the
mizzen peak, rested an instant and futtered
out into the American ensign. The smoke
drifted away from the schooner and she run
up at her gaf the ensign of the Columbian
| Republic.
"That's tarnally the way with them black
guards, they're always making fool of some
republic"
| Scarcely were the words out of his mouth
when another column of smoke bursted from
the schooner, and another ball came skip
skipping along towards us, but catching a
swell it plunged in, and we saw it no more.
That fellow, now, take it, is a good shot,
so well not wait for another. Clue up the
mainsail boys, haul aft the main braces; clue
up the foresail, luff her man, huff her little
more steady" bust from the captains mouth.
The orders were obeyed with the quickness
of well disciplined crew, and our ship was
hove to-
"Now, my lads, take your stations; four to
each port on the weather side, but do nothing
till tell you"
The men took their stations as directed
round on the weather side and followed the
captain to the platform, where our coronado
with bits OF iron, musket balls, Jumps Of lead,
and other missiles, for the captain had truly
conjectured-therew were no balls on board
The schooner hove to, and boat was low
cred and crowded with men. 1t approached
rapidly, pulled by eight rowcrs. The muzzle
Il our carronade was depressed as much as pos
sible, and made to bear on the water about
fifty yards from the ship. The captain stood
with his speaking trumpet in one hand, and a
hand-spike, with which he shifted the position
of the gun as required, in the other.
"Now, sir, keep steady, and obey my orders
coolly," said the captain, in an undertone.
"Boy, fetch that iron that's heated in the
galley-run."
The boy ran, and returned with the iron rod
heated at one end, which was handed to me.
"When tell you TO fire, fire, as you value
your life and those on board"
The captain now put his speaking trumpet
to his mouth and hailed the boat, which was
within hundred yards Of us.
"Stop-no nearer or I'll blow you all out Of
the water-keep of, or l say Pll-"
AT that instant the man at the bow Of the
boat, who appeared to take the command, gave
an order, and volley from several muskets
was fired at u.s. heard the balls hit about me,
and turned to look for the captain to receive
my order to fire. He was on one knee behind
the cannon, and holding it by the brccch.
"why, captain, what's the matterR are you
hitP"
He rallied. "Nothing-thcy're coming"
He gave another hoist to the gun, cast his
eye hurriedly along its barrel
"Fire and be quick"
needed not second bidding, for the boat
was alongside. The smoke burst from the
touch hole with hiss, and for an instant /
thought the gun had missed fire, but in The
next, it exploded with tremendous report
that deafened me.
Throw open your ports, boys, and show
them your teeth roarcd the captain, through
his trumpet, and his voice seemed hideously
unnatural
In an instant every port was up, and our
guns protrudtd their muzzles.
had fancied that heard crash, followed
by wild screams, Immediately upon the dis
charge Of the cannon, but the report had
deafened me, and the smoke, which was driv-
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