The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1877-01-11

dearly for not taking my advice. All!
there comes salute number two"
A gnn was fired by the Frenchman
across the bow of the Grampus, warning
her to heave to. Macy paced the deck in
agony of spirit, muttering words as he
went that sounded much like ''damna-
ton" He ordered the Grampus to be
kept off two or three points and fore
top mast studding sail set; but in hurry
by some mishap the tack got unrove. A
couple of hands were ordered aloft to rig
in the boom and reeve in the tack anew.
Isaac Coffin, son of Jethro, who had
smuggled himself on board against his
fathers express orders, and who had
hardly made his peace with him yet, heard
the orders, and seizing the end of the
rope with his teeth ran up the foreshrouds,
crept out on the top of the foreyard like
monkey, and then cut on the bare boom.
But before he had half done his task the
Frenchman brought their long tom, chag-
ed with small shot, to bear upon the yard
and let fly at Isaac; thinking, probably
the additional sail might enable the
Grampus to escape. Young Coffin was
unharmed, though the balls whistled
about him like hail, and he went fearless,
ly on with his work.
"They are charging the gun again,
shouted Jethro. "Come down, my boy
creep in creep in! Catch the halliards
| and come down with a rum"
GAY, ayl" cried Isaac, as he finished
reeving the tack and gathered few faith
oms in his hand threw the coil down or
the forecastle, and the men then hoisted
the sail instantly. The Frenchman aimed
his gun again but Isaac was decendine
like flash, and as he reached the deck
the sailors fairly hugged him in their Joy
and admiration of his bravery.
The hasty strides of Seth were again
arrested by another shot which passed
through the sail over his head. Ht
clenched his hands and looked up at tn,
torn sail
"By heavens = said he, 81 will not par
with so fine ship and cargo withgout 4;
| uCduIy StluSSICs
Swear mott said Jethro; ''it will no
help us in our strait We had better
yield quietly to the necessity. Put dowr
they helm Seth, and bring the ship too"
"Yield quietly, didst thou say? Did
understand the right when thou bidst M
bring the ship too?" The eyes of Setl
glared upon Jethro, and his nostrils dis
tended ike bull at bay.
''Put down the helm, inlrcd Jethr
Coffin, who is commander OF the Gram
pus thou or II" demanded Macy in
heat Of passion.
Jethro answered calmy, "Thou surel.
art the captain. Save the ship, if thol
canst, but thou canst not. We have n,
means of defence, and if we had, itwoul'
not be justifable to oppose with arms"
"Jethro, [ will save this ship or sink il
her. What! yield to that little gadfy-
a gallinipper that is scarcely larger thai
our long-boat!"
Another shot, better directed, splintere'
the main mast little and wounded tw
men.
"There, Jethro that is some of tn
tender mercy of the French pirate;
foretaste of what we may expect i
taken"
"Yield Seth! The longer thou della.
the more hazard to the lives of our pee
pie; he is a man of war!"
"Go thou below, Jethro | comman
here! Yield, indeed!" he muttered, a
Jethro began to descend; Il will SIM
frst!"
"Stand by there, men" shouted Seth
in voice which made every sailor start
1t was evident he had put off the quaker
and the men responded heartily to it.
"Get the long-boat ready to be launche
at moments warning; clear away tn
quarter-boats and see all clear to lowe
them in an instant. Mate take in all tn
small sail at once"
Macys voice and manner were resolut
and peremptory, and the men execute
the orders promptly and were ready fo
the next, though wondering what tn
captain meant to do. The Frenchma
was also at fault taking the maneuverin
of Seth for an intention to give up hi
ship, and have the schooner to, and wait
the lowering of boat from the Grampus
In rounding to, as Seth had calculated
the Frenchman had given the advantag
of the wind to the ship, while his me
stood agape at the amazement of tn
larger vessel which they looked VI
on as prize. Seth seized the helm i
his brawny hand The men scarcel
needed the word, but anticipated as h
put the helm hard up, and in compress!
ed but concentrated voice which was hear
distinctly from stem to stem, he said
"Let go all the braces and bowlines, slac
off sheets and tacks, and square the var
quick"
1t was done in a twinkle and Mac
shaped his course as though he woul
bring his ship under the lee quarter @
the privateer This feint completely d.
ceived the enemy, when Seth suddenl
changed her course and brought her hea
to bear directly upon the hull of tn
Frenchman Her crew discovered now
but too late, the design Of the Grampus
and dire confusion ensued upon he
crowded decks.
"lf thou dost intend to run her down.
said Jethro to Seth, hurriedly, projectin
his head a moment from the cabin gang
way "If-nay hear me, Seth, for tn
sake of humanity-if thou art determir
ed to run her down, ease thy helm
little and give them a chance for the
lives"
"Stand by to lower the boatl" thunde
en- Seth, stamping furiously upon til
deck. A groan of horror escaped his ow
crew. for not till this moment had the
really seen the design of their captai
and the swarthiest cheek grew a shaG
paler; but it was for their lives, and the
knew it. The schooner lay in the troug
of the sea, her decks covered with col
fusion, and the huge hulk of the Gramp,
poising on the last high wave above her
"Msericorder A wild yell of despai
heard far above the dashiHg of the shi
and rushing of waters, burst from ii
doomed Frenchman an instaut-au
down came the Grampus foaming an
laundering upon the privateer. III
plunging bow striking her just amidshi
cut the small vessel directly in two, al
her heavy armament, together with I'll
tremendous force of the severing bio,
, sent her beneath the waves to rise I
more; and her ill-fated crew one hundrt
and fifty souls, went under with her;
few struggled moment in the might
vortex, but were carried down and Il
next effaced every bubble of the mass I
human life so terribly and instant
quenched.
"Down with the boats from the qua
ter-launch the long-boatl' The cor
mand, though it could not have be-
executed sooner with safety, came {,
late The arm of Seth had haen f.tol