The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-06-04

been for some time set, and the old
numbering ship, heavily laden as she
was, went snorting and groaning through
the water The match was as unequal
as between a cart-horse and thorough
bred racer.
Turning my eyes again towards the
deck, found the men all activity and
hustle. One group | observed bnsily
engaged in breaking and saving old iron
hoops and spikes. These were for grape
shotl
"But where are the guns?" I asked of
the captain.
lyon shall see presently" he-replied;
''the men are dragging them from their
concealment below, for We carry more
than the regulation number. In the
meantime, may | ask You to go below,
and break the matter TO your fellow
passengers. There may be some of the
gentlemen not unwilling to aid in the
defence of the ship. At present / can
not leave the deck. Ny wife!'-a shud
der seemed TO pass across his face, and
he added-''would to heaven she had not
been heren'
pressed his hand and went below.
Need | say what screaming, sobbing, and
crying there was, when | informed my
fellow passengers of the danger so near
at hand. One tender girl there was,
fair and graceful, beautiful as light,
who display ed the most charming cour
age and self-possession. She was on her
way home to England, in search of the
health which she had lost amid the hot
swamps of the tropics. 1t might be
that she felt the hand of death already
life were thus feeble. She ss.;ea to
soothe the shrieking women, cheered
those who seemed as if stricken down
by their terror, and urged upon all 10
reflect, that it was their duty rather to
aid and encourage those who were abont
to risk their lives for their protection,
than to embarrass and distress them by
shriekIng and Glamour. The captains
wife, found, was more composed than
the others; and she suggested that the
other females should at once proceed to
disguise themselves in ordinary seamen's
clothes, and proceed npon deck, so as if
possible to escape detection, in event of
the ship being boarded by the pirates.
| left them engaged in these prepara
tions, and FASTENED upon deck. / fonnd
that the men had now dragged from
their concealment nine eighteen pound
carronades, which were mounted and
ready for action. Some were busilv en-
gagged in loading them, each with a
round shot and bag of iron cuttings.
broken nails, and musket- bullets-the
most destructive kind of grape. They
worked as if life and death depended on
their efforts, which was indeed the case
Of the eleven gentleman, passengers on
board, of nearly all nations, the greater
number, with praise worthy alacrity,
aided the crew in their preparations for
defence. All the guns, rifles, pistols,
swords and cutlasses which the ship
could muster, were brought on deck, and
distributed among the passengers and
crew.
The pirate ship was now rapidly ap-
preaching, and was almost within gun
shot. We could see her deck distinctly,
and perceived that it was crowded with
men; bOOms and all were filled. She
was evidently we'll armed, for We saw
six gnns on side, and long gun, on
pivots, planted on the forecastle. The
occasional CLEAN of steel caught our
eye. We saw a man, evidently person
in command, standing in the shrouds,
with polished speaking trumpet in his
hand, closely scanning us. He wore
white trousers, and had red sash bound
round his waist. On his head was a
broad Panama hat, the now burning sun
rendering such defence highly neces-
sary.
But our attention was suddenly at
tracted in another direction, by new
object of interest-perhaps of danger.
1t must here he observed, that We were
now off the coast of Cuba, whose high
lands to the west of Cape Maize rose
clear and stronghold against the
northern sky. One of the old hands
on board pointed out, not very far of, a
spot which, he assured us, was one oi
The most noted piratical haunts in Cuba
These fellows" said he, seven ven
ture out in their boats to attack and
board merchantmen of the first class.
have known"
"Boat ahoy!" sung ont the man OF
the lookout.
"Where away?"
"Under our forefoot!"
And sure enough there was bot al
: most in our track, though, at first sight
there seemed nothing in it's appearance
10 excite either suspicion or alarm.
keep your eye on that ere, captain,
: was the remark of the old seaman a
our side
And the captain, to do him Justice
seemed alive to the necessity of keeping
a sharp lookout in all directions
: We were soon within hail of the boat
and perceived that there was only on
man visible on board, who seemed as
| fishing with rod and lire at the boat
bow. An immense tarpaulin covere'
I the boat which was large as jolly
The only circumstance which excitet
r our suspicion was an object very like
q carronade on pivot, planted forward
n and on which the man sat, as if to con
/, ceal it. He soon hailed us in Spanisl
q but our captain, not understanding
Spanish, hailed in English
"Hilloa, sir, what are you about there?
g "Feeshin," was the mans reply. "Wi
buy feesh?"
II "And what kind of fish do you cate
r here, SO far out at sea?'
"All sorts, sare!"
e "And what's the use of that gun
r see at your bows?"
"Ah, sare! keep off de pirates wild dat
% "Now, men," said our captain, turI
| II