The Placer herald., 1874-04-25


had the desired effect.
There goes their bunting" said Mr..
Barlow, as the American ensign was run up
at the main peak.
"Answer them, Mr.. Barlow"
"Aye, aye, sir" responded the mate,
and our own stars and stripes were soon
wen ling their way aloft
| THAT ruse won't take. though; old birds
are not 30 easily caught with chaff"
| "As much as to say, Captain. said the
lady, who was standing near, "that their
flag Is borrowed for the occasion. "
Precisely so, madam; but they cannot
gull us in that manner. He no doubt thinks
we shall take him for an American cutter,
or merchantmen; but he forgets his maneu-
vering last night, which, if United States
vessel, would have been different. But we
have no ii ne to lose. Let her iuff, helms
man."
"Let her luff, sir.
"Close to the wind; aft sheets at once.
MIR. Barlow, we must get the weather.
gauge OF him; we must draw him farther
from bis lair. All was quickly DONE
Meantime the corsair had not been idle.
More sail lad been added, but we proved
his mate b on a wind, of which be soon be-
came aware, when the chase kept off
point and set large square topsail. She
now gained upon us. but although she
shortened the distance, she fell to the lee
ward, SO that at the end of half an hour
she was point, or more, on our Ice quar-
ter, and not over mile distant. All at
once she luffed sharp to the wind, when her
colors were thrice dipped; then, without
losing her way, she swung off again upon
her course.
Perceiving we took no notice of her sig
nal to heave to, he again came up into the
wind, when the report of cann,n came
booming over the intervening space.
'He is bidding us good morning." re-
marked the mate
'lt was blank cartridge, however. :"
said Willis.
"Now, Mr.. Barlow, stand by to tack
ship; be will speak to us again in a mo-
ment. We have now the weather gauge;
they are in our power, and cannot escape.
Wewill run him close aboard and give
them broadside at once.
Again their long-tom had opened his
mouth, and this shot took effect, as the ball
had passed through our foresail. At the
same instant the American flag at his peak
had been exchanged for the deaths head
and cross bones, while flag black as night
waved at his main. Meantime, at the re-
port of his gun, we were in stays. and with
a single shake of oui jib we were off on the
other tack. All hands were instantly called
to quarters. We were approaching each
other with great rapidity, both vessels bav
ing great speed through the water. On
board the pirate all seemed confusion, and
too late he perceived bis mistake, for it was
evident be had not thought US capable Of
making effective resistance; but now to see
our decks alive with men, he was convinced
we were bird not SO easily tanned; and.
tacking ship. be headed in toward the Isle
Of Pines. This had anticipated, and rs
be went in stays we gave him the contents
of our long eighteen, aiming to strike his
foremast. The ball, however, passed clear
Of the mast, but made the splinters fly from
bis bulwarks and dunuage on deck. Our
fire was returned, and this time with truer
aim, for the ball passed through our waist
tearing its way through water casks. and in
Aicting mortal wound on the seaman, An
tonic before spoken of, who was imme-
diately carried below. We were now with
in reach of our small cannon, when, luffing
up, we poured in a broadside. Our guns
being loaded with grape, did great execu-
ton, his rigging being badly cut up, and
bis square sail and topsail came down by
the run.
Perceiving he must now fight it out, he
came to, as did our own vessel, when the
work of death and carnage commenced in
earnest How the battle would have ter
minated, or which would have gained the
victory, it is impossible to say, each vessel
being so equal matched. and each fighting
for life without quarter. But Providence
saw fit to end The strife of death, for a
heavy, black, threatening cloud, which had
been rising northward Of us, now burst upon
us in heavy rain squail, shutting in our
opponent, and lasting more than half au
hour, and when it had passed. the pirate
was no where to be seen.
What became of him we could never tell.
He no doubt made off as fast as possible
for the Isle Of Pines.
We had three men killed and several
wounded, among the latter was Mr. Willis.
Our rigging was badly cut up and sails in
jured, but few hours put everything in
order again, and not caring to look further
for the pirate, we rn for Cape Antonio,
where we came to anchor at 8 o'clock that
evening. The dead were taken on shore
and buried. The man Antonio lived two
days. during which time be confessed to
having been q pirate, and that he joined our
vessel hoping to cause mutiny on board,
and seize the vessel. He said. further,
that be knew the signal made by the pirate
on the evening prior to the attack, but de-
clined giving further information.
Mr.. Willis recovered, and the circum-
stance Of his being wounded resulted in an
unlocked for discovery. No more nor less
than that Mr.. N. Willis who was, turned
out TO be Miss M. Willis, who is-a wo-