Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-02-18

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brutal outlaws on savage negroes.
6ass Better death than dishonor,' respon
ded, understanding his meaning. NJ
other word was said, but we pressed
each others hands convulsively.
Weapons We're soon distributed, an(
/ made a short address to the men.
did not pretend to conceal our danger
| told them they had no alternative bu
to conquer or die. No allusion wa
made to Isabel, but single glance o
my eye towards her was understood, anC
each man grasped his cutlas tighter a.
he comprehended the silent appeal
When my voice ceased there was husl
fer a second. The first sound tina
broke the quiet was the rolicking of tn,
pirates oars, striking with fearful dis
tlnctness on our ears, and telling by it
increased loudness, how rapidly the fot
gained on us.
Meantime the fog-bank had beer
creeping down towards us, and the mis-
had now grown SO thick that, t.
the west, it shut out the horizon compile
tely from sight, though the stars were
still visible higher up towards the re
NTH. Nearer us the vapor was lesl
dense, objects being still visible for som,
distance across the water. About +;
dozen whites were in the barge; the res
were negroes.
A carronade, at my orders, had beer
charged, and was now fired at the APP
preaching fleet 1t missed the launch
but striking among the canoes behind
sank one. A wild howl of rage burs
from the rufians, and the barge sweep
down towards us with redoubled velo
city. @19&
4 think can pick off one of those
ruffians,' said | to the mate. sWe ma,
disable three or four before they reacl
us, and every life will increase ou
chances. You are a good shot?'
'Ah,' said he, 4 will account for one
if you viii for the other. Let us take
the two leading oarsmen at once, for the
instant they touch us, we shall have
them pouring in, on our low decks, like
a wave over the knight heads.
Are you ready" evan tEaf
Ready! was the response; and we
fired. @
Simultaneously with the flash of my
piece, saw the bow oarsman fall. The
mate had followed my example, and the
second rufian leaped up, with yell land
tumbled across the seat. Both oars
caught in the water, and were snapped
off at the thwart. For an instant the
pirates seemed paralyzed, but they Inn
mediately rallied.
'Againp / cried.
We fired so nearly at the same in.
slant, that there was but one crack ofou
pieces. Two more ruffians fell; but the
boat still kept on, and was now within
pistol shot.
Take off that fellow with a red sash,
| hoarsely whispered. 'I'H aim at the
coxswain. One of the two must be the
leader f
My eye was, never keener,, nor my
hand more firm than at that moment
One might have counted two while ]
paused; then my piece blazed. Ny man
sprang forward and fell, struggling con
vulsively. The mate fired simultane
ously, and the helmsman tumbled head
long forward, falling on the ruffian l had
shot. There was howl of lamenta
ton from the negroes; the rowes stop
ped, several rushed aft, all was confu
sion. The boat shot forward until al
most abreast of us, and then lay mo
tionless on the water.
But the hesitation of the pirates was
of short duration. The cries of grie
on the part ofthe negroes were exchang
ed for shouts of rage. We could see
the whites urging them on. We hac
barely time to note the horrible expires
sions of their faces, glaring with revenge
and the most savage passions; we ha6
barely time to level the remaining mus
kets hastily at them and fire, though with
what effect the confusion would scarcel,
allow US to perceive, when the bow O
the barge grated against our sides, and
Immediately a boat-hook was fixed il
the low bulwarks. -.,-
AT the moment, one of the crew ,witl
a blow of an axe, cut the implement il
two, but as he did so, stalwart white
sprang on deck, where he stood, brawny
and gigantic, keeping charmed circle
around him with cutlass Instanta
neously, like swarm of bees, our as
sailants clustered on the side ofthe YES
sci, and despite our desperate resistance
eventually gained footing.
We now ha Silly retreated to the quar-
ter deck, where we prepared to make
our stand. To reach us the assailant:
would have to pass the narrow passages
on each side of the comprehensive nG
these had, sjust before, been partially
blocked up, with such efficiency as time
would admit, by water casks that usual
ly stood on the quarterback. Oul
whole force was drawn up within thi:
fertilization.
The piratical leader saw our hasty
preparations, and paused moment t.
scan our position. Thus both parties
remained for a few seconds, inactive
cycling each other as men are apt to do
when about to engage in mortal conflict
On the part of the assailants, this scru
tiny was carried on with feelings akin
to those with which tiger watches tn,
prey he knows cannot escape him. Oul
emotions were these of men doomed Il
death, and awae of their fate, but re
solved to sell their lives as dearly a.
possible. On one side was fiendisl
exultation, and on the other manly de
spair.
Have at Them shouted the ruffian il
English, suddenly; and his men, answer
ing with yell dashed forward.
Stand fast, my hearties,' l cried
confronting the foe at the right OF the
companion-way, while the mate tool
the opposite pass on the left. Strike
for your lite or death
OF the succeeding minutes / have M