The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-10-04
CATCHING A CORSAIR.

!
Il prisoners by the bandits of Greece
brings to mind the effective service
against the pirates of the Grecian Archi-
pelago rendered by the late Commodore
Lawrence Kearney, of the United States
Navy, in the early part of the present
century. So successful were its efforts,
that he received highly complimentary
mention in the British Parliament
There were many adventures which
befell the officers Of the ship, the old
sloop-of-war Warren while engaged in this
service, some of which were very exciting
as will appear from the following rela-
ton.
There was considerable excitement in
the hamlet which lies at the head of the
little land-locked bay of Milo, one morn
ing, when the Warren appeared off the
entrance of the harbor with the evident
intention of coming into port
There was light breeze blowing from
seaward, and as the ship headed in, with
all sails set, the sunlight cleaning on the
broad field of white canvas, the picture
was grand and beautiful
In few moments a rumbling of chains
was heard, then the sudden splash Of the
anchor, and as if without an effort she
folded her wings and swang around to
her moorings, with nothing aloft but the
delicate tracery Of rigging and spars from
which the nimble sailors were fast hur-
rying to the deck
Before night great change had taken
place in the appearance of the vessel
Yards have been sent down, masts hous-
ed, and general dismantling, as if for
long stay in port, and thorough over
hauling of the ship had taken place.
1t was not altogether idle curiosity
which caused the inhabitants of the ham
let to watch so closely the proceedings on
board. In the first place, the stay of a
man-ofwar in port is always source of
profit and, in the next, the movements
Of the dreaded Warren were of too much
importance to the pirates to escape the
closest espionage by their agents and
spies
The signs of an intention to remain
some time in the harbor were therefore
gratifying in a double sense, and before
night swift felucca had sailed from the
other side of the island for one of the pi-
rates rendezvous in an adjacent island
with the welcome news.
That night there was music and re-
joicing on shore, in which some of the
sailors, who had gotten liberty" up
roariously joined.
1t was late before the inhabitants re-
tired to rest, and the first who arose next
morning naturally turned their thoughts
upon the war-ship. Where was She?
In vain they gazed over the harbor, rub
bed their eyes, and looked again. She
was nowhere to be seen.
With the midnight land-breeze, her
spars and rigging replaced, she had
spread her canvas and fitted away like a
shadow
The hamlet was soon astir, and in the
wonder and surprise of its inhabitants, it
was hours before the thought occurred
to send advice to the pirates of the oc-
currence. 1t was too late however to
avail them.
= Pou tlc lnlOIluuGlOu VI lnc previous
day, an expedition had sailed, and al
ready one of their largest and best man
ned war fuluccas was lowering on the
path Of the merchant-ships bound for
Smyrna
1t was late in the afternoon that a
large, heavy-laden ship was deserted from
the deck Of the corsair Her sails were
old and patched, her sides stained with
ironrust, her yards carclessly trimmed,
her rigging badly set up, and all the evi-
dence of long voyage and a rich car
go.
The felucca which was to windward
at once bore away for her; and, as
soon as his intention was perceived on
board the merchantman, his character
was suspected, and there was alarm ex-
hibited in her governments. The ship
was got before the wind, and sail after
sail slowly set, us if she was short handed.
1t appeared all too late, however; for the
corsair glided two knots to the merchant
mans one, and in little more than an
/ hour Shn Nune clnca ,,non tbo 1a+to,,v r.,,o,