The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-06-07
THE ENGLISHMAN'S EXPLOIT.
BY SYLVANUS COBB.


late the incidents that had come under
his own observation during our last strug-
gle with Great Britain. Among the
thousand and one stories that we have
heard fall from the lips Of that ocean
warrior, the following has remained fresh
in our memory:
On the western shore of Penobscot
bay, between Belfast and Camden, there
was small club of fshermen's cots in
habited by hardy set of men, who had,
been brought up amid the music Of
the breaking waves, and who knew no
fear beneath the power Of mortal man.
Foremost among these hardy children of
the sea, and occupying the station as
sort of ruler among them, was middle
aged man, named Enoch Nightingale, or,
as he was generally called, Captain Night
ingale and never was man better fit
ted by nature for the post he held by gen
eral consent than was he. Powerful and
athletic in his physical mould, bold and
fearless as the forest monarch, and frank
and generous in his social relations, he
was beloved and respected by all who
knew him. He was a jolly fellow too,
and often, as his small gray eyes twink
led in their merry mood, close observer
might have seen keen love Of practical
joking lurking in their cleaning depths.
At the time Of which we write, the
fishermen dared not venture far out to sea
for close blockade was kept along the
coast, and so they were forced to forcgo
the advantages of their best fishing
grounds but new idea had taken pos
session of their brains, and they had
thought of fitting out privateer against
the English. For two weeks had this
matter been talked over, and all the
arms necessary to personal welfare, had
been procured, but no vessel suitable for
the enterprise could be obtained, nor
could they raise guns heavy enough for
sea use, had they possessed the vessel
OF pistols and cutlasses they had enough,
and that was all, unless we add one old
iron six FOUNDER, which served as kind
of signal gun in cases of heavy fogs and
stormy nights.
1t was just at nightfall that Obed Night
ingale's shallop (Obed was the old mans
SOM, came up the bay, and as the young
man came on shore he reported that there
was an English topsail schooner, a clean
olipper-built craft, laying off and on be-
tween Manhegan and the Ledges. She
was heavily armed, and seemed to play
about in the water as though her heels
were made for running.
Now, Captain Enoch Nightingale had
said but very little about the various pro-
e jects that had been set on foot with regard
to the privateering expedition, but he had
thought great deal, and as soon as his
son communicated the above intelligence,
his thoughts came to focus. A plan of
operation was clearly marked out in his
mind, and he at once set out about the
work of putting it into effect. The man
who stood second to Captain Nightingale,
and who was, in fact, Nightngales first
mate, was Jabe Haskins, and upon him
the old man first called.
"Jabe," said the captain, "did you
know there was British Clipper just
outside 2"
Yes"
"Well, suppose we go out an take
her."
"Do Wdt ?"
"Take that Englishman.'
W-h-e-wW
"But Pm in earnest"
Jabe looked at Nightingale in utter as
tonishment.
81 can go out in my little Rhody an
take her before she knows where she is.
Now, will you help"
"I'll foller yer, cap'n, if yeou go to
thunder" was Jabe's hearty response, as
he saw the old man was in earnest.
Captain Nightingale took his mate by
the arm and led him off, The night was
dark, but still there was a busy scene on
board the schooner Rhody, which was the
heaviest fishing vessel in the place
Torches were cleaning and all the
night long, hammers and saws were send
ing forth their music, and when the
morning dawned, the Rhody was ready for
sea. The old iron signal gun had been
hoisted on board, and placed upon rude
sort of carriage amidships, and the cod