The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-08-01

ION tInent was TO the iarboard Of u
and We were making for it 10 orde
to evade beating close to Port Tow
send. 1t was food tide and with !.
good north breeze we passed the
lights Of the port; when day broke
we were in the sound. The tide was
then ebbing and against us. In or.
der not to lose time, the wind being
unfavorable, Sloan ordered the two
yawls ahead to tow u.s., besides usine
the kedge anchor and the windlass
Everything appeared favorable
Sloan was all smiles, the crew were
in glee; l felt sure the thing was a
success. The day was well passed,
the tide was at its lowest ebb begin.
ming to flow in slowly; our yawls had
been hoisted aboard and the wind.
lass had given its last squeak hoist
ing up the kedge; when straight be
fore us, rounding bend and in full
sight, hove Mr.. Jake's revenue cut.
ter. / cannot describe the. scenes
that occurred. The men seemed par
alyzed, unable to move, and the
mates riyeted to their feet with ewes
almost starting out of their sockets,
were starring at the approaching
white mass as at phantom rising
from the deep. Sloane alone was
equal to the emergency, he rushed at
the wheel, knocked down the stupe.
fed sailor who held it and yelled
"All hands ready! About ship!'
As the brig swung round, ropes,
yards and sails clat,eying, she al
most laid on her beam, ends. A blue
whitish streak from the cutter. the
report of cannon and,the splashing
Of the water short distance from
u.s., was enough to wake up the
frightened crew. Each one knew
what be was expected to do and
what he was to find if taken. An
other gunshot which barely missed
our hull sent each. hand to bis place
for service, and in less time than it
takes to relate, the briggs sails swell
ed up, and raising herself she soon
opened in two foamy jets the blue
waters Of the sound.
/ know that old Jake seeing our
unusual motions was just as much
puzzled as we were, or he would have
boarded US long before. At any rate
the few minutes it took him to re
feet and wonder, gave time to Sloan
to get everything shipshape; with
every stitch of canvass out and the
revenue cutter lin chase. "BaDg!r
Bang" after MS, we fairly flew by |
Port Townsend; where taking the
land breeze in full as we rounded in.
to the straits, We bid "Good.byer' to |
The cutter. She, however, kept be-
hind u.s. her white sails keeping in
sight till night. l had stayed on |
leck all this while, but the Perki nses
we're below, a pitiable sight to see.
As soon as it was fairly dark, Sloan
'ook an empty cask. which he bal.
lasted, placing a lantern 10 it; the
TASK was then lowered in the sea and
away by the yawl; all our
lights out, we took cohtrar, course
md considered ourselves safe, Sloan
ind l went down in the cabin TO con.
'ult with Perkins " at to do with
IS passengers. But events were
marching apace and couple of bar
els of liquor knocked in BY the crew,
oon set the lot of demons at their
york; the shuffling of feet, the cries
nd ihowls, the rolling and jerking Oft
he vessel which showed she had
ost her steerage way, called Sloan
n deck; as be opened the compan
on hatch going up the roar made
be ladies pale; / had been there be
ore on the South American coast
nd knew what was to come. Fore
7arned is to be- forearped, 80 Per
ins and / armed ourselves and made
he ladies dress themselves in light
raveling order. Muf1ling myself as
'ellsas 1scould, I made Perkins put
ut the msin cabin lights keeping
My dim one to see how to man.
eavre. My plan was all made: to
ush away the lighted barrel. The
awl had been lowered and instead oil
eng hoisted aboard, in the excite
tent it had been left towing astern
made up my mind to slide down to
by the rope which heldit, aud le.
erkins lover bis wife and daughter
me through the cabin windows; be- :
blowing after. Ropes which We
'und IN the cabin were prepared by
) for the purpose.
AS Tcrawled out Of the companion
'or, ! was astooished to see the brig}
ying TO, top sails furled and mainI
Ill close reefed. The crew. were :