The Delaware farmer., 1883-09-07

all the guns on that side, ast..tbe sam,
time running out those on the opposit.
slde-hoping by this expedient to j
careen the ship as to bring the hole
out Of water. But the moment that
SO much weight was shifted, over she
went
The matches being open, the ship filled
Immediately, and in less than five min.
utes she sank with her whole crew Tho
Tom had one man killed and two wound
ed in the engagement,
The name of the pirate ship was
never asccrtained, nor was that Of her
captain; but that she was an enemy of
most gloomy and threatening front tbe
privateer'smen could well attest
Standing to the northward until in tba
track of vessels from Europe 70 tbo
West Indies, our patriotic adventures
next deserted heavy ship which proved
more worthy foe, if less desperate
one. She was the Townsend. a mail
packet, sailing between Falmouth and
The English captain, feeling that he
had much at stake, used every exertion
to defend the property entrusted to his
care. His ship carried more guns than
the priyateer, and they were well man
aged.
She had a strong crew, and, beside.
many Of her numerous passengers also
5ock part in the battle, so that. alto
5ether, she was areally formidable antag-
mist. One of her shots, striking the
Tom on the starboard quarter. wentinto
he cabin, where it tore through the
aptain's beeth, and, going across to the
'ort side, lodged in the Heutenant's
But the Toms forty-two-pounder
lade sad work on board the Townsend
atting up her hull and spars and spread
lg destruction among her defenders. At
myth, when their captain and a num-
7r OF others were killed, the English
en- struck their colors. First, however.
icy thew overload the ships mail. in
der that the Americans might not
oft by any information or other matter
at it contained.
Ii was not sufficiently heavy to sink
mediately, and the privateers men
receiving it as it foated, lowered their
at and secured it.
A proposition was now made bv the
lcer whom the death of the English
ptain had left in command. to ransom
ship in order that she might proceed
her voyage and the arrangement
presently effected, the sum paid be-
forty thousand dollars, which. con-
ering the value Of the ship and cargo.
S not excessive.
l romantic incident occurred in con-
'tion with the capture of this shin.
OF the Toms younger officers showed
ch kindness to an English lad, who.
lough only a passenger, had taken a
We part in the battle, and received q
ere wound. The English youth re-
noered the kindhearted American.
a year afterward in the West Indies.
n peace had been declared, the two
IN met.
ne American, who was a young gen
IAN OF good parentage, and fine
'atlon, became introduced to a sister
he youth he had befriended, and
ual attachment sprang up between
4. Six months later they We're mar
and their subsequent life, spent
y IN the Barbados and partly in the
ed States, was a prosperous and
" one.
the voyages of American privateer's-
were not always without associa-
which were softer than the roar of
on Or the call of the boatswain's
There was sometimes a rainbow
IS description resting upon the very
e of battle.
" prlVateers were more active than
ON, and few had more of romantic
ty IN their ocean record. Her an
nee is said to have been iauntv and
IN the extreme; and one would.
q, be apt to guess as much.
HOvv Ha Wodo - D.