The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-04-27
A PRIVATEER'S STORY.

III Tic HAT DOF vi OESDdud, d1Q tile IdTEO"
escape from capture of the noted privateer
the Yankee" of Bristol, Rhode Island,
has never before, to my knowledge, been
save in the log book of that for
tunate little cruiser.
will therefore tell the story in the words
Of the brave old commander, as l gathered
it from his own lips:
1t was in The last week of December.
1919. (said Captain Wilson and while
we were running up TO Havana, that we
fell in with Newport cruiser, who reported
that the island, or rather the port OF st.
George Town, was, at that moment. IN the
occupancy of the Americans that he had
sailed from the place only two days before,
and left in the harbor one of our frigates
and two sloops of war, while tie stars and
stripes were flying from the flagstaff of the
old fort. The same day boarded Span
ish droger. the skipper of which had seen
the vessels of war sailing into port at the
time stated by the privateersman.
What object our fleet could have had in
taking formal possession of this insignit-
cant place, could not imagine, unless it
was for the sake of obtaining fresh supplies.
At all events, was glad 10 hear of it, as
myself was in need of fresh provisions.
con, luded to make the harbor, and purchase
such supplies as might require.
1t was night before we made the land !:
but as was acquainted with the entrance
of the harbor OF st. George Town. did not
fire gun for pilot, but kept boldly on
into the outer port.
The night was dark. and a hazy mist
hanging over the water rendered the OBJ
security so great that no object could be
seen a couple of cable lengths off. My
sharpest sighted youngsters were constantly
on the look out, but no vessels were to be
seen, as we glided slowly and silently past
the shore batteries and the fort beyond, into
the smooth water of the inner bay.
AS we reached this point, the haze, lift
ing little, showed US, at a little distance.
the faint outlines O. large ship, which l
doubted not was the American frigate and
liltle beyond several other smaller vessels
could be distinguished.
Scarcely had we made this discovery.
when the people on board this ship were
made aware of our approach, ard hailed us.
inquiring who we were.
The American privateer Yankee"
replied. what ship is that ?"
No answer was returned, and, supposing
the question was not heard, waited till we
had run further into the harbor before re-
peated it.
We had passed between the fort and the
ship, and were in the act of Chewing up,
when a voice from the other vessel cried
out d.:
"Luff luff, there-the privateer %
Surprising, naturally enough, that we
were running into shoal water, shouted to
the man at the wheel:
Hard down your helm %
"Aye aye! sir ~
Scarcely was the order obeyed, when the
schooner, answering to the helm, showed
her bows deep and fast on to sand bank,
where she remained immovable.
This, of course. Immediately excited our
suspicious that all was not right, for the
pretended caution to "luff'' was doubtless
ly given to produce exactly the result it
had. ...r
''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 1 am greatly mista-
ken"
Eve no doubt of it myself. sir, now.
The treacherous knaye 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"
''But it's strange, though, that prisoner
should be permitted to mislead vessel en-
teriug port
At this moment boat was seen to leave
the ship, and, pulling good distance
around our stern, made directly for the mole
under the fort.
Scarcely ten minutes elapsed after the
landing of the boat, when all was in COM
motion III the fort. The drums beat to
quarters, and men with lanterns were run
ming in every direction. while we could also
perceive that the crew of the ship near us
were silently preparing to drop from the
berth. We could hear the sounds Of their
capstan bars as they shipped and unshipped
them, in the act of heaving home the an
Choir.
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 various prizes we had
sent home during our heretofore successful
cruise, were called to quarters, and all were
ready TO act as the emergency might re-
Quire.
In the meantime a boat left the ship. and
approaching the schooner. The crew attempt
"a w S,taASO ~ wi ONt hCPS tuCul
at bay. while demanded to know where
the American frigate lay.
"She sailed yesterday" was the answer.
"And the sloops of war ?'' inquired.
They all left the port together" replied
the officer.
"What ship is that 81 next asked.
''The Marquis of Durham answered
the man. tine port is now in the passes
sion of His Maiesty's troops, and demand
your surrender. You have fifteen minutes
to deliver your sword in person to the com,
mandant of the castle. On the expiration
Of that time, il the summons is not obeyed,
the batteries will he opened upon you"
Come on board" said 1; and as the
skipper of the merchant ship and the boat =
crew reached the deck. ordered them un-
der arrest. From these men we learned the
facts, which were these: The little squad
ron of American men-ofwar had merely
entered the port for supplies, the batteries
not being sufficiently manned to prevent thei,
entrance. The little garrison had taken t.
the hills. till the sailing of the ships, when
they again returned and took up their OLE
quarters. The large merchant vessel We
had mistaken in the obscuritv of the fog