The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1879-02-13

I"h' no WV hutiuccIS 1911 OuCh III
great confusion ut this unexpecie /
attack, the capt ,iu and six OF eigh,
passengers sprang on deck, the re-
manning two have as yet hal No
time to dress or prepare their weap
ons.
I Down with them my henrties.'
cried the mate, recovering fror. bis
momentarv confusion. down
with them Strive bravely, and then
for the goldl
Two Of the passengers, like the
captain aud myself, were armed with
revolvers, and we kept up n brisk
fire on tho mutineers, while the rest
welded handspikes with good effect.
We fought desperately, knowing
that should we fail our lives should
be the forfeit but the odds agains,
MS were SO heavy that know not
what the issue might have been.
had not their leader beeiA put hors
de combat by a blow from hand
spike.
This loss added to those they had
already sustained, seemed to daunt
our nssailauts, and catching up the
senseless form of the mate, they
retreated to tho forecastlo
Although during the melee five OF
tho mutineers had been seriously
wounded, the damage to our own
party was but triiling, n fact easily
accounted for by the circumstance
of our possessing firearms, while
not q shot was fired by our oppo-
nents.
Honco. strange as it appeared to
us that such should be tue case, we
naturally concluded that they were
destitute Of these important wea-
pons.
Oar conclusion was mistaken
one, however, the real fact being
that in the hurry and confusion
consequent upon tue mates sudden
aud unexpected attack upon me, the
mutineers had neglected to provide
themselves with the firearms they
had concealed below 80 carefully
that they could not be obtained al IL
moments notice.
Alas had We but known tho truth,
If we can only prevent them from
cunning TO cl1se qnariera. said the
csptnp, aS we held an anxious consul
tation on the quarter deck. where
their numbers might overpowsr us,
We ctn probably keep them at bay
until We meet snother vessel
We heartily conceded 10 hi. opin.
ion. but how was il to bc done
Bnricads the deck !.
Yes that might be done, and We
lost no TIM in setting about it.
The cover of night Oor, As | hav,
a'ready intimatei, IT was intensely
iark) would conceal our movements
IRON the mu,iueers; but it was ne
cessary to be speedy, for dawn was
not FAR distant
The engineers were stll at their
post in the engineers rom below.
where they were suffered to remIn
unmoestel the crew knowing we'll
upnn their knowledge depended up
on tho safety of the steamer.
"Now, my Ids, said tho captain.
Ito work with You. These quarter
boats will make a safe barricade.
Mr. Hernc, as you are the only sea,
man left us, spring iato the star
board cutter, and throw US tho Ian
yard"
Very soon the boat was swung in
board, and landed safely on the deck.
That will do finely, my boys
exclaimed Captain Clay, rs We noted
how completely it defended the star
board.quarter- deck. mo need to
stuff il, they've no bullets TO seed
through the plauks. Now Tor the
other cutter.'
"By the time tho latter touched
the deck, the lirst faint rays Of day
begau to reveal the objects about Us (;
still, as our Preparations were now
too nearly completed 10 be thwart,d
by our sncmies, We made 40 attempt
to concea! our movements, being fnlr
ly satisfied that we had nothing TO
fear 30 long as they were kept at a
distance alas for our terrible
mistake.
As we slowed the cutter round to
her proper position, flash and re-
port startled us, while instan-
taueously our gallant captain leaped
high in the air, aud then fell head
long on the deck.
The bullet had penstrated as
brave aud true heart az ever beat
in human bosom. As We lifted him
u loud laugh arose from
forward, while q sharp fire was
opened on us.
The command had now devolved
upon mo and my first order was to
bring up tho mattresses from below,
aud stuff them into the boats.
But speedily as our work was &C.
the fatal bullet travelled
yot more speedily, aud another OF
our little band met his cruel fate
Ho was at my side when no fell,
and AZ I raised his hand upon my
knee. the blood gushed font from his
mouth the bullet had passed through
his lungs aud life was fast ebbiug
away.
Poor fellow : he was fully con-
scioua that his kpell had sounded