Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-05-18
THE FRIGATE's TENDER /:
0r The Rus.

that young naval officer, walking on the Bat
terry at New York, had his attention drawn to
group OF persons earnestly engaged in watch
ing two vessels that were just visible down the
harbor
What is it. my friends 2r he asked, in a
frank. hearty tone, as be joined them.
The tender. again, chasing in a schooner,
SIR, answered an old tar, touching the point
of his hat a. he noticed the anchor button on
the officers coat.
Here is a spy glass, sir, said master $
mate who stood near, at the same time respect-
fully handing il to him
Thank you. my man." answered the lien
tenant with smile, as be took the instrument
and placed il to his eve
BY its aid he could clearly distinguish an
armed schooner OF about ninety tons crowdipg
SAIL In chase of 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 -
sald the MASTER mate but the tender sails
Ike shark in chase of a dolphin. The fore
past the fort
The tender can sail, and am the one that
ought to know 1T, said stout weather beaten
man " She WAS pilot boat. and tho fastest
craft that ever danced over the water Three
weeks ago and my crew were out in her
Mhen yon English frigate suddenly made her
appearance out of a fog bank and brour rs
10 But L took to my yawl and pulled for the
land league away, and escaped for the foy
was So thick that the Englishman could not get
glimpse of me. 1t is my schooner they have
turned into tender, sir and that made so
many captures the last three weeks of our small
coasters.
She carries forty men and long thirtv,uo
So hear, observed seaman in the yroup
And Is commanded by luff and a REFER -
added the masters mate
" lt would be a blessing observed a man
oi-warS man. who had not yet spoken. :. If
that craft could be caught napping IL sint
safe for sloop to put her nose out of the har-
Dor, beyond the cape; but while the friyate
was there alone. they could slip along the
coast in light water. and show her their heels
But now everything that ventures out is brough
to by the long gun Of the tender
that's iact. Ben" responded anothe
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 one. when
our trigate laying off there gets her armament
aboard; for then L think we'll swallow the
English irIsate outside, and pick our teeth
with the tender
All these remarks were heard by the young
omcer, who all the while continued to look
through the spy glass at the tender and her
chase.
There goes a gun" cried several Of the
spectators as a fash and a let of smoke came
from the tenders bows
- That's bold enough" observed the younp
otlcer. as II speaking his thoughts aloud: the
''impudent tender is almost up 10 the for. and
dares to fire at the chase in the very face of
the batteries
Its 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 a gun to
cut away something
You are right, my man. > respopded the
otfcer = for she has put about and stands sea-
ward sgain.'
tie continued 10 watch the retiring tender
for some moments in silence
Ii pity that We hadn' an armed cutter
In port that would sail faster than she can so
That we might give her chase out said a lad
approaching the group. His dress was that of
a mIdsh'pman, and his air singularly free and
careless.
All, Frank, are You here ," said the lieu
tenant COME aside with me- said he put
ting his arm IN that Of the midshpman Il
der -
In what way, SIR" demanded the youth
VIII show you. The tenders game ap.
pears 10 be the cOasting 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 valne. Ny plan is to
Charter an old sOOp, the worst looking one that
II is possible to find in port, vet tolerabIe
sailor, Tor she must work well and readily obey
her helm will load her deck with hen coops
filled with poultry, pens eraIumed with pigs
and few sheep. and a calf or two by way of
variety You laugh, Frank. but the com
mander of the tender will find IL no lauOhipV
matter, If L succeed as | anticipate | shall
ship about thirty-fve men, and conceal them
III the hold and taking command of my craft
with one hand only visible ON the deck / shall
set SAL out OF the harbor. When l get out
side, L think l shall be able to show John Bull
4 ankee trick he will not be likely to forget
R,,t
management Of the affair Now yon see what
would be at Frank Will you Join me2"
g" Heart and hand sir, responded Frank
Talbot, with enthusiasm
Now We want to proceed at once to ac-
ZION, SAID the lieutenant. = L want you to go
to the Anchor rendezvous, in Pearl street. and
drum up about five and thirty msn Take only
those that are daring and ready for ANYTHING
Lst none OF them know your object, lest We
should be betrayed by information being con-
Nsyed to the tender. You will find enough in
these tunes that will ask questions. Meet
me nj twelve clock at the Exchange reading
rooms, ard report t. me"
The midshipman then took his leave and
fastened up the Battery. The lieutenant re-
turned TO tue group, and taking aside the mas
ter mate. whom be knew. he laid briefly be-
lore him hI- project. The old tar entered into
II with all zeal Together they went to the
docks, where ON account of the blockade Law
tIon They were not long in discovering such
craft as suited them a Hudson sloop of ~
tons She was Immediately put in trim for
sailing by tho masters mate and three OF four
men whom he employed while the officer pro-
ceeded to buy up and send on board his live
stock.
The morning following these events, the ten
der OF the British friga;e WAS standing off and
on under easy sail and close in with Sandy
Hook The wind Was from the sOuthwl St and
blowing about five knot breeze Tho sky
was without cloud, and only II gentle undu
Iatiou lifted the surface OF tie ocean The
tender Wis clipper built vessel very narrow
IN the beam anI constructed wholly with an
eye TO her fast sailing qualities; and she gave
proof VI them by Overhau!ing everything She
carried amidshIps n long thirty-twO pouuder.
Her crew consisted OF about thirty men In the
uniform Of the British navy. They were now
lal in tho I.x AMI IN a..