The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-04-27
EMPORIA, KANSAS, SATURDAY. APRIL 81. 1861.

should remain fast grounded on the shoal.
and exposed to their shots, when the first
discharge from their heavy cannon would
lave knocked us into splinters.
Every man on board was aware of the
immediate danger we were in, and waited
as coolly for my orders as if we had been
at sea in pursuit of a chase.
"That fellow yonder, sir, is dropping
from his BERTH" said one of my officers.
1 looked toward the Englishman. and
could see that she had hove home her an
choFs and boats were out with line, haul
ing her head round toward the outer harb0r;
the other craft in the hat Dor beyond was
also evidently in motion.
s'Get out the boats, Mr.. Richmond" said
/ to my first mate; well overhaul that
chap. There's but one chance left for US,
Well have to leave the schooner to her fate.
and transfer our people to that vessel. Pos
sibly we may do so before the fort opens
upon us. Get all hands ready for board
ing !''
Hardly was the order communicated to
the men, than with cheer they sprang into
the boats. and were ready to pull away for
the merchantmen.
But at that instant. as good fortune would
have it, a sudden flaw of wind struck our
sails. The little vessel yielded to the breeze,
and careening sufficiently to clear her keel
from the sand, foated Immediately into deep
water.
A loud huzza now broke from the men.
which, regardless of the consequences to the
shipping beyond US, provoked shot from
the castle, which passed harmlessly over
our stern.
Away, my hearties.' - shouted to the
boarders. ''Get possession of the English
man, and all will be right %
While the boats were pulling in the d.
rection of the ship, the schooner, under the
influence of the freshening breeze. bore down
upon them and as the boarders clambered
up the sides of the English vessel. upon the
larfoard. the privateer ran into her main
rigging on the starboard side. thus bring
ing her up between US and the guns of the
castle.
knew that all the fortifcati lions of the
port were upon that side of the harbnr. and
intended TO keep under the shelter of the
ship till beyond the range of the guns of
| the shore batteries, as we'll as those of the
castle. as the main fort was called.
We obtained possession of the ship with
out struggle, and, forcing the English
sailors to assist in working the ship. soon
made sail and were running through the
outer harbor before the enemy suspected
the ruse we were playing.
In the meantime, the fortunate land
breeze, which was bearing US from the dan
gerous proximity of the shore, also lifted
the vapors which had been hanging over
the water and shipping, showing to the as
tonished and doubtless greatly chagrined
people of the place, that not only hrd the
ship changed her position, but the priva-
teer also. The latter, they had no doubt,
was fast aground, as had been reported to
them and when they discovered us sailing
| side by side out of The harbor, the truth
seemed to flash upon them-the Yankee
was running away with the ship!
The forts now opened upon US, and a line
Of fire belched forth from the castle, but
without effect. as we were by this time be-
yond range of it. Not so, however, with the
shore batteries upon the tongue of land
making out from the outer harbor; for we
were scarcely pistol-shoG from the mouths
of their cannon, and the heavy shot struck
with crushing effect into the hull, and
among the spars Of the prize. Occasionally
one, passing through the sails and rigging
of the ship, would make an ugly wound in
some one OF our upper spafS. Out our nun
was completely protected by the large mer-
chairman, as our decks were scarcely on a
level with her deep water-liHe.
The breeze continued to freshen as we
ran out of the harbor, and in few minutes
we were beyond the reach of the shot
though the enemy continued much longer
| to pound away at US in vain.
- I now boarded the prize which had been
the means of our wonderful escape. She
was terribly cut up, and many of her crew
were lying dead and wounded upon her
decks.
While I was giving proper directions fol
the care of the latter, Mr.. Richmond. who
bee examining the condition of the hull.
came 10 me and reported that the ship was
| sinking.
We lost no time in huIrying the English
crew. with their effects. on board the pri-
vateer and scarcely had we sailed thou
sand yards from the richly freighted mer-
chairman, when. with lurch. and stag
gering motion like drunken man, she went
down, aud the ocean claimed the noble prize
as his own.
Four days after this singular night ad-
venture. the Yankee was lying snugly un-
der the walls of the Moro, in The harbor oil
Havana.