The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1860-05-17
PIRATES IN hot WATER
BY HAWSER MARTINGALE.

~ ID HCeilif iOAoJ JOoio SlhOO UAAO NJ e
. Blue Pigeon of Hallowell, in Maine, was
bound from Point Petre,in Gaudaloupe
, to New Orleans. The brig was com
$ manded 10y Captain Mangrove, a worthy
2 and intelligent man, who was gifted
/. with respectable share of Yankee
shrewdEess, and moreover, was not IL
the habit OF being frightened at shad
ows. His wife was on board, and a
r charming young woman was Mrs. Man,
grove, whose presence seemed to throw
a halo of brilliancy all over and around
the vessel. This woman was greatly
respected and admired by the sailors
any one Of whom would have risked his
limbs or life in her service.
Passing along through the Caribbean
Sea, within sight Of the fertile island o.
Porto Rico, the rugged outline of St
Domingo was soon visible. Leaving
Cape Tiburon, they soon came in sight
of Jamaica, on the left and then again
on the right they obtained a glimpse Of
the high mountains on the southern side
Of Cuba, the Sierra de Cobra. It was
delightful sailing among these SEAS
The breezes were gentle and balmy
and the surface of the ocean was un-
ruffled. The worthy Captain Mangrove
and his fair companion, cheered by the
presence of each other, fully apprecia-
} ted the blessings with which they were
favored, and during the week or ten
days, in the course Of which the brig,
propelled by the light trade winds, with
studding sails set on both sides, sailed
about thousand miles, this couple en-
ljoyed the true poetry of the ocean. Nc
visions OF hurricanes, pirates or ship.
wrecks, intruded on their minds for a
moment to lessen their enjoyment by
the contemplation of troubl es in the dis.
lance.
Captain Mangrove was informed that
a band Of pirates had established them
selves on the coast of Cuba, near Cape
St. Antonio. They were desperate men
who made war upon all unarmed YES
sells off all nations, to gain plumber and
crafty a morbid appetite for blood
They carried on their fen dish work in
large open launch or barge, propelled
by sails ana oars and within the last
two months had chased several vessels
bound to ports in the Gulf of Mexico,
which had with difficulty escaped by
carrying sail. Others, however, were
not 50 fortunate. There was reason to
believe that the pirates had actually
boarded and captured more than one
unresisting merchantmen, and murder
ed the whole crew. Their mode Of
proceeding was to pull for their intend
ed victim in light winds; tofire no guns
and give no alarm to range up under
the counter, hail the vessel, and give
temporary orders to "heave to and sur
render under the pain of instant massa-
cre,3 then dash quickly along side,
spring on board, do the work of death,
rifle the vessel of money and all other
articles ofvalue, and then scuttl her,
and escape to the shore.
This intelligence, although supposed
to be greatly exaggerated, was of a
character truly alarming, especially as
the Blue Pigeon was not well provided
with weapons Of defence. Indeed the
only engines of destruction, properly
so called were, one signal gun, in the
shape Ola short twelve pound carbonate
and a half dozen old and heavy muskets
There was some powder in the run, but
no cannon balls, bullets, boarding pixies
or cutlasses. Captain Mangrove, how
ever, although he did not repose implic-
it belief in the Englishman's story, was
determined not to be caught mapping,
and as there was no other way open
for him to get to New Orleans, without
passing Cape St Antonio, he made i'm
mediate preparations to defend his YES
sci with the limited means in his power,
from the attack of the blood thirsty
pirates !! lie also by his manly bearing
infused noble spirit among his men,
and they, one and all, declared that in
case Of an attack from pirates, they
would rather die bravely defending
their lives, than to give up theship with
out striking blow, with the certain
prospect of being ruthlessly and DELHI
erately put to death.
Captain Mangrove examined the con-
dition of his armament The big gun
was out, and put in good fighting order.
A heavy charge of gunpowder was de-
posted in its breech, and then it was
filled to the muzzle with paving stones
in lieu of cannon balls. The muskets
were fitted with fints and rendered SER
viceable, and primed and loaded in a
manner to make them particularly eff
ective, handful ofleaden 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 eff.
orts must be made to keep off his assail.
ants, and disable them before they could
get foothold on his decks. With his
few men, the complement of the ship's
company being only seven, all told, and
destitute of pistols, boarding pixies and
cutlasses, he knew that whenever the
pirates climbed over the sides of the
brig, further exertions would be of no
avail, than to sell their lives at the dear
est possible rate.
There was a small engine on hoard
the brig, of kind not unfreouentlv
used in those days for watering gardens.
and they were often introduced into
ships for the purpose of wetting the
sails during light winds. The value of
such an instrument in ship when eros.
ing the Atlantic ocean in the summer
season, when dry weathar and gentle
breexes prevail, is not duly appreciated
by ship owners. This engine wouId
contain ten or fifteen gallons of water
and worked briskly by two men oon1d
be made to throw a stream sufficient r.
wet every sail in the ship. ~
| Captain Mangrove determined To
convert this engine, which was never
Intended for a Weanon nf No.. 'oV u