The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-06-06

were fitted with fints and rendered sefviceable,
and primed aud loaded ina manner to make
them particularly effective, handful of Lead.
en- slugs being substituted for bullets.
But Captain Mangrove's efforts did not stop
here. He was aware that in case of an attack
his most vigorous efforts must be to keep off
his assailants, and disable them before they
could get foothold upon his decks. With his
few men, the complement of the ships COM
pany being only seven, all told, and destitute
of pistols, boarding pixies and cutlasses, ne
knew that whenever the pirates climed over
the sides of the brig, further exertions would
be of no avail, than to sell their lives at the
dearest possible rate.
There was small engine on board the brig,
of kind not unfrequently used in those days
for watering gardens; and they were often in
troduced into ships for the purpose Of wetting
the sails during light winds. The value of
such an instrument in ship when crossing
the Atlantic ocean in the summer season, when
dry weather and gentle breezes prevail, is not
duly appreciated by ship-owners. This engine
would contain ten or fifteen, gallons of water,
and worked briskly by two men could be made
to throw sufficient to wet every sail in the
ship. q 80 tEt r4fl.2
Captain Mangrove determined to convert
this engine, which was never intended for a
| weapon of war, into an engine of destruction
should rashly attempt to board the Blue Pig
con, to test by means of this friendly engine,
| the virtues of hot water; and not knowing
what time or under what circumstances the
brig might be attacked, he at once gave the
cook sorders to keep on rousing fire in the ca
boose at all times, by night and by day, until
they entered the Gulf of Mexico, and to see
that his coppers were filed with salt water.
| The officers and men had their particular
duties assigned to them whenever it might be
| necessary to engage the enemy, and were
drilled until they perfectly understood the du-
ties which would be exacted of them. Mrs.
Mongrove declared she would not be exempt
ed from special duty, on the approach of dan,
ger; that she had as much, nay more, at stake
than. any one on board, and spurned the idea
of. being slowed away like piece of useless
lumber, in "a state room below, out of harms
i reach, while her husband and his companions
were fighting on deck, exposing their lives fol
her protection Lr-T
/ A fine breeze sprung up soon after Captain
Mangrove had communicated with the English
brig; and the Blue Pigeon rapidly approached
the spot near which. it was supposed the fear
! full tragedies had been enacted. At sunset
the following day, Cape Corrientids was in
sight from the mast head. But while the cap
tain was whispering comfort to his wife, ant
encouraging his crew with the prospect of be
d ing able to pass up the strait during the night
and thus give the slip to any gang of pirate
who might be prowiing round in that vicinity
the wind to his great modification, died away
and it continued light and battling througl
the night Notwithstanding Captain Man
: groves exertions to gain over towards the Yu
? catan shore, as being the safest, daylight re
vealed the unpleasant fact that Cape Antonio
! was in sight from the deck being not NOR
than ten or twelve miles off. The wind wa
still light from the eastward, and there was n
prospect of fresh breeze.
To the great satisfaction Of every one o.
board the Blue Pigeon, there was not anythin
: to be seen on the waters with the exception G
: La brig far to the northward with all sail SCI
steering to the westward. Apprehension q
danger from pirates began to vanish, and th
: intelligence of their bloody outrages was lool
; ed upon as a myth. But Immediately afte
!. breakfast, Captain Mangrove on sweeping th
: horizon with his glass, discovered dark spec
in the direction of the Cape. He kept silen
. however, until he ascertained beyond doubt tt
\ character Of the object, which became ever
= moment more distinctly visible. At lengt
e in firm, unfaltering voice, he announced /
: the anxious ships company that boat WI
- coming off from the land.
This announcement caused quite commotie
= throughout the vessel. There could be lit
a doubt in regard to the bloody mission of tho
4 who directed the movementso of that dark spe'
! on the waters If any doubt existed it W
a soon removed. The boat as it came neare
was seen to be full of men, and was steering
ID course directly for the brig. oarea 4,.s4 :
10 The wind was still light. Sometimes a fl
~ or catspaw, swept over the water, and urged t
Il Blue Pigeon along toward the North West
= the rate of two or three knots-the calm 81
: Gee ding, disappointed the hopes which beg
- to be entertained of escaping without desp
pa ate conflict from the dreadful fate which thre
al ened them. gt.{.5-o.
Of Preparations were now made to give tht
b1 warm reception. The water was boili
~ furiously in the caboose-an old broken hatt
81 bar was thrust into the fire, to be used a
sJ loggerhead to touch off the big gun. T
nd gun was given in charge of Mr.. Slinker,
- mate, with particular directions to fire sc
~ after the word should be given as the G
M could be brought to bear. He was particula
10 cautioned to take correct aim, and deliver
20 whole broadside between wind and water.
80 The engine was ready in the wrist, and {
NO of the men, stout fellow, was stationed
es: the brakes along with Mrs. Mangrove, VIII
no courage, GOODNESS and unfailing strength, e.
re in the anxious hour, seemed, as much as
he confident bearing and cheerful words of
NV captain, to encourage the men to come Dol
vas up to the work, and by noble resistance /
lce on the desperaooes- 10 the COOK was asslS
on. the important duty of keeping their eng
tbe supplied with water, and to look after the
md md gerhead Mike Finchly, an old man-of-w
ere man, who had been a sharpe shooter in
,nr main-tog of the Blenheim, in the battle of
- Vincent, under Admiral JerVis, was pu
did charge of the helm, and with two other
ms the crew, was entrusted with the impor
'an- "a duty of pouring in upon the coxswain
for others in the stern Of the barge, shower
inc leaden pellets from the half dozen huge 1
.Ia. ,S kets, which already pinned and cooked, !,
tied leaning against the pinnacle. i"o
the 4 Captain Mangrove reserved to himself
anly addition to the general superintendent
nen, commander, an important special duty,
e of judicious execution of which, success ma
die depended, viz, to direct the stream of bo
3 up water in that direction which would mos
GER fectually scald the rascsls, and deprive