The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-05-23
nAT THE YARDARM y

!
ing hanged as n pirate 7"
Thus spoke Uncle Ebenezer, who
having, man and boy, ploughed the
salt sea waves for the better part OF a
half-century, was now sitting on the
steps of his back porch of the old
homestead, and while slowly putting
at the amber mouthpiece OF an im-
mense ndryile, which he had brought
from India, enlighteniEg my youthful
mind with shreds and patches from
the s,orchouse of his mnltifarious. ex-
perience.
| My uncle had been well educated
in his youth, and he came of race of
gentlemen, so that he had preserved a
refinement of speech and manner not
usually found among mariners. He
was therefore an excellent narrator,
and forty years ago had no greater
pleasure than 10 sit in the old back
porch, and listen TO his wild tales, of
life on the stormy ocean. This was
the tale that followed the startling
question i have just repeated -
In the month of Juhe, 1913, about
the middle of the last war, said my
uncle, sailed frsm Charlestown, in
command of Beautiful little clipper.
brig, called the Snake. had letters
of marque, and the Snake was armed
with eight brass six Founders. for,
though we didn't hope TO be able to re-
sist any OF the larger cruisers of the
enemy, nor did we intend TO attempt
the capture of any of his merchant
men, we knew that the narrow sea
was swarming with English prira-
teers, and il was our intention TO beat
off any small craft that attacked ns, il
we could.
Our cargo, in short, was powder
and shot, which We were 10 take 10
the mouth of the Tagus, and transfer
TO one of our frigates, ordered 10 meet
us at that point. Fighting, therefore,
was not our cue on that voyage, and
accordingly set every stitch OF can
vass that would draw, and kept q
good lookout night and day.
That last precaution was the means
of accomplishing greater good than
even our own safety. On the after
noon OF the third day out, the lookout
spied a vessel on our weather-bow,
with signal of distress flying. / at
once bore up for her, and at sunset we
were alongside. just in time to rescue
her crew aud passengers from
watery grave. She proved to be a
West India trader. under Spanish col
ors, bound from Havana 10 Norfolk.
Va, with crew of eight, including
officers and two passengers. They
had lost their boats when their craft
was thrown on its beam ends in a
squall. four days previous. aud though
working at the pumps steadily, they
had Teen unable TO prevent the vessel
from filling slowly through the leaks,
which were the result OF the same dis
aster. She was only just afoat when
we come up with her, and sank before
we were fairly clear of her, after tax
ing off her people.
When were standing on our course
again, | bad leisure to look after the
comfort of our involuntary passengers,
The crew of the Spanish vessel we're
disposed of among my own men, and
the captain and his passengers l invit-
ed 10 my cabin. Much TO my sur
prie, one was beautiful young lady,
the other being her father, gray
haired, portly old gentleman-a Vir-
ginian, by the name of Manson. They
were evidently people of wealth and
refinement, and the Spanish captain
nroyed tn he a fine fellow.
OF course, l should have done all l
could for them had they been less
agreeable, but now my duty became a
real pleasure, which was, doubtless,
enchanced by the fact that The young
lady was both amiablc and beautiful.
l was but young at the the time, and
easily impressed by female charms -
so that it was not strange, under the
circumstances, that soon began to
indulge in vague hopes that La6ra
Manson might be eventually induced
TO entertain a wormer feeling than
mere friendship for the man who
saved her life. Not that | ever dared
TO breathe word of love in her ear.
But before she had been week on
board, / resolved that when she was
once again restored 10 her own home
/ would seek her there and ask her 10
be mine.
But these fond dreams and tender
fancies were destined 10 be quickly
brought to an end by the sudden ap
Iproach Of peril that menaced both
of us with fate more fearful than the
widest imagination could conceive
Ten days after the rescue Of Laura
Manson and her fellow travellers, &
suspicious sail was sighted on oul
weather-beam, and before long it be
came evident that the stranger wa.
an English man-of-war, in chase of US
Every exertion was made by my
self and crew, aided by the Spanish
sailors. TO escape ou. enemy, but al
! endeavors availed us nothing Th'
Snake was swift, but her purs1er wa
swifter. On the second morning o
the chase, the foe was in gnnshot, ane
give us broadside that carried ava,
t both our topmasts. 1t would hav,
been mere insanity 10 continue to re
sist force so superior when thu
! helplessly at its mercy. 1t is possible
that some desperate expedient nigh
have suggested itself if my crew ant
myself had been alone in the brig
But none of US dared to propose any
thing which would expose the lovel,
maiden in our charge to further dan
: ger; and having done our whole dnt,
as sailors and men, we struck our flag
but only TO power capable OF ap
$ preaching twice our own force.
Our captor proved to be the frigat
Diana, OF thirly-six guns, commands