The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-02-17

lenSth distant from her, and Chau-
vet, mounting the railing, hailed
her. She replied that she was the
American privatecr schooner Pa
triot, bound from Georgetown,
South Carolina, to New York, and
ran up the Stars and Stripes. Chau-
vet. instead of displaying the Vene-
zuelan flag, under which We usu,
ally sailed, flung to the breeze
the terrible black flag, and fired a
broadside into her. Nan DicN T. the
Yankees were no towards, and they
replied with their starboard gun
and their swivel. And well aimed
they were, too, for we had four
men killed and some six wounded
by the discharge, besides having
our rigging badly cut up. After a
sharp but brief conflict we carried
her by boarding, and every soul was
either put to the sword, or
MADE FOOD FOR SHARKS
in our own peculiar way. All . but
didn't my pet, my beauty-my
little six-povmder, do good work
Never a shot missed. She behaved
splendidly. And didn't I pet and
kiss her when the fight was over
and the prize secured. A prize in
deed the Patriot proved. She had
been cruising for some months, de-
predating upon British commerce,
and was returning to New York to
divide the plumber.
After we had disposed Of the dead
and living privateermen, Chauvet
descended into the cabin, and pref
ty soon he called out in an angry
tone for myself and mate to go to
him. We descended and found
him in the cabin, confronted by a
beautiful woman, who held an
empty bottle in her hand, with
which she had struck Chau7et, who
had attempted, it seems, to make
too free with her. He ordered us
to tie her hand and foot and convey
her on board the Vengeance and
place her in his cabin. We obeyed
him; but she fought us, and did
all she could to jump overheard.
After quitting the captured YES
sci, and transferring the valuables
to the Vengeance, we fired her, and
then headed for Galveston island
Just after we entered the gulf
and while flying the Venezuelan flag
we had a terrible fight with a Span
ish cruiser, and being badly hullac
and cut up, and after losing one
third of our crew (ah! the brave
fellows-how gala tly they
fougltD, we took advantage of &
foggy night to draw off, and under
full press Of canvass made for the is
land. Upon our arrival we founC
the Vengeance SO badly damaged
that it became necessary to remove
from her her armament and all valu
ables, and sent her to our navy
yard for repairs.
We had gotten everything of
but three OF four guns, my little
six-pounder among the number
when one night, through the infer
nal carelessness of the Watchman
the Vengeance caught fire anc
burned to the waters edge, and in {
few hours after sank in the channe
between our town, on the east end
of Galveston island, and our navy
yard, which was about half mile
to the west.
All, how my heart bled to lose m.
little pet-my little siz-pou11er.
grieved over it's loss even as
grieyed over the death of one of m,
comrades. O, little beauty: I LITTLE
hoped ever to hear Of you again
Yes. sirs, that cannon described IL
your paper, is my lost pet. I know
her. Have I not handled her? Don
| 7 know every mark on her? Th,
marks you describe near the eros
were made by a cursed Spanisl
shot in our engagement in the gulf
If I were not 50 old and so feeble
I would travel to Galveston to Sc,
once more my little pet.
The woman captured on the pri
vateer died a few days after our al
rival in Galveston. She was very
handsome woman, and I afterward
learned was the daughter of a dis
tinguished American. Her cloth
;ng-wlich was of the finest mate
rial-was marked IT. \. and sh
had a golden locket containing
portrait Of a beautiful boy. On tn
locke! were the words, TO m
wife, Tneodosia. She was burie'
on the island, a few hundred yard
to the east of the old fort on tn
point. 1t was whispered anon;
the men that Chauvet had kille,
her, because she would not yield t
his wishes.
I hope, sirs, you will excuse tn
prosy talk OF an old man. I ar