Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-09-24
[From the National Intclligcnccr.1
The Last Bullet.
AN INCIDENT OF COMMODORE STEWART

AN INCIDENT OF COMMODORE STEWARDS
ALGERINE EXPERIENCE.
The United States ship. war Constel.
laton was anchored in the harbor of Algi.
crs, whittier she had proceeded under COM
mand of Commodore Prcblc, having on
board, among other officers, Charles Stew
art, then an Acting Lieutenant.
1t WAS the watch of young Stewart, and
he was parading to and fro on the deck,
about half an hour after sunset, when he
saw a small boat, containing single person,
coming off from the Old Port, as the west
crn part of the town is so called, and head
ing directly for the ship.
This person was rowing with all his
might, and Stewart was not long in dscov-
cring the cause. Close behind the siucle
boatman was seen large rover filled with
men, whose presence was announced by
continued firing at him of whom they were
in such determined pursuit, holding on their
way until they were under the very guns of
the ship.
Now, by my soul ~ cried Stewart,
"may be shot if don't teach those fell
lows lesson Stand by, Mr.. Rogers"
he added, addressing favoritc gunner,
"to throw little grape into that fellow"
An instant later wreath Of smoke curlcd
up from the side of the ship, and as the
report went booming over the water the
IRON messenger sped on its way, crashing
into the pursuing boat, severely wounding
two or three of her crew She instantly
turned to put back, at the same time that
the fugitive reached his destination, and
came up the side into the presence of the
officer of the deck. He was an elderly
man, with stout frame and brownish fca-
lures; but it required but single glance
from the lieutenant to sec that he was Eng
! lish or American. AS soon rs he was suf-
ticicntly recovered from his over -cxcrtion
to breathe, he wcnt on to tell his story, to-
which Stewart listened with much excite
mcnt
The now conner was an American citizen,
named james Collins, native of New
York, who, with his wife and daughter,
had been taken from an American vessel
at the same time as its commander and crew,
two years before, by Algcripc pirates His
wife had since died, and he and his dauyh-
ter had been enduring since his capture all
the horrors of a hopeless and aggravated
captivity; but the worst part of the poor
mans story, and that which moved Lieu
tenant Stewart the most, was the announce
mcnt that his daughter, gcntlc and beau
full girl, was on the eve of being forced into
Il dctcstablc union with the very wretch
/ who had bought her and her father as
slaves.
my agony at these circumstances cul-
minated not two hours ago." finished tho
father, "whcn | struck the prosecutor in
sensible to my feet and fed. BY dint of
cXcrtion | managed to reach the water side,
and embarked before the pursucrs could
prevent it.. But though have succeeded
in reaching this place of safety. my poor
! Alice is still in the power of the tormentor,
exposed to his vengeance; and am almost
crazy at thinking that she may even now
be subjected to fate worse than death If
| could only guide boats crc.;, under
your orders -
Gone momcnt," interrupted Stewart
:" stay where you are until have seen
Com lodorc Preblc."
One moment the young lieutenant was
engaged with his commander in the cabin,
and then he came forth with stern smile
of satisfaction on his features Ten min
utcs more had not passed before cutter
with twelve chosen men pushed off in the
darkness, with the lieutenant and the
stranger in the stern, and rapidly struck
out for the shore.
"Our owner" said Mr. Collins, are
sides in the western part of the city. There
is coast guard established, but | do not
apprehcnd that we shall have any especial
trouble from that source. think we can
land below, 90 up the streets to the house,
and carry off my child, and all without los
ing man"
The boat landed, after twenty minutes
OF rapid progress, at a small wharf near
the Gelcta, in the western part of the town
The arrival was certainly observed, but not
a great deal of attention was bestowed upon
it by the stupid Algerincs. Leaving part
of his men in the cutter, with orders for
them to lie down uudcr the wharf, Lieut.
Stewart and the remainder of his force fol-
lowed the footsteps of Mr.. Collins, who led
the way rapidly up the intervening streets.
On arriving at his late prison, an old,
dingy looking structure, extremely spa
cious, having all the looseness of the Moor
ish style, the party discovered that silence
and darkness were the principal features
of the scene. Not sound was heard nor
a word uttered. The whole building seemed
deserted. The agony of the father was
extreme. 80
90, my child my child !" he cried, no
longer able to control the terrible emotions
which had been surging through his soul
! durinp tho hst hour U sb,U I ,oyor 900