The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-02-03
CAPTURING 4 PIRATE.

BY EMERSON BENNETT.
South of the coast of FLORIDA, there are
hundreds of beautiful islands, with
beaches of shell and sand, where the
turtles of that region resort to deposit
their eggs. Some of these islets are
formed in groups or clusters, with deep,
narrow, intricate, natural channels every
where intersecting, and are covered with
the luxuriant vegetation of the tropics
tall grasses, trees, vines and flowers
presenting scenes of great romantic
beauty.
Many years ago, when q class of men
called turtlers and the pirates of the
Gulf both frequented this region in their
differentvocations, there was an occasion
al contact, resulting in scenes of vio-
lence and blocd-shed.
1t was at this period, that party of
three men, named respectively Wilson,
Chase and Claymore, trrtlers by profess
sion, one beautiful evening, just as the
sun was setting in all the glory of that
upon sandy beach preparatory to en-
camping for the night. 4 few minutes
after, as Wilson assembled little knoll,
to take look around him, he espied
distant sail, apparently standing in for
that very point. In reality this proved
nothing, as the vessel might alter her
course at any moment but that was a
time when, and place where, it be-
hoovei every man to be on Lis guard
to be wary and suspicious of every thing
human, with which he was unacquaint-
ed-and so he Immediately called to
his companions, and directed their at
tention to the object of suspicion.
"Fetch up the glass;" he said, "and
let's see what we can make of her."
The two hurried up to the top of the
knoll, and Claymore produced respect
ably-sized telescope, through which he
looked steadily, for at least half q
minute, saying as he handed il to vii
son
81 don't like her at all; she's got rak-
ing masts, low, black hull, and good
many persons aboard I thing she's a
pirate"
"I'm of the same opinion" remarked
Wilson, as he in turn handed the glass
to Chase. ''She's standing in for this
group, and so far she hasn't changed a
DoiDt What's fo ha dopa2'
ST don't hardly think she'll touch
here said Chase, ''because she mayn't
have nothing to gain by it,
''But say The worst suppose she
does 2"
''Well, it would be dark by that time,
and we could hide here easy enough, or
slip off without boing seen"
''I'm not sure of that" put in Clay
more 'It's going to be a bright. moor
light night know and if the villains land,
they may stumble on to US, or our boat,
or they may stay here till morning. Be-
sides, there's our little sloop, up in the
cove at t'othor island, which they might
find, capture and destroy"
After discussing the matter far some
time, however, the three men decided to
hide their boat in p cluster of bushes,
and themselves remain upon the island,
believing they might effect a conceal
ment, even should that one of the group
be selected for the landing of the pirat-
es, which was highly improbable; be-
cause there were SO many chances
against their doing so. In the first
place they might not be pirates at all /;
in the second place might have no in
tention of landing in that quarter; and
in the third place, there were more than
dozen other islets close aronnd them,
any one of which they might be quite
as likely to select.
Meantime, the suspicious vessel came
steadily on under a light breeze, and by
dark had dropped anchor within pistol
shot of the outer reef, and within rife
shot of the spot occupied by our adven-
turers.
81 don't know, after all, but we'd
better ship our boat back into the water.
and put off before the moon gets up" re-
marked Wilson, in a low, guarded tone.