New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1861-06-14
NEW OREGON IOWA, JUNEl4 1861.
Hard down your helmn
Ave! ave! sirP

snubbed her bows deep and fast into
bank, where she remained immovable.
This Of course Immediately excited
our suspicious, that all was not right;
for the pretended caution, to 'luff,' was
doubtlessly given to produce exactly
the result it had. - y.
I'm afraid, SIR said my first officer,
stepping to my side, and speaking low:
that we are now really in for it! That
ship, sir, is an Englishman, or I am
greatly mistaken
:I've no doubt of it myself, sir, now.
The treacherous knave has got us into
a scrape by that rascally signal. But
she's probably prize of the American
frigate, and is now lying under her
guns .....-.. ..r.... ........
But, it's strange though, that
prisoner should be permitted to mis-
lead a vessel entering port f,.a
At this moment a boat was seen to
leave the ship. and pulling good dis
tance round our stern. make directly
for the mole under the fort. ........
Scarcely ten minutes elapsed after
the landing of the boat, when all was
commotion in the fort The drums
beat to quarters, and men with lanterns
were running in every direction, while
we could also perceive that the crew of
the ship near US, were preparing to
drop from their berth. We could hear
the sounds of their capstan bars as
they shipped and unshippcd them, in
the act of heaving home the anchor.
While this was doing, we were by
no means idle; for now certain that
mischief was really intended, our little
crew, greatly reduced: to man the va
rious prizes we had sent home during
our heretofore successful cruise, were
called to quarters, and all were ready
to act as the mersency might re-
quire. tu.. v. .s".. i
In the meantime, boat left the
ship, and approaching the schooner
the crew attempted to climb up our
side. But I kept them at bay while 1
demanded to know where the American
frigate lay. .. ]" ...
'She sailed yesterday was the ans
wer.
sAnd the sloops- -of-war@ I inquired.
'They have left the port together.'
replied the officer:
what ship is that?' / next asked.
The Marquis of Durham answered
the man. The port is now in possess
sion of his Majesty's troops, and l de-
mand your surrender. You have fif-
teen minutes to deliver your sword in
person to the commandant Of the castle.
On expiration of that time, ifthe sum;
mons is not obeyed, the batteries will
be opened upon you.' a.# !"
Come on board said /: and as the
skipper of the merchant ship and the
boats crew reached the deck, order
ed them under arrest. From these
men we learned the facts, which were
these: The little squadron of Ameri-
can men of war had merely entered the
port for supplies, the batteries not be-
ing sufficiently manned to prevent their
entrance. The little garrison had cs-
capped to the hills, till the sailing ofthe
ships, when they again returned and
took up their old quarters. The large
merchant ship, we had mistaken for
the American frigate, had arrived that
afternoon, having outsailed the con-
voyed squadron Of British West India
men, to which she belonged.
We now perceived that the object of
the British merchantmen was to drop
out of range of the guns of the fort,
while we should remain fast grounded
on the shoal, and exposed to their
shots, when the first discharge from
heavy cannon would have knocked US
into splinters.
Every man on board was aware of
the immediate danger we were in, but
they were brave fellows, and waited as
cody for my orders, as if we hal been
at sea in pursuit Of a chase.
THAT fellow yonder, sir, is drop
ping from his BERTH said one Of my
officers.
looked toward the Englishman and
could see that she had hove home her
anchor; and boats were out with a line,
hauling her head round towards the
outer harbor; and the other craft in
harbor beyond, were also evidently in
motion.
Get out the boats, Mr.. Richmond,'
said to my first mate; we'll overhaul
that boat. There's but one chance
left for us. Well have to leave the
schooner to her fate, and transfer our
people to that vessel. Possibly we
may do SO before the fort opens upon
49,, Nok I'll b.,do raodv for hoo rdi n vp