New Orleans daily crescent., 1861-09-02
W A r SIX KETCH z s i.
@'g.ty ~" =. 49,. A't' i--
AN AE'ADTENTrRE WITH A SOUTHERN PIRATE.
From the New York Evening post.l


scene of mad excitement MaIeyolenee towards
the North was ucerating the hearts of its mGngrel
denizenB. An escaped convict, sDeaking through,
its Gun deVoured thoroughfares, with cropped head
ana prison dress complete, would have been an OBJ
Ject oil Yeneraton. in comparison to the loathlng
bestowed upon discovered Northerner. To men.
ton the . Stars and Stripes, d unacc0mpaned by
an expression of contempt, would have subjected
q man 10 me iroWn of suspicion and the scrutiny OF
the pohce, II 1t did not point him out as fit victim
for the ready knife Of the assassin. 1t difficult
to imagine that the city's population of Spanish,
French and American creoles had ever looked with
other eyes than those of intense hatred upon
- ankee much less that they ever esteemed him
as pro1her, CIR exchanged with him the courtesies
taat grey out OF commerce and the arts Of highly
CIVILIZED community The very negroes, whose
grandsires were born and reared en- American
plantations, wore the hostile look of an armed
horde. 1t was dangerous for store-keepers to pro-
duce Tor sale the hated fabrics of the North, for
they would have teen torn rom their counters and
dragged By a reckless crowd of ragged ruffians
| through the dusty streets and stagnaat cutters.
One evening, weary CT the eternal cIamor of
Southern braves" making every bar-roomreecho
with Yaunts, sauntered through the streets and
made my way to the levee, where bales of cotton
and tobacco, barrels of pork and -four, and hogs
heads OF sugar, in nonstrous tiers, lined the
TharEes-all as plainly visible in the moonlight as
at noon -day. stood nea3 the edge of the levee,
WheIe, as no vessel was mOored, had an Unob-
'sructed view towar6 the river near the center of
when small, sharp schooner lay at anchcr.
as rechned on cotton bale, gazing upon the
tranquH scene the nonotony of Which was un-
Lroken save W lev words of g song uttered by
the not uhtnGsical voices OF some river hoetmen,
or the sudden splash, from its sliny perch Under
the levee, OF startled alligator, the anguor OF the
situation took hold upon me. THE ripp ling breeze
sweeping the river gave refreshing damrness To
the broW and seemed to yield new Tigor to my
weary limbs. ! perceived that the schooner, al
though apparently not much over q Hundred tons
burthen, was an armed vessel. Her low bulwarks
hraS flip aviG ant 4pf q
heavy caliber, on swivel arodshps, and the gilt
terng bayonets of sentries at the gangWays reveal
ed her character. That graceful, biro looking
craft was q laWless pirate. '.s ''s
TEE PIRATE CAPT4Ef.
"a smart craft, if she is little, ,':.said voice at
my side. turned and saw man in the dress Of
seaman, with a tinge of the soldier. he wore
the red fez of the Zouave, with a gray shirt and
flowing pantaloons of the same color. He was
completely armed: huge bov ieh and a navy
Colt secured in his leathern belt were unhidden
by the ample folds OF the red scarf which he wore
round his waist. At the sudden Sound of his voice
Itprsook my recumbent posture on the cotton bale
winch he at once took possession OF, reclining at
full length, whilst his Keen eye was searching mine
with an Qndsguised earnestness. .Ee was a nan
apparently about forty, and from the suppeness of
| his limbs and easy play of his uncurbed muscles,
perceptbly in the rounded outline OF his naked,
| swarthy throat and braUny shoulders, might we'll
| have passed for fveand-tw wenty. But there was a
contradiction to all this in massive moustache,
silyery as the whiskers of wild cat; by deep
| lines Of thought, haggard cheeks and innumerable
wrinkles, indented on. his brow and every portion
Of his saow face, plainly telling Of past hardshps.
lawless passions, an indomitable will and the wild
| viclssltudes Of a reckless career.
