The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-08-27
THE LAST BULLET.
AN INCIDENT or COMMODORE srKwART's Al
0KRlNR RxpERIENCR

The United states sfoop.of-war JPnsNua-
ton was anchored in the harbor or Aigiers,
whittier she had proceeded under command
ofCommodore Preble, having on board, among
other officers, Charles Stewart, then an Act
ing Lieutenant
twas the watch of young Stewart, and he
was pacing 10 aud fro on the deck, about half
an hour after sunset, when he saw A small
boat, containing single person, coming of
from the Old Port, as the western part of the
town is called, and heading directly for the
ship. .s-fsf p ss.z
This person was rowing with all his might,
and Stewart was not long in discovering the
cause. Close behind the single boatinan was
seen a large rover filled with men, whose pres
once was announced by a continual hrfng AZ
him of whom they were in such de.erm'heu
pursuit, holding on their way until ihey were
under the very guns of the snip. .m.vI
Now by nv soul ~ cried Stewart, may
Stand nv M Regers ;, he added, addressinga
favorite gunner, "io throw 3 little grape into
that fellow" ., -,
mn from, }he side OF the ship, and as the repors
%Tcnt booming ever the water the iron mes
seager sped on its way. crashing into the pur-
suing boat, severely weanding Two or three
of her crew. She instantly turned TO put back,
at the sSnse time that the fugitive reached his
destination and came up the eide into the
presence of the officer OF the deck.
He was an elderly man, with a stout frame
and brownish features; bat 1t required but
single glance from the lieutenant TO see that
De was Engiisn or American. As soon as he
was sufficiently recovered from his over-ex-
eriion 10 breathe. he went on TO tell his story.
10 which Stewart listened with much excite
ment
The new conner was an American citizen,
named James Collins, a native of New York,
who with his wife and daughter, had been
taken from an American vessel at the same
time as its com mander and crew, two years
before, by an Agerine pirate His wife had
since died, and he and his dan ght ter had been
enduring, since his capture, all the horrors OF
a hopeless aud aggravated captivity but the
worst part Of the poor mans story, and that
which ;neved Lieut.. Stewart the most, was
The announcement that his daughter, gentle
and beau;itul girl, was on he very eve 81 be-
ang forced int deiestable union with the
very wretch who had bought her aud Der Ia
ther rs slaves.
MY agony at these circumstances culmina-
Ted not Two hours age finished the father,
when l struck the persecator insensiole TO
my feet and fed. BY dint of exertion l man
aged 10 reach the water side, and embarked
before the pursners could prevent IL. But,
though L have succeeded in reaching this place
Of safety, my poor Alice rs sun IN the power
e her tormentor, exposed TO his vengeance,
and | am almost crazy at thinking that she
even NAV now be subjected to fate worse
than death, If l conld only guide boats
crew. under your orders"
One moment" Interrupted Stewart. "Stay
where you are until l have seen Commodore
pgebie''
gagged with his commander in the bin, and
then he came forth with a stern smile of salts
faction on his features. Ten minutes more
had not passed before cutter with twelve
chosen men pushed of in the darkness, with
the Lieutenant and the stranger in the stern,
and rapidly struck out for the shore.
Our owner said Mr.. Collins, - resides in
the western part of the city. There is coast
guard established, but l do not apprehend
rhat We shall have any especial trouble from
that source. l THICK we can land below, go up
the streets TO the house and carry Off my
child. and all without losing man."
The boat landed, after twenty minutes of
rapid progress, at small wharf near the &c.
ieta, 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 Algerines. Leaving part of his men in
the cutter with orders for them to lie down
under the wharf, Lieut. Stewart and the re-
malnder Of his force followed 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 spacious, having
all the Iooseness of the Moorish style, the party
discovered that silence and darkness were the
pal features of the scene Not sound
was heard nor a word uttered The whole
building seemed deserted. The agony of the
father was extreme.
40 nv child my child ~ he cried no longer
able TO control the terrible emotions which
hal been surging through his soul during the
last hour. shall never see thee more p
A Moorish slave came around from the rear
OF The building, and assured his fellow cap
tive that the girl had been carried off by the
mus Ter, and that no one was at home save him
self. But even as the lying rascal uttered the
concluding words, q wild shrek was heard ia
the chamber. and the next moment young
aud beautiful girl OF seventeen summers ap-
ptared Al one Of the front windows, looking
Ike spectre in her garments OF spotless
white.
MY child. my Alice." exclaimed Mr. Col
Inns.
Save me- father," was the response; and
while shouts and groans were heard proceed
ing from the interior OF the building, the maiden
threw herself from the low window, falling
into the very arms Of her father and Lieut..
Stewart.
The very moment of this reunion was des-
tined 10 be that in which a company of Alge- |
Tiue troops came around the nearest corner,
marching mp the street in the direction of 1t.
Stewart ana his men. 1t was also at The same
moment that the old Moo, who had so long
considered himself the proprietor of Mr.. Col
Inns and his daughter, came 10 the window
and set up startling yell.
This way!" cried Mr.. Collins, and he
dashed open the front door of the building,
and conducted the entire party within. Look
10 Jour weapons, and take the rascals off their
pins the instant they halt J" said Stewart.
A sharp and determined struggle soon COM
nenced, in the course of which half the Moor
ish soldiers were killed, and the remainder
finally gave way. But the rescuers had ex-
pended all of their ammunition, and only a
single bullet was remaining that was in a
large horse-pistol in tie possession of Lieut..
Stewart. He was just wondering what he
should do with it, when the old Moor came
down stairs with a huge sabre in his grasp,
and made furious dash at Mr.. Collins and
ms daughter, with murder written on his fea-
lures and flashing from his eyes. This sud-
den arrival decided the destination of the last
bullet.
Take it, you black devili'' cried Stewart
Just as the fearful blow was descending, and
he fired his weapon, the ball passing through
the miscreant's head and bringing him dead
10 the floor.
Now, boys" added Lieutenant s., 1--WE are
going to finish with q hand TO hand fight. The
powf er and ball are out; we must trust 10
The sWord.'
Closely followed by his men, as we'll as by
Mr. Collins and Alice, the Lieu tenant led the
way towards the boat. 1t seemed as if Al
gers had turned out TO witness the triumpbal
retreat, the streets being filled with thousands
OF men and women, collected together by The
brief contest at the Moor's house, but not an
attempt was made To intercept the progress of
the party, the Algerines contenting them
selves with scowls and denunciations. Ten
minutes later the rescuers were at the cutter;
twenty N nutes more and thee tire party were
safely back 10 the Cons tellation, not having
lost a man. The young Lieutenant received
hearty thanks of his superior, 10 say nothing
OF the gratitude of Mr.. Collins and his daugh-
ter, whose family proved TO be Of consequen
in New York; and we are assured that Char.
ley Stewart was never happier in his life than
when Miss Alice was united TO one of his
''cAams,'' II noble hearted Lieu tenan. now a
Commodore, who fell in love with the rescued
maiden during the CONSULTATIONS homeward
passage.
WHIsKEY "STRAIGHT.r-Wed do not On our
own authority recommend the adoption Of ,his
receipt as a regular thing but we believe IL 10
very extensively considered q taxable beye-
rage:
Take one pint Of whiskey, stir in one snoo..
fui Of whiskey; add one pint Of whiskey and
heat well with spoon. Take one gallon of
water and let a servant carry ii away beyond
your reach; then put two spoonsful Of water