Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-05-14
A STREAK OF LUCK.

There Is much IN luck (sald my good
old captain), and some of the privateers
of 1912 were wonderfully lucky.
The Blockade was new brig when I
first went in her, and / was a new sailor,
for had never been to sea before. She
carried sixteen nine-pounders and
long twenty-four, and had hundred
and sixty men.
We cruised for two months without
falling in with a single prize, and it
began to look as if we would have to go
home in debt for the oil we burnt in the
pinnacle.
AT last, somewhere in the neighbor-
hood of the Western Islands, we spoke
a Dutch ship, and were told by her
captain that the day before he had
fallen in with an English East India
man, called the Hoogly, homeward-
bound, and $50 pig ash never wash p
Knowing that the East India Com
pany's ships were no clippers, we made
all sail il chase, with lookouts at the
fore and main. The prospect seemed
excellent that we should overtake the
big fellow before he could reach the
English Channel. We were afraid only
of running past him in the night, but
should this happen, we could wait for
him in the marrow SEAS" and should
be pretty likely to intercept him some
where between Lands End and the
Downs.
Everybody was excited and wide
awake. If we could get that ship, the
old sailors said, we could go into port
with flying colors. Wouldn't she loom
up in the harbor of our little town?
And wouldn't we make everything shake
with our big guns when we should go
in with such a prize?
/ was young, and / thought of the
boys who would come down to the
wharf to look at us. and how old Mr.
Dorr, the owner of the blockade, would
hustle about between ship and shore,
with smart, cheerful word for every
blue jacket of our crew.
But we had not got the ship yet, and
by-and-by the enthusiasm began to be
little dampened with anxiety. The
officers seemed to fear that we had
passed her, but we would, they said,
keep on for the channel, and wait there
till she should come up.
As they were talking of the matter,
however, there came cry of "Sail hol"
from aft, and after few hours 1t
became certain that what had at first
appeared like a small white speck ahead,
was very heavy ship.
She was standing away from us, and
we did not gain upon her as fast as
might have been reasonably hoped,
considering the sailing qualities of our
brig, although fast enough to make it
evident that she could not escape.
Never before had I seen so exciting q
moment. Ahead was the big India
man, with everything set upon her long.
dusky yards, bearing cumbrously off in
hopeless attempt to avoid us, while un-
derfoot our staunch little brig, with all
her guns loaded, dashed on like deer
hound in pursuit of the flying prey.
/ could not help feeling pity for the
hapless Englishman /; but it was feel
ing soon lost in the wild, eager impulse
of the chase.
We got up within half mile. Wha-
a ship she was ! / had never before seen
such a vessel. Her lofty spars gave her
a majestic appearance, and her great,
black hull had q most imposing look.
We could perceive the copper sheathing
CLEAN under her counters as she rolled
and pitched in the sea.
Our captain and both lieutenants had
come forward, and were standing on the
forecastle with their glasses to their
eyes. Presently 1 observed them turn
and speak excitedly to each other. as il
suddenly startled.
Then the first lieutenant ran aft, and
in another moment there came the
sound of the boatswain whistle, piping
to wear ship
The helm was put up, and the Block
ade fell off from the wind, until hel
stern was toward the vessel we had beer
chasing.
! I was SO busy during this operation al