Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-05-27
MI5ttll
Cruise OF the Sea-Gull.

ltwas IN the wear 1920. that !
found mysci hard-up. penniless and
almost starving in the city Of Havana,
| had lcu Boston A. master OF a small
top, all schooner bound to the south
sidc Of Cuba. and when in the vicini-
" oi Cape Antonio had been boarded
bv a gang OF cu,-throais. who muir
dcrcd NV crew. burnt NV little YES
sci. and ! saved nv own lite by ac-
ccpiing a proposal 10 join them. Ii
wa the only alternative, and | re
solved 10 make INV escape whenever a
good opportunity should occur. |
had not long 10 wait. for shortly after
the destruction OF my vessel, they re-
turned to their stronghold and car
ried what treasure there wa on board
ashore 10 the captains hut. These
fellows had little town there. with
creole wives and children. | made
good use ot nv ewes when entering
the channel, and noted the bearings
OF the land. sounds. &c. This little
town was situated directly behind
Cape Antonio, securely hidden from
view by any passing vessel. and the
channel was strongly guarded by an
old hulk III, uniting formidable bat
terv.
was allowed 10 20 on shore in
common with the rest Of the crew.
A carouse followed, and amid the
scene of confusion that ensued, !
made nv escape. and finally reached
Havana after suffering terrible priva-
tions bv the wav After some trouble
and DELAY. | a, last succeeded in. OBJ
tanning passage on board n small
craft bound 10 Boston. and after a
quick passage arrived in safety.
| immediately proceeded To the Of
fee OF my employers. who had long
since given me up for lost. having
heard that the schooner had been cap
tured. and all Lands murdered. As
briefly a possible gave them an idea
of what had been through, and they
eztered eagerly into plan which l
proposed TO set aioot immediatsly-
which was TO procure vessel suitable
for being fitted out as privateer, and
when e. ervthing was in preparation
TO apply 10 government tor letter OF
Iuarque and proceed on a cruise against
the piratical horde now infesting the
West India waters. l tickled the
imagination of my owners by describ-
ing 10 them the hidden treasures bur-
led bv these fellows. and the immense
amount Of booty that might be OBJ
tanned on such cruise ; and | am
happy to say they were possessed of
good sense as well as actis s., and
within thirty hours had the satisfac
ton OF seeing Baltimore clipper
bark of about one thousand tons bur
den, being towed across the harbor to
a shipvard. where sne would under
90 the necessary repairs and altera-
ations. /. OF course, being one OF
the most interested parties concerned
.uperintended personally the altera-
tions of a craft Of which would soon
walk the deck As master.
In five weeks the bark was trans
formed into one Of the handsomes,
privateers that ever ffoated on sal
water. She was called the Sea Gull
and rivaled the gracefulness ane
beauty OF that bird as she rested Oh
the broad bosom Of the bay. Sh'
was painted black, relieved by . mar
row ribbon Of red, The hull wa
long and low, having an exceedinsl.
snakish look about her. The spar
raked beautifully, the mizzen roya
truck being plump with the taffrall
She was lofty, spread an imm'n'