Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-11-06
yutnestinp Storg.
F~lSHERmEN'S RUSE
OR,
How Old Tim Improved an Inlet.
BY LITTLE LEX.
BY LITTLE LEX

During our last war with Great Bri
tain, the inhabitants of the south side o
Long Island were annoyed by the FIRE
quent visits of an English brig, seeming
y of Baltimore build, aad supposed t,
have been an American ~privateer which
bad been captured by the British an,
fitted out for their own service. Sh,
was one of the most troublesome vessel
that visited that part of the coast during
the war. AS we approach her our ad
mlration is challenged by the exquisit,
proportions and evident merit Of he
build. Her low sides, painted black
and her masts slightly raking, give her
as 1T were, the saucy and defiant look O
a gay coquette and ever to the careless.
eye OF the most unobseryant, as she
glides lightly over the waves, her ap
pearance shows her to be eminently 6ttec
for a service where speed is an essentia
qualification, and so she proved herself
In fact, no vessel, however small, coulc
venture outside of the shallow water o.
the numerous bays that indcnt the shol es
OF the island without an almost certaint,
of being overhauled by her. Indeed, SO
audaclous had she become, that individ
uals of her crew were often seen or
shore, and had frequently plundered anC
burned farm houses situated in the vi
entity OF that part of the beach. At the
period in which our story opens, the brig
was lying off and on at about two miles
from that part of the a known al
I" Oak Island Beach" accompanied in hel
many evolutions by the bitter curses d
the plundered farmers and bfockaded
fishermen. With your permission, read
er, | will now convey you (by a nara
tors privilege,) on board the aforesaid
brig, and introduce to you the inmates
and internal arrangements thereof. As
we step over the side, our first glance
shows that order, Heavens first law
reigns throughout the Ship. The secured
planks of dazzling brightness form a
pleasing contrastssto the gur-carriages o.
jetty blackness, and the polished, glitter
ing brass of cabin rails and capstan.
On either side of the deck frown foul
twenty-four pound carronades. Around
the mast are ranged symmetrically The
bright muskets of the marines and or
the ~forecastle, two long chasers
threaten the pursued. Her ropes neatly
secured to the Delaying pins, or coilec
down upon the deck. In fact, all hel
appointments showed that she was a
ably as she was brutally commanded.
Her commander was a man of appa
rently twenty eight years of age, with {
eye, that seemed to take in everything a
a glance. He is dressed in the full uni
form of men in his station in the Englisl
navy, and is standing on the weather side
of the quarter deck in conversation Will
his first lieutenant.
swell. Johnson said he, rather dull
work this" ssl
Yes replied the Lieutenant, g Their,
is some difference between those low
sand islands yonder, and the green swaro
Of Old England"
Have you ever been here before 2
interrupted the Captain.
Yes, | was out here in the frigat,
Unicorn. just before the war broke out
and was at Halifax when the new
reached us. Shortly after, we we're or
dered home to reft, when the Rattle
snake came in with this same craft ii
tow as a prize ; the admiralty fitted hel
over, and | was, as you know, ordered
aboard Of her."
Well,' said the yawning Captain
turning to go below, . let me know i
anything out worth taking = say
ing which, he went down to his cabin
The wind, which had heretofore beer
blowing strongly from the north, nov
hauled more to the east and gave ever,
indication of a coming storm. In ODE
dience to the quick command Of tht
Lieutenant, sail was gradually reduced
on board the brig until she carried
nothing but her topsails, spauker ant
jib +; and giving order to . wear refund,
the Lieutenant went below and reported
to the Captain
Its blowing hard, sir, ] think we hat
better run into the I'VE and anchor be
hind the point"
Very WE'LL" replied the Captain
" keep her steady, | will be ont in a mo
ment 2 and soon coming on deck, h
gave orders to !" stand in for the Inlet,
and the brig, after running through tn
same, rounded to, and dropping her au
Choir close by the northern shore, wa
now riding safely behind the point. III
place through and into which she ha
just come, was one Of those small gut
which connect the great South Bay wit
the ocean, and was Of about the depth .
two fathoms at its mouth. Inside and t
the right, was a sail bay, IN shape sin
liar TO a horse shoe, bounded N n sid
by the point which stretched out towar