The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-04-23

llldbS anu ullt NOulB was w
secure the arms of the sleepers, by
which time the pilot also came on deck.
With his assistance the men were
bound and bundled down the fore peak.
This accomplished, the captain, who
had hint of the progress of affairs,
Immediately addressed the astonished
niddy-at the same time very coolly
taking brace of pistols from the capa-
cious pocket of his pea-iacket and cock
ing them-saying he chopped he would
make himself as comfortable as he
could, for he was his prisoner !" at the
same time begging to be excused if he
| left him for the present to his own medi-
tations, as duty called him on deck.
We cannot stop to describe the wonder
of our MILDLY at this unexpected speech.
Suffice it that, seeing how affairs had
turned, he submitted as philosophically
as he could, while the captain went on
deck, fastening his safe prize-master
| below.
1t was now getting toward midnight.
So far everything had succeeded well (;
but the worst was yet to come. How
to get away from the sloop p-of-war was
their next study. The schooner, as we
have said, was lying in close proximity
| to her guns, and if she attempted to es-
cape one broadside would blow her to
atoms. Their first endeavor was to in
crease the distance between the two ves-
sells. This they did by the pilots cau-
tiously assuming the helm, and taking
advantage of every favorable circum-
stance, by yawing aud filing, SO that
10y degrees the distance was insensibly
increased. Edging along in this way
until he found he had got in the neigh
borhood of the shoals off Cape May
the others in the meantime having
secretly got everything ready for a
start-they suddenly made sail and run
for the shoals. They had scarcely filled
away when-crack !-came a gun from
the sloop- p-of-war.
"Blaze away, my good fellows" said
the skipper, exultingly; "it may re-
quire good eye-sight to hit the little
Fox this distance in the night"
And blaze away they did, though
every shot went high or fell short, and
not the least damage in hull, spar or
rigging was sustained.
Meanwhile, in an incredible short
space of time, the sloop- of-war had
packed on all sail and was blowing di-
rectly in the wake of the runaway. The
only chance for our Yankee waste creep
in among the shoals, where her pur-
suer could not, from her draught, follow
her. This she did, having good start
and being a good sailer, until the sloop-
of-war thought it prudent to haul off,
finding she could neither cripple nor
overhaul her.
The Fox still continued her course,
running for the Rip-Raps, inside of
which is passage way, while the Pro-
metheus bore up with the intention of
running round the shoals and heading
her off. But as the Fox had straight
cut, while her pursuer had a round
about passage, the former got the start
of her and succeeded in getting safely
into the Delaware At Newcastle was
depot of gunboats, stationed there to
guard the mouth of the river. Run
ming into this place, our Yankees deliv-
cred up their chop-fallen prisoners, and
then proceeded on to Philadelphia, not
a little proud of their daring achieve
ments.
Having taken in full cargo of flour
at Philadelphia, where they remained
about three weeks, our Yankee friends
started for Salem. They waited for a
very dark night ere they left the Della
ware, in the hope of escaping the
enemy, who were prowling about the
capes watching the mouth of the river
as a cat watches a rat hole, ready to
pounce upon the first that attempted
egress. ...
Taking advantage of an unusually
dark evening, and having pretty stiff
! breeze, they started The schooner was
good sailer, in excellent trim, and
they cracked on to her. Toward morn
ing, having had a fine nights run, the
skipper turned in, congratulating him
self that, at any rate, he had slipped by
one dangerous point. Not a little
anxiety was felt by all on board to
avoid the enemy, and more particularly
the sloop-of-war, for they we'll knew
if they should fall again into their
clutches it would GO hard with them.
They knew no mercy would be shown
them. ....
Scarcely had the day dawned when
the watch sang out, Justify, "Sail, ho!"
! And Z" sail no - it was, true enough, for
selves close ahead of two large vessels
| SluuuluS uuueE Sioy Silll Oh plOli
weather BEAM. Ts Est- I'D 4
"It is all over with u.s." said the
pilot despondingly, as re east his eyes
toward their neighbors, " and here
comes our death warrant, he added, as
the fash of a gun was seen issuing from
bowport of the nearest and largest OF
the vessels, while its heavy report came
booming over the water. -F u-F
"That means heave to p said the
mate" Skipper ahoy You're wanted
on deck" he shouted down the COM
panion way, arousing the captain from
a very agreeable dream of sailing safely
into the harbor of Salem.
The schooner, Notwithstanding the
hint that had been given, still continued
on her course as though unmindful of
the presence of her war-like neighbors,
when another flash of her guns and a
ball came dancing along, striking the
water directly under the bowsprit of
the schooner and scattering the spray
in all directions.
cay, ay don't be in such blessed
hurry y"-growled the old pilot" the
world want made in day p
"Hard-a-lee !" shouted the captain,
who had now comeson deck-"It's no
use, pilot, the fates are against us. We
must run under the big fellows quar-
ter"
81 say, Bill" exclaimed the old
man as he brought the schooner up in
! 4 IL l. kI<,,, ,l,