Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-06-12
THE FRIGATE,S TENDER.
Or, the Rusc.
A HINT FOR THE PRESENT EMERGENCY

1t was early on sunny morning ourins
the progress of the last war with ureat Dr,t
ain young naval officer, walking Oh tn'
Battery at New York, had his attention
drawn to group Of persons earnestly enSag
ed in watching two vessels that were Just Visi
bic down the harbor.
"What is it. my friends q he asked, IN &
frank, hearty tone, rs he joined them.
}, "The tender. again chasing in chooner
sir.n answered an old tar, touching the point
of his hat as he noticed the anchor button
on the officers coat:
Here is spy glass, SIR" said masters
mate who stood near, at the same time res
pectfully handing it to him.
Thank YOU my man." answered the lieu.
tenant with smile, as he took the instru.
ment and placed it to his eye.
BY its aid he could clearly distinguish an
armed schooner of about ninety tons, crowd
ing sail in chase of q trading "fore and after,
that was making every eXertiOn to escape,
both by towing and wetting her sails.
The chase is about half mile ahead,
Sir" said the masters mate; ''but the tender
sails like shark in chase of dolphin. The
fore and after don't stand any chance of get
ting in past the foot"
"The tender can sail, and | am the one
that ought to know it," said stout weather.
beaten man. ''She was pilot boat, and the
fastest craft that ever danced over the water.
Three weeks ago l and my crew were out in
her,when yon English frigate suddenly made
her appearance out of fog bank, ,andbrought
US to. But look to my yawl and pulled for
the land league away, and escaped for the
fog was so thick that the Engishman could
not get glimpse of me. 1t is my chooner
they have returned into tender, sir, and that
made so many captures the last three weeks
of our small coasters"
g She carries forty men and long thirty
two as | hear,' observed seaman in the
group.
d" And is commanded by loft and refer, -
added the masters mate.
" 1t would be a blessing" observed man.
of-wars man, who had not yet spoken, "if that
craft could be caught napping. 1t aint safe
for sloOp to put her nose out of the harbor,
beyound the caps; but while the frigatc was
there alone, they could slip alorg the coast
in light water, and show her their heels
But now everything that ventures out is
brought to by the long gun of the tend
er"
"That's a fact, Ben," responded another
seaman" " She has taken or driven back in
port no less than twenty SIX craft in the last
three weeks. l shall be glad for once, when
our frigate laying off there gets her armament
aboard for then thins we'll swallow the
English frigate outside, and pick our teeth
with the tender.
All these remarks were heard by the youn
officer, who all the while continued to lock
through the spy glass at the tender and her
chase.
There goes a gun !" cried several of the
spectators as flash and a jet of smoke came
from the tenders bows.
That's blood enough" observed the young
officer, as if speaking his thoughts aloud -
'the imprudent tender is almost up to the
fort, and dares to fire at the chase in the very
face of the batteries"
"It's only to try and do her mischief, sir"
said the masters mate "for she finds the
fore and after will escape her, so she fires
gun to cut away something.
"You are right, my man," responded the
officer, for she has put about and stands sea-
ward again."
lie continued to watch the retiring tender
for some moments in silence.
It's pity that we hadn't an armed cut
ter in port that would sail faster than she can;
so that we might give Iher chases out"
said lad approaching the group. His dress
was hat of a midshipman, and his air singu-
larly free and careless
All, Frank are you here ~ said the lieu
tenant. ''Comc aside with me-" said he, put
ting his arm in that of the midshipman. 81
have conceived plan for capturing the ten
der"
In what way, sir ?" demanded the
youth.
Il will show you. The tenders game ap-
pears to be the casting vessels from which
she takes men to impress in the British navy,
and also plumbers the craft of such things as
they contain which are of any value. NV
plan is to charter an old sloop, the worst
looking one that it is possible to find in port,
yet tolerable sailor, for she must work well
and readily obey her helm will load hel
deck with hen-coops, filled with poultry,pens
GRAINED with pigs and lew sheep, and calf
or two by way of variety. You laugh, Frank
but the commander of the tender will find
it no laughing matter, if succeed as l an
ticipate. l shall ship about thirty or forty
men, and conceal them in the hold and tax
ing command Of my craft with one hand only
visible on the deck, shall set sail out OF
the harbor. When get outside, | think |
shall be able to show John Bull Yankee
trick he will not be likely to forget very soon.
But all will depend on your good manage
mcnt of the affair. Now you see what
would be at Frank Will you join me 2"
g Heart and hand SIR responded Frank
Talbot, with enthusiasm,
Now we went to proceed at once to ac-
ton" said the lieutenant. 81 want you to 60
to the Anchor rendezvous in Pearl street, and
drum up about five-and- thirty men. Take
only those that are daring and ready for any
thing Let none of them know your object,
lest we should be betrayed by information
beng conveyed to the tender. You will find
enough in these times that will ask no ques
| tiOns. Meet me at twelve o'clock at the Ex-
change reading rooms, and report to me-
The midsbipman then took his leave, and
hastened up the Battery. The lieutenant re-
turned to the group,and taking aside the mas
ters mate, whom he knew, he laid briefly be-
fore him his project. The old tar entered in
to it with all zeal. Together they went to
the docks, where on account of the blockade,
lay idle large number of vessels of every
description. They were not long in discover
ing such craft as suited them a Hudson
sloop pof seventy tons. She was Immediately
put in trim for sailing by the masters mate
and three or four men whom he employed,
while the officer proceeded to buy up and
send on board his live stock. *
The morning following these events, the
tender of the British friends was standing off
and on under easy sail and close in with Saq-
dy Hook. The wind was from the south and
blowing about five knot breeze. The sky
was without cloud, and only gentle un-
undulation lifted the surface of the ocean,
The tender was clipper built vessel, very
narrow in the beam, and constructed wholly
with an zee to her fast sailing qualities and
she gave proof of them by overhauling every
thing. She carried amidships long thirty
two FOUNDER Her crew consisted Cf about
thirty men, in the uniform of the British ma.
Wy. They were now principally assembled in
| the how and on the Windlass talking togeth