The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-07-07


tween the sea and the mainland, and |
giving protected water communica-
tion from Galveston to the Rio Grande.
These bays are interrupted by shoals,
yet a large trade was carried on by light
draft schooners, who loaded up the
creeks with cotton, and then crept along
down the coast, until, finding some one
OF the passes unguarded, they would
dodge out to sea and cut away for q mar
ket; and my principal duty was to
break up this trade.
j learned from my officers that Padre
Island, on one side of the entrance TO
Aranzas Pass, was uninhabited, and that
he 1rthHr'S crew were in the habit of
landing here whenever they saw fit.
The lighthouse had been partially de-
stroyed by the Rchs at the outbreak of
the war; but the tower was yet stand
ing, in dilapidatcd condition. From
our mast-heads we could overlook the
island, and see into the bay; and not a
vestige of habitation could be seen, and
not even bullock came in sight for the
two first days after / anchored.
Sunday was lovely day, and I be-
gan to have longing to stretch myle6s
on dry land again; so, after consulting
with Mr.. Lane, / ordered my gig man
ned and armed, and invited my surgeon
to accompany me on trip ashore. He
accepted at once, and, recommending
one of our quartermasters as an excellent
pilot for the bar, took him as my cox
swain, and showed off for a little Sum
day excursion.
We had very little wind, and soon
pulled in over the bar, on which there
was good sea running, notwithstand-
ing the light breeze. Across the bar
we pulled costly up between the two
islands that form the pass, scarce half Il
mile in width, and soon landed upon
the small island upon which the light
house stands, where we beachcd the
boat, and began strolling about. No
appearance of life was visible, and in
deed there was little reason to expect
inhabitants on these sand-strips, scparat-
cd from the mainland by Matagorda
Bay, three miles wide in this part.
My men amused themselves as only
sailors penned up in Il ship for months
can understand; to them it was rclaxa-
ton to feel the firm earth beneath their
feet, to roll in the grass, to chase each
other like school-boys out for Il holiday,
and to skip shells into the clear waters
of the bay.
Taking the surgeon and my coxswain
with me, l started to examine the light
house. This l found rather difficult
feat, as the Rebs had nearly destroyed
the iron staircase used to ascend to the
lantern. However, by considerable en-
erton, I managed to Chamber up, aided
by old Knox and arranging my glass,
prepared for view of the country. My
first glance was naturally soaward,
where my vessel lay, rising and falling
to the seas, four miles away to the north
ward. / turned inland, and gazing tC
the westward, saw, to my satisfaction,
Il schooner, with an unmistaliuble deck
load of cotton, beating down the bay
from the direction of Corpus Christi.
"IIa, ha, my fine fellow! you think
to slip out tonight, under cover of the
darkness, no doubt. / think ! shall So
cure you, at any rate, through my after.
noon's frolic!" and | swept my glas,
round to the southwark, and so out to-
; ward the sea.
: "By Jove! 1t can't be possible
; They are, by all that's pcrpleXingw ~
These words burst from my lips as
caught sight of cluster of most un
. doubted tents, nicely hidden from view
} in little valley upon Madre Island
g while a few yards from them was ;
' cluster of gray coats, busily engaged il
dragging two brass guns down the is
: land, with the very evident intention o
cutting off my retreat.
| Robinson Crusoe's surprise and horrO
: at discovering the footsteps in the sane
: of his island Was not greater than miu'
l at this moment. Capture seemed in
: evitablc; but, beyond that, l saw th'
disgrace that would await me at hom
!, when the story should be told there;
f captain caught, like a fox in Il trap
i ashore from his ship, on frolic. "Oh
: the deuce! this would never do"
t / was not long making my desccn
n from the tower, you can surmise, for
= saw there was but one hope for escape
d and that lay in speed. five could onl.
l. reach the bar before they succeeded il
d dragging their guns by hand-for I say
d they had no horses-tO the point,
:. would shove the boat through the break
= ers, and take my chance Of swampini
l. in the passage.
Il | did not breathe word to discourag
l. my men till l had hurried them int
II the boat, and showed of, when l en-
e lightcned them in very few words.
+ "Give way strong now, men; w
81 must reach the bar before they get thos
II guns in position, or we are booked fo
e Houston Jail! Gi way for you
] lives"
1t They buckled to their oars with vii
Y and the gig fairly flew through tn
ID water; yet to me she seemed to creep lill
TO a tortoise,
4 "Spring to her, boys; pull for you
:. lives! We are gaining on them, | tc
ID youW and | checrcd them on, whilC
he with straining muscles, they threw a
he their energies into the race for liberty.
n We had almost reached the poin
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