The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-06-17


man must have hoisted her out just as she
stood, glad to get rid of everything that
had weight /; for at the time she went over
board our twenty-four pound balls were
skipping unpleasantly near.
|, We pulled obliquely toward the shore, in
direction away from the ship but re-
solved not to land until morning. Mean
while the land breeze began to spring up,
and we knew that the Yarmouth would
stand away. When daylight appeared we
saw party of English mariners on shore,
and over point of land rose the masts Of
small schooner at anchor. OF course, we
had now to put straight out to sea.
The Yarmouth was entirely out of sight,
for we had rowed many miles along the
coast. There were two porpoise-irons
lying in the boat, and with one Of these we
killed a porpoise in school which came
round us. We had, however, no water,
but as the sky thickened we hoped for rain.
There had, indeed, been shower every
day since the ffigate left Barbados. Soon
we saw the schooner in pursuit Of us, but
she moved slowly with the slight breeze,
and we had long start. M
In the afternoon it rained very hard, and
by one contrivance and another we caught
several gallons Of water, preserving it in
four shecpskins which happened to be
in the boat, and which told tale of some
excellent soups that had whilom reioiced
the French privateersmen. With porpoise
and water we were now secure from imme-
diate famine, as was our intention, when
night should again cover our movements, to
alter our course and make for the island of
Guadaloupe, about eighty miles distant.
That night, however, we had squalls
from the southwest, directly from Guada-
loupe itself and against the usual course of
the northeast trade wind. We could run
only before the wind and sea, and about
daybreak the boat capsized. We succeed
ed in righting her, but it was impossible to
free her from water, and we clung to the
gunwales, feeling that all was over.
| Suddenly, in the gray breaking morning,
we saw dusky object close upon us, and
high above, in relief against the sky, rose a
ships topgallant-masts. With all our
might we shouted:
+" Ship ahoyr'
Then there was patter of feet on deck,
and the ship came up in the wind with her
afteryards aback. With great difficulty
her boat succeeded in reaching us. The
light had now broadened, and passing close
under her bow, read upon her weather
headboard the name " "Onondago."
The meeting of Cathal with his parents
, ] need not describe, further than to say IL
was Joy unspeakable.
found the Onondaga new ship,
launched since my absence from home, and
bya singular coincidence owned by an
uncle of mine, with whom had through
all my boyhood been great fayorite. He
was now on board the vessel, having been
in her to Pernambuco. ,1.,.
o"She is an excellent ship, said Captain
O'Hara, "but she will hardly sail with my
old brig st. Patrick. Why, that brig was
) the fastest vessel that ever sailed from
, Londonderry. The French have made a
privateer of her, and have been expect
/ ing to exchange compliments with her evei
since we came mp with the Windward
, Islands. t,
a ID The 0nondago was armed with six guns
/. and for fear Of the French, she was manned
Q with double complement Of men, sixteer
haf N nfotn 10 txus
0 mates, a boatswain, the cook and my uncle
!. increased the number to twenty-five; yet
Q the ship was only three hundred and sixt.
d tons. Myself and shipmates now furnished
{ twelve hands additional, raising the entir
: complement of the Onondaga's crew b
d thirty y-four. alfT iaefle..f
Succeeding the squally night came dul
n fog, and az noon q vessel was reporte'
" close aboard Of us. Her captain hailed Il
Il broken English, informing us that his YES
n sci was French merchantmen in distress
|. Our commander, however, was not to
q deceived, and he instantly prepared for
a more formidable visitor. From the light
ness Of tho wind, the vessels moved bu
n slowly, and brief parley was in progress
" when suddenly the Frenchman, who ha
q the weather gage, put up his helm an
- run us on board. Instantly his dec
"A swarmed with men, and they made a rus
a. for our ship yelling as they came.
at But we were ready for them. Three {
% our great guns were fred into their mid
ct with terrible effect and then springing
h. the bulwarlxs, we met them cutlass in hant