| a piratei" I muttered between my teeth, at
| the same time making an inclination with my head
| toward the schooner, and watching closely the
effect OF my words on the stranger. Ills face in
| stantiy sweed and da1kened; the veins OF his
throat BECAME like q knot Of small writhing
a1-~- ~ ~
his eyes glared with all the ferocity Of wild ami
mall his form dlated and became restless with III
| subdued excitement. But singularly was this
| threatening storm contrasted by the smooth ac-
| cents of his voice, as he said: ~
! 90 Can not the acuteness of a Yankee (lere he
paused for at least FIVE seconds after laying strong
! emphasis on the national cognomen,-" distinguish
between priTateer and pirate - .-@-
g our defective vision is a calamity of recent
date my friend" I.,.-,r. %. .
was prevented from replying to the ius: nua-
| ton contained in these words Spoken in g. tone
perfectly SERENE with trace of mockerJ- scarcely
pereeptble] by the approach of a boat to that
| part OF the leyee on which were. 1t was gig,
| manned by four men, pulling from the direction of
/ the piratieal vessel and on reaching the wharf,
| two of her men sprang, ashore and approached us,
| saiuting as superior the man by my side Cne
| of them spoke, in q low tone, some words, the
tenor of which could not Ca Oh, hut which eyi-
dentF had reference to the schooner, a. he
Al three men mace a movement toward the snlal
| boat AS the two seamen disappeared over the
| side Of the wharf to rrembark my companion
turned toward me, and with trankness in strange
| contrast with his sinister countenance, cried (:
"Come on board.n ..
| l moved toward him mechanically, drawn by
the spell Of his tones, took seat by his side in the
stern-sheets. and when few oars-length from the
leVee, looked into lis face anQ was fairly startled
| By its expression. His eyes glared like demons ;
| murder seemed lurItnc in the down-turnet cor
| ners of mis- mouth; his lips were bloodless with
| their frightful expression, and shuddered at the
! riciditv OF his attitude.
| J began to doubt the wisdom Of the step i had
| taken, A uetested Yankee, surrounded by men to
| whom the very name was an abomination anG
every crime almost familiar pastime, what lut
violent death would be the end Of my adventure :
| From this man turned my eyes to the subordin-
| ates. They were armed as have described him
to have been and similarly dressed Their features
wore the look of mixed ferocty, cunning and stu
pdity Of the bull dog. certaniy they could never
| become the allies OF an honest man.
"Captain,' " exclaimed, put me ashore again
| we were now alongside the schooner" you cali
! not take me aboard that vessel but by force"
" 4ou are welcome to go ashore" said he, but
! there are now swarms OF alfgators. always hun
| ery; and feE stray sharks within half fathom OF
| the surface OF the water, not at all backward OIL
| particular at making their supper OF man. even ii
| he is Yankee. Besides,'' lie continued at the
! same time eoolly drawing his revolver, &c if your
| head appears above water between tls and tile
| wharf, SO surely will prove to you that am
narksman hy sending slug through your skull
| and what the alHgators leave Of your carcass car
! iioat to the Gulf, and your soul to HI, so swim
| for it ~
Hurrah!" yelled the brutes at the oars.
| ] perceived at that Indifference was the
best mask that ! could assume. J calmly told hin
| that paying flying visit even to pirate ship
even il such company as that | was then in, was
| preferable to bathing under circumstances dis
| advantageous.
TIE PIRATE VESSEL.
| That rirht found me a prisoner, dsarmed in
| the hold of one of JEFF Davis pirates evidently Of
| the blapkest cast, ironed and alone. All around
| me was complete darkness; but by the slight mo
ton of the vessel and the gentle sound of the rip
| pling pillows against the side, | knew we were
| under way; but whittier going was
| mystery. I groaned in agony, and in desperate
struggles tore the flesh from my wrists, vainly
| hoping to rid them of the manaces. At intervals
as lay gaspng with exertion and pain, the sud
den fall of coil of rope the deck above me
the rapid order of officer, and the shouts of the
seamen in reply was a slight relief to my mind
harrassed by a thousand uncertainties.
| Hours passed. and still lay sleepless and des
| perate. Ten minutes freedom, with q weapon in
| my hand, face to face with the treacherous bandit
| and bis hirelings, would have been better to me
than the possession Of an unexpected fortune to q
| ruined spendthrift.
| A new idea struck me; I Shouted to the full eX.
! tent of voice, by means weak rendered
| stronger by a thirst for vengeance, | cursed the