Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-01-28

leHpthe 80 - Aho sHt NN'N ~ NSH""eiy
MS could tc. Capt. Wait took his glass
aud went aloit. He could now see the
brig plainly. She was under easy sail,
and appeared to be lying to.
BY the course upon which the old
schooner was sailing, she would pass
only about three miles from the brig
and that too, before many minutes.
"lli-yir cried Wait There she
goes"
As he spoke n wreath of smoke curlud
up from the Enslishman's deck, and in \
moment moro the report OF heavy gen
came booming over the water.
Hes taken the bait :" shouted J.n.
kins.
Another and another gun doomed away
horu the deck OF the brig. 5ut the
schooner dill not stop. She dashed
ava, over the water with her flag flying.
and showed no disposition 10 obey tho
Britou's summons.
"llit Look cried Wait, as round
shot ploughcd up the water undsr the
stem oi the iiyin. schooner.
But this WAS not 10 last much longer.
The brig soon put up her helm aud bore
away, and cracked on all sail
Away went tho schooner, and away
went the brig Bang bang bang =
went tho Englshmsn's guns; and Lhe
Yankoc coaster seemed to ny the iastcr
But the brig was gaining rapidly. Ere
long ono OF her round shot tore the poor
"Eliza's" qusrtsr-r.l OF; aud next 4
shot struck her stern. Nearer and near.
VI came the brig and shot after shot
riddled the poor devoted schooner.
Presently her mainmsst went by the
board-thon her bowsprit dropped. and
finally she lay, a helpless, sinking, rotten,
useless mass upon the water. which must
soon open it, bosom to give her rest.
Meanwhile the Polly Ann" had run
up her anchor and made sail; and AS the
brig overlook her prize, the suoOessiul
Yankee MAS passing behind Seguin. In
n short time the vessel was left upon her
starboard quarter. and once more sho
was in full view OF the Englishman.
Lets heave to here little while. Just
10 see the lun," said Wait
Thi. was readily agreed to; Tor the
Polly Ann" was just in the mouth of the
river, with the wind fair for running her
up st any moment.
So the schooner was hove To, and all
hands gathered ait 10 watch the opera
tions Of the evening. Beside the heavy
guns which Wait had slowed away under
the main hatch. for the privatecrs. he
had lot Of muskcls lie had eight of
those brought up and loaded. and the
Yankee tlag got ready Tor running up
the main peak.
The brig WAS seen 10 overhaul the
poor, riddled, dsmasted hulk. and our
Yankees lancied they could almost hear
the British curse and swear. But won't
they cuss "a lcetle moro when they see
us ~ said jenkins.
"lreckon they wIlI," responded Capt.
Wait.
la a lew minutes lrom that time the
brig WAS seen 10 pul up her helm. and
4 very soon afterwards the old hulk gave u
lurch and went down.
They sec Us - clicd Wait, a The brig
put her head about
Aud so il would seem; lor tho man.o
wal not only put about. but her men
crowded upon her lorecHstle and gazed
OF To where the Yankee schooner lay.
Up went her studdingsails below and
alolt, and she came ploughing through
the water ut II swift rate.
At length she fired one of her bow
guns. and the ball fell directly beneath
the end of tho Yankees flying jib.boom.
"Up with the helm - cried Capt. Wait.
Haul over the main sheets Get ont
the muSketS J"
The muskets were taken by the men
even the man at the helm going in for
one, and as soon rs the vessel was fairly
headed up the riyer, they gathered along
/ by the lafi'rail. The Stars and Stripes
were run up 10 the peak, and as the glo.
rious ensign opened its magic folds to
the breeze, the captain gave the order 10
| fire.
The reports of the eight muskets rang
out upon tho air; three hearty cheers
were given by the hOmeward.bound men
md then the Polly Ann" danced away
up her native river.
Surely the officers and crew OF the
blockading brig must have felt parlicu-
lar ly foolish about that time. And that
they did ieel SO is evident from remark
her captain made 10 poor fishermen
whom he overhaulcd for fish on the eve-
ming of that very day. 1t was fisher
man who had ventured down off Cape
Small point after haddock. lie asked
the fisherman if the Polly Ann" had
entered the river.
"Ye-e-cs, sir" answered The poor
fellow.
Did she carry up much OF n load ?"
"Gercwsalem! yew'd thought so, |
reckon" answered the fisherman, who
seemed desirous of giving an emphatic
reply. "She was loaded daown TO the
gunIls, sir. It's marcy at she didn't