New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-01-17
LUKE WHITE, OF PLYMOUTH.
A SEA STORY,

betn's war ships, lying in plymouth sound were
playing at bowls at Mount Edgoumhe, when Luke
White, a young, athletic seaman, came running in
breathess haste, to announce that the magnificent
Spanish Armada had been deserted some ten
leagues distant steering steadily up channel, with
favorng breeze. The naval captains, it is added,
first recording the exact state of the game, and
agreeing to play it oat at the first opportunity
after settling with the Spaniards, hurried on board
their respective ships-Drake and Hawkins being
of the number.
have nothing to say in this paper of the ruinous
discontinue of the invincbe Spanish feet, except
to remark that Luke White was the skipper of n
store-ship, {victualer) attached to the English
squadrons; and that the insolent attempt Of the
Spanish monarch TO subjngate the realm Of Eng
land awakened in White (Qs in most Engshmen.
your genuine English sea'dog especially that fierce
hatred Of the Spauiard which for very many years
afterwards left deep traces of its fury in the home
and colonial ports of Spain, and in her crippled,
plundered commerce.; frequently prompting
moreover to deeds of vengeiul violence, which
only that well-earned burning hate conld have sug
gesIed Or excused.
The craft commanded by Luke White was the
sole property Of his father, Ephram White, rough
old seaman, hard gnarled, cross-grained as the
timbers of his vessel, stout brig OF two hundred
tons burthen, which he had named The Fifth Whelp.
An odd designation enough, but certainly much
less Objectionable than such names as The
Saviour of the World - Mother of Godn "The
Holy Trinity" etc, then, and till very recent
period, if not now, common in the Spanish and
| Portuguese navies The Tenth Whe}p, some half
| century afterwards, was distinguished ship of
| the first naval squadron commanded by Robert
| Blake. general and admiral at sea.
The Fifth Whelp sustained no damage whilst in
| attendance upon the English lighting ships and
the struggle with Spain as to sea supremacy being
virtually over, opening was made for private
war against Spanish commerce; to the swift and
sustained Of which, religious prejudice,
in conjunction Eitl commercial cupidty, lent fiery,
Jealous aid. Ephraim White was just the man to
be strongly influenced by fanatGism and greed,
piety and prottabeness; ana he at once decided
upon converting The Fifth Whelp into a well.
manned, well armed prlvatecr- huccancer- te,
which you will, there was not IN such cases much
in a name-to be commanded by his son Luke.
The fitting out of the brig was pushed rapidly
forward so thar in the February following the de-
struclion Of the Armada, the Fifth Whelp lying
in Plymouth Sound ready for sea the red cross
upon a white ground Qhe Jack" came in with
James StuarD flying at the mizzen, the blue Peter
at the lore. Her anchor was hove short, and only
| waited to be brought home for the captain, whose
delay on shore seemed to terribly annoy old Eph-
rain White. The cankerous veterans impatience
| was not soothcd BY the departure, some six hours
previously, with rafting breeze, of The Constant
Maid, a smart, wel[armed schooner, bound upon
the same errand the Fifth Whelp, and COM
manded by Eplram's half brother, Ezra White
which Ezra White, Ephraim, for reasons to be
hereafter disclosed, hated with unmitisated hate.
At last the youthful skipper was seen hurrying
to the boat waiting to bring him off, jumped III and
was pulled swiftly towards the brig.
"Gou have been lettering precious hours away
| snarled Eplraim White, the Instant he and his son
were alone together in the cabin, with that MINK
| Judith White.'
81 hare been with Judith" replied the young
man, with heightened color.
| "You still clearly understand that if you marry
that girl, you will never be penny the better for
| my property and that the moment you do so, de-
prive you OF the command of this vessel.
g To be sure, clearly understand that; and
more to the same tune. If | should marry Judith,
| am not to be entitled to more than my wages as
1otp n1oIj ba m n1rh hjtn
have taken from the Spaniard. 1t is all plain sail
| ing enough. Well you know that scorn to tell a
"You will believe me, then, when promise you
that will never marry Judith. My mind is fully
| made up not to do So Circumstances have
| occurred" added Burke, with sort of sheepish
| SMILE with blush, half impudenCe, half shame
" circumstances have occurred within the last
| three or four days which completely free me of
any wish-any temptation to do 500
| A grim smile glinted over the old mans swarthy
features. He understood; and, in the eXultation
Of the moment extended his hand to clasp his
sons; but checked himself Just in time, brought
up as it were, by sudden qualm at finding him.
self about to openly approve The violation of a
| great moral law" INDEPENDENT of the purest
pattern too as he was, Jealous unto Staying in the
good cause. ScrewiDg his cast-iron phiz as sue
cessfully as he ceuld into an expression of grave
rebuke ettectually contradicted by the gittering
twinkle Of his sharp gray eyes, he said:
" | understand, Luke ( understand. 1t is a sin,
no dOubt--a grievous sin. But yet Gods judg-
ment we cannot doubt that, upon that wretched
wench. The judgment of Him who visits the sins
| of parents upon their children to the third
! and fourth generation. The child Of such mother
| could not but come to shame. | easy now,''
added the old fellow, " as to the marriage, Luke
| quite easy"
"W Why not, then, give me slip of writing, en-
| titling me to fair share of any prizes may cap
tnre. twill make NE more Jealous, insure greater
! sucGess.n
'No, no, Luke-no slip of writing" chucklcd
the crafty veteran shaking hands with his son, and
turning to leave the cabin my word only. You
must trust to that. 1t s true have no fear Of the
marriage now still the tears and lamentations o
q con!ely wench have sometimes worked mira
ces. As to spelling the idolatrOus Spaniard," ad
ded Ephraim White, &c a son of mine can require
no squirting to that gody work. Farewell, lad
Noah, the girls brother has sailed, suppose, il
the Constant Maid. OF course he has. The villair
! Ezra gave that name to his schooner purposely tc
tauut nc,'' lie added, with muttered vddictiye
ness, and savage snap of his teeth. Well, We
shall see who laughs last.n
Directly Ephraim White had gone over The side
into the boat in waiting to take him ashore, the
| anchor of The Fifth Whelp was brought home, hel
| bluff bow fell off, and away she sped under six
knot breeze, on her mission of plunder and patriot
! ism.
Before following the cruise of the priyateer brig
] It will be necessary to jot down few principa