The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-09-01

trouble of some kind.
Passing through the Goro sea, laid my
course directly for the island of Rava, in
the Asaua group.
My feelings were of impending danger
and felt extremely low-spirited, but di-
rected our boarding-netting to be rugged,
and warned the crew that they must keep
the strictest sort of a watch, for there
might be trouble at any moment, and we
must be prepared for it.
Our guns were loaded carefully, the re-
volvers were put in like condition, they
and the sidearms being placed in conven-
lent position for immediate distribution, if
needed.
intended to touch at the south end Of
the island, that being the point where the
village was located, so the Endeavor was
hauled on the wind, southwest by south,
and as the wind was fresh, despite my anx-
iety, we let her slide.
All hands noticed my nervousness, and,
knowing we were surrounded by cannibals,
they shared my feelings with me, and gave
strict attention to our movements.
My impressions were correct again, my
suspicious of trouble being verified, for
when within few miles Of where wanted
to go, recognizing the locality where we
had trouble before, the report of heavy
gun was heard, then another, and another,
as though some vessel that had preceded
us was in difficulty.
Directing gun to be fred, to show that
assistance was near, ordered the reef in
my foresail to be shaken ont, the staysail
to be set, as we'll as the flying-jib, and put
ting the vessel off half point, steered in
the direction of the sound.
The Endeavor, under this press of can
vas, heeled down to her bearings, and
fairly few through the water.
Bang! went the guns quicker than ever,
and crack went smaller arms as we neared
the scene of affray. .EL
AS we rounded small point, we saw a
brig, with swarm Of canoes around her,
the firing ceasing as we hove in sight
My gunner Immediately swung our swiv-
el around, fired charge into the canoes
that disabled a pile of them, and as hauled
up, gave them broadside from three of
the guns, and, jumping across the deck,
poured another volley in as the Endeavor
swung off, in obedience to the helm, that
completely demoralized the natives, for
what was left of them fled toward the land
with demoniac howls of rage, leaving their
dead and wounded floating on the water,
at the mercy of the sharks, while shattered
canoes were drifting around in admirable
confusion.
We were fully a mile of, but we signaled
in vain, for no answer was returned to us
the vessel remaining silent as the grave.
We were astonished at this, but were
more SO when we saw, as we did, fire aris-
ing in several portions Of her decks.
Calling for volunteers, launched a
couple of boats, and, telling the mate to
work the Endeavor up as quickly as posi-
bic, told the second mate to take charge
of one boat, and come along, sprang into
the launch, and, in company with my sec
ond officers boat, we were off for the scene
OF the fight.
All was silent and still as the grave as
we approached the burning ship and get
ting on board to windward, we saw a sight
that made the blood curdle in our veins /;
for all around us lay the crew of the ill
fated vessel-dead
They had either been surprised or over
powered, for every one had his head crush
ed by the clubs of the Internal savages.
The vessel was well ON fire in the fore
castle and cabin; the cannbals had been
determined we should lose herif they did,
and so had applied the torch before they
/ fled. i 4
Determined to save something, if posi-
BILE, and the idea possessing me that we
we're in shoal water, decided to sink her
at once, then raise her afterward, if we
could
a lot OF fixed ammunition lay scattered
around on deck, so, calling to my men, we
hastily loaded a heavy gun, tore off hatch
way, depressed the muzzle as low as we
could, and fired through her below the
water-line. The sea Immediately began to
pour in, so putting the bodies that lay on
deck into our boats as speedily as possible,
we sprang into them ourselves, and pulled
away from thevessol tha. was now settling
fast beneath the waves, la3
As the water reached the fire, the vessel
seemed to groan in an agony as the con
hicting elements came in contact, and with