Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-07-20

wenl lhe knellshmans guns and lh
Yankee coaster scented "a M the faster
hul lhe brig was gaining mpldlyi Near
er and nearer i came, and shol aiie
shot rddled lhr poor devoted schooner
Presently her mainmasl went b. lh'
b0arA Then her howspui dropped
and finally she lay helpless, sinking
roiien, useless mass upon the Walor
which must soon open lls bosom 20 Civ
her rest.
Meanwhile the Polly Ann had run W
her anchor and made sail and as ih'
brig overlook her prize, the suooessiu
Yankee was passing hehlni Segaln. II
short time the island WAS LEFT upor
her slaFboari quarter and once mor,
she Was in fall view oi the kngllshman,
Lets hoaye-io hers a lltlle while
Just TO SEQ the fun, = said Wait.
This was readily agreed toi for Tho
Polly Ann was just IN the mouh OF the
river with the wind fair for running her
up At any moment,
So the schooner was hove 20, and all
hands gathered afl to watch the opera
tions Of the evening. Beside the heavy
guns which Wait had slowed away un-
der the maln.haich for the priyaieers,
he had a lot Of muskets. lle had eight
OF these brought up and loaded, and the
Yankee flag got ready for running up
10 the main peak.
The brig was seen to overhaul the
poor. rlddled, dlsmanllod hulk, and our
Yankee ianoied they could almost hear
the British curse and swear
4" but won't they cuss a lectle more
when they see useN said jenkins.
Reckon thoy will, ~ responded Cap
tain Wait.
In few minutes from that time tho
brig was seen 10 put up her helm, and
very soon afterwards the old hulk gave
n lurch and went down.
"They see usp cried Walt, as the brig
put her head about.
And so It would seem; for the man.
of-war not only put about, but her men
crowded upon her forecasile and gazed
OF to where the Yankee schooner lay
Up went her studdlng-sails, below and
aloft, and she came blowing through the
water at a swift rate.
At length she fired one Of her bow
guns, and the bali fell direct beneath tho
end Of the Yankees flying jib-boem.
"Up with the helmn cried Captain
Wait. "Haul over the main sheetsl
Get out the musketsV'
The muskcis were taken by the men,
even the man at the wheel going in for
one and as soon as the vessel was near
ly headed up the uyer, they gathered
along by the taffrail The Stars and
Stripes were run up to the peak, and as
the glorious ensign opened It's magic
folds TO the breeze, the Captain gave the
order 10 fire.
The reports of the eight muskets rang
out upon the air; three hearty cheers
We're given by the homeward-bound
men; and then the Polly Ann danced
away up her native river.
Surely the officers and crew of the
brig must have felt particu-
larly foolish about that time. And that
they did feel so is evident from a re-
mark her commander made TO poor
fisherman whom he oyerhauled for fish
on the evening Of that very day. Itwas
n fisherman who had ventured down oil
Cape Small Point after haddock He
asked the fisherman ii the Polly Ann
had entered the river.
"Ye-e-es, sir, y answered the poor fel.
low
"Did she carry much Of n loadP"
"Gerewsaleml yewd a thought so, ] |
reckon, answered the fisherman, who |
seemed desirous Of giving an emphatic
reply. "She was loaded daown to the
yun'lls, sir. It's marcy at she didn't
iinkl'
The Englishman replied in very ex-
ended and very elaborately wrought
sentence of oaths, and added ~ wish
,he had sunk! | never was so fooled
before; and never will be againm
But the man spoke without counting
lis cost. The Polly Ann stopped at
Bath and unloaded her large guns and
ammunition; and three days afterward
wo sprightly privateers sailed down the
liver, and captured the brig-of-war, and
arried her into port.
Meanwhile the successful schooner
,ept on up the river carrying gladness
o all patriotic hearts; furnishing food
or hundreds of famishing bodies, and
Inspiring many desponding souls with
lew hopes and aspirations.