Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-06-25
THE FRIGACE'S TENDER: OR, THE
RUSE.
HINT FOR THE PRESENT EMERGENCY.

HINT FoR THE PRESENT EMERGENCY.
It was early on sunny morning, du-
ring the progress of the last war with
Great Britain, that young naval officer
walking on the Battery at New York, had
his attention drawn TO n group Of persons
earnestly engaged in watching two yes.
sells that were Just visible down the har.
Dor.
What is it my friends?' he asked, in q
frank. hearty tone. as he joined them.
The tender, again, chasing in a
schooner, SIR answered an old tar,
ticed the anchor button on the officers
coat.
Here is a spy-glass; SIR said a mas
ter's mate, who stood near. at the same
time respectfully handing it to him.
Thank you, my man. answered the
lieutenant with a smile. as he took the in
strument and placed it to his eye.
By its aid he could clearly distinguish
an armed schooner of about ninety tons.
crOwding sail in chase OF trading fore
and AFTER that was making every cxcr-
ton to escape, both by towing and wet
ting her sails.
The chase is about half mile ahead
sir, said the masters mate; but the ten
der sails like shark in chase OF dol.
phin. The fore and after don't stand any
chance Of getting in past the FORT
The tender can sail, and am the one
that ought to know it, said stout
weather>beaten man. She was a pilot
boat. and the fastest craft that ever dane.
ed over the water. Three weeks l and
my crew were out in her. when yon Eng
lish frigate suddenly made her appear
ance out of fog bank. aud brought US
to. But | took TO my yawl and pulled
for the land league away and escaped,
for the fog was so thick that the English
man could not get glimpse of me. 1t
is my schooner they have turned into a
tender, sir, and that made so many cap.
lures the last three weeks of our small
coasters
She carries forty men and long thir-
ty-two, as l hear observed seaman in
the group.
And is commanded by luff and ree-
fer added the masters mate.
1t would be a blessing observed a
man-of-war's man, who had not yet spo-
ken. If that craft could be caught nap
ping. 1t amt safe for sloop to put her
nose out of the harbor, beyond. the care;
but while the frigate was there alone they
should slip along the coast in light water.
and show their heels. But now every
thing that ventures out is brought to the
long gun of the tender
That's fact. Ben,' responded another
seaman. She has taken or driven back
in port no less than twenty-si craft in the
last three weeks. l shall be glad when
our frigate lying off there gets her arma.
ment aboard: for then. think well
swallow the English frigate outside and
pick our teeth with the tender
All these remarks were heard by the
young officer. who all the while contin-
ued 10 look through the spy glass at the
tender and her chase.
There goes gun!' cried several OF
toe spectators as a fash and Jet OF
smoke came from the tenders bows. .
'That's bold enosgh,' observed the
yound officer, as If speaking his thoughts
aloud, the impudent tender is almost up
to the fort. and dares to FIRE at the chase
in the very face Of the batteries
'lt'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 a gun to cut away something
You are right. my man. responded
the officer, for she has put about and
stands seaward again.
He continued to watch the retiring ten
der for some moments in silence.
Its pity that we hadn't an armed
cutter in port that would sail faster than
she can;so that we might give her a chase
out said lad approaching the group.
His dress was that Of midshipman, and
his air singularly free and careless.
'Ah, Frank, are you here?' said the
lieutenant. Come aside with me- said
he putting his arm in that OF the midship>
man. 4 have conceived plan to cap
ture the tender
youth. . Z
i will show you. The tenders game
appears to'be the coasting vessels from
which she takes men to impress in the
British navy, and also plumbers the crafts
ofsuch things as they contain which are
of any value. My plan is to charter an
old sloop, the worst looking one that is
possible to find in port. yet tolerable
sailor, for she must work we'll and readi.
ly obey her helm. / will load her deck
with hen-coops. tiled with poultry. pens
crammed with pigs and few sheep and
calf by the way Of variety. You laugh,
Frank, but the commander of the tender
Will ind ii no'laughing matter, If Il sue.
eeed as anticipates g ! shall. ship about
'nirty-hVe men, and conceal them in the