Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-20
TIE TYRANNlCIDE.
Interesting Story Of E Salem PriVateer.

and now frightened Che slightly-rippled
waters of Salon harbor. The sails of
the Tyrannicide privateer, Capt. Sea-
waif, had been loosed, her cable hove
short, and she only waited for the
change OF tide to commence her cruise.
She was, for that era ,astonishingly clip
perish, rakiug in spars, sharp in hall
and calculated to carry an astonishing
quantity of canvas. Her rig was that
of a two-topsai schooner-her lower
masts being very long aud heavy, so
as to carry large fore-and-aft sails, Her
burden appeared to be about 800 tons,
She was pierced for eight twenty-four'
pound carrOnadcs on side, and long
brass thirty-two FOUNDER, working on
pivot, 5hone bright as gold between her
m.asts, mounted high enough to work
above her hammock MEETINGS, Around
her masts could ba soon the CLEAN Of
boarding-pikes and battle-axes AT her
main-mast head blood-red flag foated
out, bearing the motto, death to Ty.
rants" AT the fore truck another red
flag bore the name of the schooner-"The
Tyrannicide." Her fgure.head was a
serpent striking his fangs into the heart
&C n
her altogether, she was indeed danger
Gus and saucy-lookiug craft, calculated
to both sail and fight we'll. Upon her
deck many men could be seen, showing
that, if she had teeth" she had also
strength to use them.
All of her boats had been hoisted in
except the captains gig, and the officers
were watching the tide very impatient
ly for it's turn.
Presently Seawaif appeared at the
end of the wharf. The young captain
spraug into his boat amid the applause
of hundreds of citizens who had gather
ed there to see the privateer go to sea,
and in few moments he was on board
of his vessel,
With clear, bugle.like voice, which
needed no trumpet, the young COM
mauder shouted
"Nan the Cspstan bars, lads, and run
the auchor up with will. Stand by
the iib and fying.jib hallisrds-lay the
head yards aback "
His orders were obeyed readily, and
in q few moments the second officer,
who stood on the forecastle looking over
the bows, said:
''She's broken ground, sir"
Very well, sir; run up the iib and
Hying-iib-man the top gallant aud top.
sail sheets and halliards! Round with
the capstau, men, and run the anchor up
to the bows"
A moment later, and the head-sails
up, the veering bow of the schooner
proved her to be all aweigh, and then
came the order:
Sheet home, and hoist way topsail
and hoist top-gallant sail =
This was done; and, as the fore and
aft-sails, already up, filed, the schooner
began to gather Roadway. Then, as she
fell off before the wind, which was fal
out of the harbor, her square sails filled
and she at once shot ahead with in,
creasing velocity. The crowd on shore
looking with delight at the splendid
vessel and gladdened, too, at the
thought of her errand, rent the air with
cheers.
Never was craft in better battle
trim, on deck, below and aloft, than
the privateer, after Seawaif had got he1
rigging stretched Conscious that he
was ready to meet any foe of his tonnage
and weight of metal, he boldly headed
off from the coast for the track of the
inward bound vessels from England
One morning, soon after, he was a.
breakfast in his cabin with the first
officer and the doctor, young Morley
the second officer, being in charge d
the deck. But each of them bounded
from the table, as he heard the shout o.
"Sail, no" from the lookout of the top
gallant crOss.ties.
Where away, and what does she look
like " cried young Morley, in reply.
Seawaif and his companions held
their breath and listened for the an
swer.
4 see three sails, sir, dead ahead
they seem square-rigged, and comins
right down before the wind was the re
ply.
'Englishmen, and making for tn,
coast, Pll wager my first prize-money
said the captain, as he hurried on deck.
John Bull-mens be gar l shall &c
my Instruments ready for amputat
sNFl IL l. 1 II