Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-06-03
THE ENGLIsHMAN AT FAULT.
BY sYLvASUs COBB, JR.

Any one who lived near the Kenne-
bee during the last war with Great
Britain, cannot fail to remember the
excitement and anxiety of the inhab-
itants Of Kenebec and Lincoln counties
when that river was blockaded by the
British. In many of the towns on the
bank of the river-towns which owed
much of their means of sustenanee to
their maratime' trade-the people were
for sometime actually straiented for want
of food, as nothing could be brough,
up the river from any of the seaport
towns on the coast At one time dol.
lars worth of flour was often carried in
small pocket handkerchief, while the
the children of comparatively opnlent
families were even forced to pick from
heaps of east-of vegetables, frozen po-
tatoes, which were placed upon the
Goals and eaten even before the frost
was wholly overcome. Some forty or
fly trading vessels were lying idle in
the river, and at length, the blockade
became so serious. that actual starvation
peeped coldly in at some Of the fam
lies.
Among the coasters viii CHI were thus
cut off from their trading, was clip
per schooner, owned and commanded
by Capt John Wait, which had drop
ped down from Hallowell, and landed
at one of the wharves at Bath. Capt.
Wait was loaded for Ipswish Mass, and
his family were suffering from his forced
state of inactivity.
"Mr Springer" said Wait to his
mate one bright morning, as they stood
upon the wharf at which the schooner
was secured, II am going OUT
s'Sir?n
81 am going olHin
''But that. English brig is there yet,
darn her pictur," returned Springer.
Captain Wait seldom swore, but on
the present occasion he could not help
it, for he distinctly uttered pretty
round oath in connection with said brig,
and then continued
"I've got an idea, and it may let us
out in safety; but nevertheless, out |
90, at all events"
''Well," returned Springer, eff the
old Polly goes | shall go with her.
Four men and the cook composed the
schooner's crew, exclusive of the two
officers, and they readily agreed to
stick by the old ''Polly' as long as her
timbers held together.
Captain Wait went on shore and pro-
cured an old anchor and cable, which
he carried on board the schooner, and
deposited near the starboard quarter,
securing the end of the cable to the
large quarter elect, and placing the an
Choir so that it could be easily tumbled
overheard.
About an hour before shutdown, just
as the tide began to ebb, Capt. Wait
cast off his shore fasts, and with good
fresh breeze from the south ard and
west ard. ne spread his sails and started
off down the river. Together with the
assistance of the tide and wind, the
Polly was not over an hour IN making
the mouth of the river, and, just to the
eastward of Seguin' he espied the En-
ish brig standing in.
The Englishman noticed the Yankee
as soon as she hove in sight, and keep
ing away to the westward, she evidently
to cut her off. Crowding as
close upon the wind as possible, Capt.
w ait ran his schooner for Cape Small
Point, the immediate vicinity OF which
from the number of large black rocks
that ornament the water, bears anything
but an agreeable aspect to the stranger
but nevertheless, some of the coasters
can very safely wend their way among
them.
AS the Island of Seguin happened to
be somewhat in the way of the brig,
she had been forced to tack twice III
order to get upon a direct chase, and
consequently the schooner had the
weather gage. The latter vessel had
already reached the rocks, and, just as
the brig came sweeping around the is
land, our Yankee captain had prepared
everything for his maneuvre. The
schooner was now heading nearly south
and of course, her larboard side was
toward the Englishman, while the latter
was heading directly for her, on the lar
board tack.
"'Twontd do to stand on much long er,"
said Springer, as he worked hard to
keep the schooner just on shiver.
GA few minutes longer" returned
Captain Wait. 'The brig won't fire
till she gets little nearer. 1 must get
into that shoal water ahead, where we
can have plenty of lee room, for when
| square away / want a clear sea-"
Five minutes more passed away, du-
ring which time the schooner had reach
ed the clear water alluded to, while the
brig had been gradually opening her
starboard battery.
''Now stand by, boys" exclaimed,
Capt. Wait, as he cast an anxious look
towards the Englishmen's guns. ''LetI
her come up"
In an instant the Polly came INTO the
wind, and her sails began to flap and
hutter, but before her Roadway was
wholly checked, the old anchor was
dropped overheard from the starboard
quarter, and a dozen heavy water casks
were instantly rolled over Oh to the same
side, which gave her quite a heel to
starboard.
"Schooner ahoy" shouted an officer
from the Enghsman.
ssBlast the eussed rocks.' roared Cap
tain w ait, springing to the helm just as
the short cable tainted and brought
the schooner up. slump to those head
sheets. Haul over the starboard fore
sheet, and haul it taut-"
The order was quickly obeyed, and
the result answered two-fold purpose.
1t not only served to keep the schooner's
head to the wind but it alss appeared to
the EngIisman as though the Yankees
were making great exertions to get of
from some hidden rock upon which they