Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-03-03
Selected slistellany.
CARREBA, THE PIRATE.
A Desperate Encounter.

desperate hhCOuhSoE'
once had the misfortune, while yet a
MILDLY" to fall into the clutches of Car
reba, the Pirate Chief, who at that time was
known from the Canary Isles to the Capes
of Florida, as being one of the most daring
as we'll as the most successful treebooters
that ever hoated over the broad Atlantic.
| had been appointed to berth in the old
Constitution, then cruising in the West
India Islands, and was forcedDto take pas
sage in small merchantmNT II be-
tween Charleston and PORTO ~, II ip order
the more speedily to join my shif
Our captain was hale, bluff old y log
who had weathered more gales than I mad
counted years, and who was fond OF spin
ming long yarns. was much entertained
by this quality in him, as we walked the
deck together, while nearing the lower lati-
tudes, where we found light breezes and
pleasant weather He was apt to speak of
his personal exploits witha braggadocio air.
that to one unaccustomed as l then was
to the shippers fancies, seemed to me not
only marvellous but true. 1t is difficult
for me now to recall the number of battles
that he had been engaged in the names OF
the pirates he had slain, OF the names of
the vessels in which he had distinguished
conversations, said to him:
But those times have passed, Captain
Willis. There are no pirates now"
He looked at me some time in silence,
with view to detect on my countenance
some expression that would belle my
words. But as | really thought as 1 had
said, his glance went for nothing.
"Why bless your landlubbers heart, he
replied, when satisfied. I'm course there
are pirates now, and powerful nasty ones,
tool May 1 lose the number of my mess, il
| don't expect to fall in with some of the
sharks this cruise"
Fall in with pirates;" exclaimed, in
surprise, 'and this trip, too!''
aye my lad-but I hope you aren't af-
raid, be your"
"Airaidl oh, mol am anxious to see o
real pirate"
"0h, you be, Ell? Well, youngster, you'll
haul in your stun sails if you ever do come
athwarv the bows of one of them free ira
ders. You like to see one, eh? There's
one cruising all the way from the Canaries
to the Gulf-up and down the coast, that
it would shiver your toplights to see."
who is he? what do you call him?"
Hes known to us as Carreba, the Anti
qua buccaneer. He's dare devil, and
wouldn't show his heels-no, not to one of
Uncle Sans frigates. He commands taut
little craft, and handles her as I would a
marlin-spike,
"And have you ever Glanced to meet
him?" Inquired.
Meet him, youngster? In course I have
recollect some three years ago, when l
had the Bouncing Fanny and on voy-
age to the Azores and market, while laz-
lily creeping along on the edge of the trade
winds, falling in with this same pest of the
sea. May never splice the main brace
again, if l wasn't allowed to meet him face
to face"
'And what did you do2 Made all sail.
Hauled out your bowlines and rue, eh?"
NO sirt hauled aback, and waited for
him to run down, Just as should do now
1T he should appear. RUM You don't
know Captain Willis. He runs from no
man.
Would You then face him if he should
appear now?"
"Of course | would Haven't we got a
long Tom in the bows, and stern chas-
er' to boot? Then look at our armament
cutlasses, pistols, and boarding pixies
enough for any emergency,
"Sail ho" cried the man aloft.
The fussy Dragging captain turned pale
with fright ~ he inquired:
where away2"
"rhree points off the weather bow"
"What does she look ike?"
"a low, long, black schooner, a SLAYER
reckon, bound to Cuba"
Its Caneba / know it" cried the ex-
cited captain. Square the yards. Keep
her away, you man St the wheel. Quick,
put her before the wind"
"Why, captain, | demonstrated, "where
is your bravery You were anxious to meet
him"
"Ay, boy, butnot on this tack. We will
come about soon.
l saw at once that he was coward. His
orders were obeyed, and soon we were sail
ing with free sheet directly before the
wind Itook seat upon the .topsail
yard, and with the ships glass watched the
motions of the stranger, who had by this
time come fully in sight.
Captain Willis, / said, ''now is the
time for you to haul aft your sheets and lay
to the wind. This vessel is coming down
upon u.s."
He did not answer me, but shouted, at
the top of his voice:
''Lay aloft there and rig outthem stun
sail booms. Quick, men, or we are lostl'
Then turning to me, he said, apologeti-
cally:
81 have too valuable o cargo to risk the
chances with him. Besides, / must not, as
faithful commander, run my crew, small
rs it is, into any danger. But we shall
meet him on our return; then, ifhe is cruis-
ing here, let him beware Of mel'
| was disgusted with his evasion, and
almost boy as was, determined to take
by appealing to the men, and
light Carreba myself should it, indeed, be he.
Meanwhile, il became evident that the
chooner was nearing US, and ii was mere
natter Of time and the relative qualities of
b. two vessels, whether or not we should
70 overhauled. Again urged the captain
D reconsider his act, but with dignity i'll
ecoming his trembling accents, he then
piled, 'My reasons have been given =
ow dare / basely betray my trustp The
yners Of this vessel have q right to de-
and that | should use every effort to save
VI, and / shall do so. :"
Then, sir, you will not only have the
edit Of having attempted On escape but
n will also have to give up the ship; for
o this crnft is close aboard Of us, oven
w. Come, Sir Valiant, haul down your
8 and surrender ut discretion
was not prepared for the readiness dis
iyed by the poltroon in netting upon my
mark What l had uttered in badinage,
seized upon as advice. tft SKI II.
We'll, SIR, II you think we had better
ID without imperiliDg the lives of the
", y am forced TO follow your advice.-
ul back the emainyard.Y 1t5ts