New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-09-12

NUMBER SEVEN,

into the German Ocean, i'll the year 1916 that
is in the month Of May, singular to relate
we were then threatened with danger which
has since disappeared from the oceans. That
was the appearance of Tunisian OF Alger-
inc corsair or pirate, who under the protec-
ton of the Barbary flags still visited all the
European seas, and had even yentured into
these Northern latitudes seldom frequented
by such rowing men of war Nay, to the
dishonor Of all christepdom it must be said,
the three Barbary powers, Tunis, Tripoli and
Algiers, had found not only protectors in
some of the maratime powers, but it was
broadly insinuated, at one time, that Great
Britain parposely favored these sea rovers,
in order to frighten from the navigation of the
Mediterranean and other oceans, such unpro-
tected flags, as the Hanseatic ones, under one
of which, the Hamburg flag The brig Angelica
was then sailing. However this may be,
we had the good luck to escape the prying
visit Of this audacious Alger'ne OF Tunisian;
Of whom the papers of the time made a
great noise, as having captured good many
merchant vessels, which had to ransom them
in former times, up to the French conquest
Of Algiers; since which period we have no
longer seen anything approaching the famous
exploits of these Barbaric powers.
When we approached, however, the West
Indian waters, there was again some anxiety
on the part Of the captain of cur vessel, with
respect to Cathagenian and other Spanish
main priyateers,. sailing, ostensibly, against
the Spanish commerce, but who it was said
would not ee very nice in discriminating be-
tween a neutral flag, should the coveted prize
happen to be a valuable one At least, soeve
We're assured by one Capt Winkleman, who,
having been long in the West India trade end
navigation from the States, had made a voyage
home to Germany and happened to be pass
enger on board of the Angelica, thus return
ing also to New Orleans In later times that
is, in the years 1921 and 1922, when We came
back to Louisiana from voyage to our native
city of Hamburg, we happened to have sight
of these much apprehended Carthagenian sea
rovers. It is true the cargo on board of our
vessel, also under the neutral Hamburg flag,
presented but little to tempt these cruisers,
S15Ss EIC4LIfsSs VIC 1l414G A1dNG IdIGll SOQSlLll3
worse; as it was, the captain of the formidable
schooner, f1gged out in the shape of man-of-
war, took from Us some provisions, barrels of
flour, pork and hams, under the plea that he
was short of rations, which we had no pains
in believing, for the men, a most motley set of
il-tayored creatures of all nations, com
plexions, colors and features looked exceed
ingly lank and like staryelings in their nearly
naked costumes.
We remember that our captain, whose name
was Koehler, and who had performed many a
voyage, as he assured us, to the East Indies
did not at all seem assured when first
that suspicious looking water craft hove in
sight. We ewere then near the island of Jamaica,
and had just come out from the strait between
St. Domingo and the south side of the island
of Cuba. The sea was perfectly smooth, and
there was hardly breeze enough for the vessels
sailing along-this was in the latter part of
December, 1921. Now, our ship was a three
master, the crew consisted of some twenty
men before the mast, captain, mate and two
passengers, with steward and cook, and cabin |
Boys, made up the rest. All of us might have
aiken up arms, for there was a whole arsenal
N board the ship, besides two six or twelve |
upon deck But when one of the
,assengers suggested to the captain that it
rould be better to make some defense than to
anlely surrender to such contemplate look
lg schooner, the captain shook his head and
Did us it would be Of no use to show any fight
} these people, whom he had already sur
eyed by his spy glass from the vessels
last head. He told us that with a strong
ind our vessel might have tried to sink them.
J running or sailing over them but under
he small breath of breeze then stirring we
rould soon see how their water craft would
lay with us. And 50 it turned out.
Although our ship, with all her sails set
lade hardly any progress, the privateer with
My two sails set on her spanker bow, sported
4 the water and ran round our ship as if it
ad been party Of pleasure for them, while
Il on board Of our heavy three-master were
'aiting for the final denouement. This we
ave already stated for after saluting us with I,
couple Of signal guns, so as to let us
neil their powder, and ordering the captain
18th his papers to their side, they dispatched
small boat, with a lieutenant and some half
dozen searecrows, who searched the cabin
nd hold of the vessel all over, broke open ]
ome boxes and packages, but upon signal
ON headquarters, finally returned, as already
amed, with only some hundred pounds of h
royisions, for which they offered some |
RATS upon Spanish Main firms but which the '
lptain very thankfully declined, telling them
ley We're welcome to these provision supplies.
he fact is that every body felt somewhat re-
eyed when the rather unprepossessing- /
olsing customers had left our ship, and we '
ere again underweigh towards the Cape Saint |
ntonio, to steer across the gulf for the t
outh of the Mississippi,
When first the schooner hove in sight, t
lere seemed to be but very few men on S
oard of her; but when close up to the ships t
de, the crew of this sea rover sprang upon L
leir feet and nearly covered the whole deck; t
lere could not have been less than some $50 t
200 men, of the most ferocious looking L
ripe. Well, our captain, a most powerful S
Id colossal man, who during the whole voy-
se had not been cast out of his character or t
mper, in the midst of some very tempes-
MS assaults in which the shin 1hst mart 0f i