The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-02-15
NUMBER 4.
Our Ships Cook as a Hero.

of the clipper ship Fiery Cross, bound from
Boston to Shanghai. There was some val
liable arms in our cargo, and we had quite
a sum of specie on board, besides many
bales of rich assorted goods and consid-
cradle interest was felt IN the ship, her
coming vas widely heralded.
Every ship has an odd character among
its crew, and ours was found in the person
of Jack Harle, the cuok. His great peculi-
arity was laughing, for he did this at all
times. When the train he was on was
passing over the High Pressure road collid-
ed with another Coming from the opposite
direction, causing thirty or forty people to
be MANNED or killed, Jack laughed hearth
ly, though all the while he was working,
bare aimed and with huge drops of sweat
rolling from his face, to release the suffer-
els held by tue ruins. His laughter sound
ed diabolical then, though 1T was his MAUI
Her of expressing his feelings.
He was, fin fact, a man who had but one
mode of showing the workings of his soul,
aud that was laughter. He was kind
hearted, sympathetic aud generous. lie
would laugh at a funeral, though lie was
sorroving all the time and when seeking
for his pocket book to alleviate some pitt
ful want, to the tale of which he had just
been listening, bis face would be convulsed
with the semblance of nerriment. Often
he had come near having desperate quar-
person, he invariably offended him by
breaking out into a bOisteIous peal of
laughter. Still if adversely overlook this
person, Jack was the first one to step for
ward to his relief, he amount of his offer
ing being the extent of his purse.
AS his reputation WAS widely known
among sailors, his Joining our crew was
quite an event for he was thorough man,
and in long voyage II good cook is a
power in any ship, for palatable food is the
best source of pleasure and kipdliuess that
sailcr can have when at sea.
In 1857, both the Malaysian straits and
the coast of China were famous resorts for
pirates-cruel cut-throat hordes, having no
fear of death, and no sympathy for a suffer
ing they did not feel.
Our voyage had been a fine Que, the
gales we had met having been light, and
the work easy. We passed safely through
the strai's separating the green-clad islands
of the East Indies, and on the 10Th of Octo-
Der sighted the brown hills that run along
the coast line of China.
We were going up through the Formcs
Channel, and had our wits pretty well
sharpened-for this was dangerous ground
when about midway in that haunt of
pirates we saw, shooting out from the
shelter of bold promontoTy, some four or
five miles away, three heavy junks.
The wind was against them, but with
their long sweeps heavily manned, showed
that our ship was their aim. The brass
pieces comprising our battery were got
ready and loaded, and the small arms
placed where We could easily reach them.
This done, we waited for the attack.
Jack Harte had been convulsed with laugh
ter when told that the pirates were com
ing, and calling to his chum, Tom Collins,
had taken linn into the galley, whence loud
peals of laughter aud dense volumes of
smoke shortly aftei ward issued.
The junks came on, try ing to keep out
of leach of our guns by bearing directly
down on the bow but when they were in
close range, the captain suddenly put the
helm mp, and as she paid OF, brought the
ship's guus To bear.
There were three rapid discharges, min
Gled with savage yells and cries, and then
We saw one of the jumks careeu over. and
soon she went down, leaving mass of
yelling yellow devils struggling IN the
water
The other two came rapidly on and were
too near for our next brUadSide 10 damage
their hulls much, though we knocked over
their masts aud made bloody work among
tie il CIeHB.
Ere we could again load. they came
crashing alongside, their living csrgoes
climbing on board, with wild yells of hate
aud rage.
They were met by a determined resist
auce, bur their number must soon have de-
cided the battle had not a new ally ap-
peared TO help us.
Suddenly above the din IF the combat
sounded Jack Harte's loud laugh, and this
grew louder aud louder, and soon was
Joined by howls of pain from the pirates,
who seemed to be seized with a strange
frenzy ot fear.
Many of them rushed to the rail and
sprang over, unmindful whether their juuks
were there or not, and louder and merrier
all the while came Harte's war-cry, for
such his laughter was.
We saw that lac was flinging stream
ing liquid Of some kind on the yellow ras-
Gals, and as piled our cutlasses with
new courage, we soon had the decks clear
ed. Some Of the pirates had managed to
shove of one of the iunks, but a couple of
well-directed shots sunk her ere she could
60 fan, and the remaining junk was captured
by our crew boarding her in turn.
Then We learned what it was that Harte
had used to 50 utterly rnut the pirates. lie
had saved the grease made by boiling the
pork and beef, and expected to sell i in
Shanghai When The pirates were sighted,
the thought that thi would prove a good
weapon to discomtor: them came into his
mind. He called Collins TO assist him, aud
filling two large.pots with IT, soon had it
at boiling heat.
These lie and Collins carried on deck
when the Tray vas hottest, aud with dip
pers flung it about among the half-naked
rascals. The pain CAUSED by il, and Harte's
curious laugh eli, winch one Of the prison.
ers captm ed said Was the song OF demon,
were too much for the pirates and lef; vic
tory with Fiery CrCss; though not often
did fate So order things, for very frequent
ly did the ships thus asSaiied remain bloody
prizes in the pirates hands.
Thus Jsck Harte's laughter proved a
help To us in our hO0r oi need, and it was
truly he Who defeated the pirates on thai,
To us, memorable occasion.