The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1858-11-11


ofed to parry blow aimed at Capt Bowden,
the buccaneer by a sudden wheel of his sabre
severed his shoulders from his body I was
covered with his blood - and giving single
groat, he fell lifeless at my feet.
"Poor fellow thou shalt not die unrevenged,'
| cried, and closed with his murderer
BY violent effort, and before he could save
himself from my impetuous attack, had dashed
him to the deck and was on the point of trans
fixing him with my sabre, when my feet, which
were wet with blood, slipped and fell upon
my antagonist He was too much injured by
the fall to be able to avail himself of the adyan-
tage my accident had given him-but I was
instantly seized by half dozen of the pirates
and should have been speedily sacrificed had
not Capt Bowden thrown himself among them
and with his death-dealing sabre freed me from
their grasp. was hardly on my feet before the
cry, "they are boarding US on the starboard
quarter " was heard; and | perceived a fresh
band of murderers were already on board.
90 IF we must die let us sell our lives at as dear
a rate as possible" said I to Capt. Bowden
and we rushed upon the gang who were pouring
upon the starboard quarter of the Cleopatra.
Our swords soon thinned their numbers but
we were weary with slaughter, and there ap-
peared no end to our tolls. Four only of our
crew were left and we felt that we must soon
sink under the overwhelming force which was
pouring upon US from all Sides At that instant
voley of musketry killed every man of our
crew, who had hitherto escaped to assist us in
stemming the torrent, and Capt. Bowden and
myself were surrounded by wretches, whose
yells, oaths, and imprecations, made them more
resemble demons than human beings. To pre-
vent being placed in a situation, where we could
not keep our enemies at bay, we retreated, OF
were rather carried by the crowd Of assaiants
to the corner of the vessel, where pile of slain
rose around US, and the deck flooded with gore.
Fools to throw away your lives in this man
ner," shouted a stentorian voice from person
who was seen struggling through the crowd of
assailants; "give them the cold lead :" And
this order was obeyed by voley Of balls which
brought Capt, Bowden to the deck while the
life blood flowed in torrents from his numerous
wounds ooh my dear wife and children -
Great God protect them |! f" was all he could
utter before he was a lfeless corpse The man
who had given the order, and who from his
commanding manner appeared to be the chief of
sailants and with his drawn sabre now confronted
me. I rejoiced to see him. for his strength and
the manner in which he welded his instrument
of DEATH convinced me that if he conquered,
my death could not be lingering = and if he fell,
should have the satisfaction of freeing the
world of a monster
The combat was obstinate, fought with the
hopelessness of desperation, and pressed my as
sailant so closely, that he found himself unable
to resist the assault, when by an unlucky blow
my sabre was snapped in a dozen pieces, and |
stood before him unarmed and defenceless
Barring my bosom, | inwardly commended my
self to my maker and told him to strike: but
to my surprise he dropped the point Of his
weapon, and looking me earnestly in the face,
as he wiped the blood from his brow, exclaimed,
=" Not when unarmed brave men honor the
brave you are safe = remember LATTE +"
and | instantly recognized him as the person
who had so strongly attracted my attention
while on our voyage from New Orleans to the
English Turn.
WHO is this that breaches safety ?" ex-
claimed voice half choaked with rage, and in
tones that made me shudder: "may damnation
seize me, if he shall not atone with his blood for
the murder Of my brother !" So saying, he
fired pistol which would have shattered my
brains had not Laitte, by an instantaneous and
dexterous movement of his sabre, thrown his
pistol into the air when the assassin was in the
act of firing, by which means | was preserved
although was SO near that my face was severely
burnt by the discharge.
"Were it not, Laborde," said Laftte, that
I apprehend the injury on your head has made
you raving, this act Of rebellion to my authority
would be your last but be careful how you
tempt my foTbearance too far. !"
"Cowardly miscreant !" cried Laborde, you
think to rob me of my victim but should hell
with all its legions arrayed against me appear,
| would be revenged = this vessel is my. prize,
this sabre shall keep possession, and this sabre
shall revenge my brother
HTouch but the hair Of this mans head to
iniure him, answered Laftte, III voice which
showed he was accustomed to command, and
your life shall answer for that crime"
" care not for your threets II bid defiance
to your power this fellow dies nor shall
heaven or he'll prevent" cried Laborde, as he
flew at me with his sabre, but found his pro-
gress arrested by the herculean strength of La
itte. Here said the latter, calling some OF
his crew, take this fellow and secure him in his
vessel till he has become more rational, and his
rage has time to cool, orby the powers above,
he dies my authority shall not be trifed
with. de was seized, and by main strength