Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-05-07
THE CHANCE SHOT.


along the Southeastern coast OF Spain ,bo-
tween Cape de Gata and the Hives Ebro
keeping bright lookout for a couple Of
brigs, one English and the other an Amer
lean; which, for more than a month past
had been expected at Toltosa, with arms
and munitions of war for the Carists, who
o. that time held nearly all she mountain
passes along the terrace Of Valencia, and
Catalonia.
We had boon instructed by the Carlist
Commander-in.chief, to cruise along the
coast, until the arrival Of the briggs, to
whom we were to afford protection from
the nenerons gn0rl9 co,t0s, and two or
three heavier armed Spanish cruisers which
were constantly ON the alert 10 cut off and
capture, any vessels bound into either of
the ports between Carhagena and Bar
celou which we're nominally upder block
ade.
Our Graf. was a beautiful Baltimore
built hrigantine, Of about Que hundred and
reventy tons register, not quite SO Cd! ack,
strait, and low in the water" as Ingra-
ham, "suspicious looking schooners and
brightness ARRAYS are but nevorthe-
less, she was a most magnificent craft
and, with her armament Of eight or twelve
pounds barkers, and beautiful playing
amidship, in the shape of long, bras.
ihlrty-two, mouutad on a pivot; together
with picked crew OF sixty brave lellows !;
the coquetti,h little "Modesta," had in the
very short space of fifteen days, acquired
a reputation which invariably sent the
Spanish costAs away before her under ev-
cry inch of canvass, cracking OH every
'hing for the nearest port, whenever We
hove in eight.
The commander OF the brigan;ine, Cap.
tain Wcstlcy Benncr, was an American,
every inch sailor, very good looking.
JUS: twenty-four years old, and 40 brave,
generous soul rs ever walked quarter.
deck, or looked nor westcr in the face
Captain Benner, or "West," a. he cl ose
to be called b. US, who were quite familiar
with him, had served for nearly two
years as lieutenant in the Spanish navy ;
and some eighteen months prcviou. to the
time where my story commenced, he had
maze the acquaintance Of beautiful Girl.
The daughter of rich old Don a. Vacn-
cia and rumor said that they were en-
gagged TO each other. BE that as it may il
is very certain, that one day about three
mouths previous, "West', had demanded
leave ofabSencc for few days for the
purpose Of visiting Valencia
The Admiral Of the Spanish feet at
Cad'z thought proper to refuse the re
quest, whrreupom the lieutenant immedi-
ately threw up his commissions and two
weeks afterwards, he was in command ol
Don Car. .os armed brigaiuc in the harbor
Of Gibraltar. Il was about an hour before
sunrise Of the sixteenth day, that We tack.
ed ship close in under the bold rocky
hcadland OF Cape Mao, with tho Intention
oil beating up the coast as far as AIicsnt
or perhaps Carthagena, wien it was the
purpose OF our commander to square away
for some one Of the BalearIc Islands, aud
lay i'll fresh supply Of wood, water, Sc.
The wind was blowing very heavy
in squalls, and we were banging away at
it. uuder short canvass, carrying only
double rcefod topsails, with three reel, in
our huge mainsai!, one in the iorccoursc,
and storm jib.
l had the deck, during tho morning
watch, from four to eight and, as ,tood
.herc on the weather quarter, just after We
had gone in stays, | heard some one hail
the brigantinc from direction very near.
assern, and apparently close aboard OF
us, | leaned over the law taffrail, and
pecred out into the darkness with my night,
glass, but | could discover rolhiag, aud
b d just turned to walk forward, when
the hail rung out again loud and clear,
right aStern.
"Modesta, ahoy |"
SAY, ay - l replied, through my
speaking trumpet, what do you want :"
"lleaye to, for Gods sake ! we have a
message for the Captain Bcnncr' and wish
to come alongside" :"
This communication was made in Span
, ish; and fearing that it might be some
trich of the enemy to surprise us; l con
eluded not to hsave TO until had inform
ed the Captain of what was going on. Bul
] was spared that trouble, for just as |
turned to 60 below, that individual made
} bis appearance on deck; and the moment
that he caught the sound of the stranger .
yoice-Who still continued IN SING ont like