Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-01-02
THE CRUISE OF THE TOM.

Tie Tom. of Baltimore, was a saucy
hermaphrodite brig. whose men took
great pride in the tony forty two
pouuder which she carried amidshipS.
and entertained also an exceeding
admiration for the skill of their first
lieutenant, Mr.. Gale, who in all cases of
emergency took upon himself the i'm
mediate direction of that destructive
engine.
one extremely fOggy night off Ber-
uuda. the Tom found herself in the
midst of what seemed fleet. The
ships of a convoy always carried lights
alaft after dark. in order that each
might know the whereabouts of the
others. but upon this occasion the air
WAS 50 thick with mist that no light
would show unless very close at hand
80 that il was only at intervals that the
crew Of the priyateer could detect the
glimmer Of one; Yet the fact that they
could occasionally do 50 proved their
unknown neighlors to be much nearer
than could have been wished under all
tie uncertainties of the case. 1t aP-
reared probable that some of the stran-
gers might be merchantmen and others
men-of war, but. of course. no definite
conclusion could be arrived at in this
respect.
As there fell at the moment an al
most entire calm. the relative positions
Of the vessels could be changed but
very slowly. if at all; but the men of
the Tom keeping q careful silence, her
proximity remained unknown to the
Others. whatever they might be. Now
and then a light would show family
through the fog, seeming To be close TO
the privateer, then becoming wholly
ObScUTeG by an Increasing density of
the mist. The weather was precisely
in that state which is apt to keep sailors
nj work shifting studding sails from
one side To the other of their vessel, in
order TO profit by whatever light air
there NAV be. as il comes now from
staIb0ard and now from port. Occa-
sionally b1atswain's pipe WAS heard; {;
and the hollow atmosphere permitted
even the words OF command on board
Of some Of the strangers 10 be made out
With great diStinctneSs by the priva-
teer's men. The sentences were some
what Ike these:
lay h'aft, ere. and give pull hon
that miZZen- tops + 'alyars, The yard S
Sagged-git il h-up " ere I belongS!'
Hin with them larboard stun
ueIsls,"
small pull hon the weather brases.'
Come h'up with the fore and main
tackS and h'ease h'aff sOmmut hon the
sheets:'
II eight bells. Call the watch there"
The nationality OF the strangers
could 10 longer remain in doubt
In the morning, after the sunbeams
had dispersed the fog, it was found that
the feet consisted of three West India
men and a Seyenty-fOur-gun ship.
The an-Of-waT Immediately gave
chase TO the Tom. then about three
miles OF. and, as the pursuer had the
best of the breeze, the privateer's-men
saw themselves in a position of no little
peril. But, after the kings ship had
succeeded in decreasing the distance by
u third, size ceased TO gain. The chase
hco A1-AAlAhN Al lA44o AOA "a
number of hOurs-fOr the American
captain, finding that the breeze had
hecome steady, and consequently that
he could sail three miles to the enemy'S
two, Slung a drag under the Toms S
bows in order TO deaden her headway
and give the BrltOn such hope of over
taking her as would cause him to con-
unue the chase until he should be
widely separated from the merchant
men.
EIe long the West India vessels were
SO far off that their top-mastS could
scarcely be seen above the bending
ocean; and now the Tom began TO try
her great piyot-gun upon the seventy
four. 1t was longer and heavier than
any Of the enemy's guns, aud, although
tie distance was two miles, Lieutenant
Gale had strong hopes of being able to
make his maIk somewhere about the
busy Engllshman.
But you won't hit hin at the first
trial, - said Captain Brown, the COM
mauder.
NO, don't expect to-" replied the
Lieutenant. Il guess about the third
fire I'll plump shot into him. The
FIRST may 90 over and the second under,
but the third'll fetch himl''
Mr.. Gale was no boaster, and seldom
undertook more than he could perform.
The privateer was going very steadily,
with but little rise and fail of the deck,
50 that the occasion was favorable, but
still, even big seventy-four FOUNDER al
a distance of two miles could be no very
encouraging mark for a single cannon
ball
H. those days, the big guns were not
tired as now, by means of percussion
caps; but mall stood by with slow
match and clapped it upon the priming
al The word.
MIR. Gale took unusual pains in sight
ing the long forty-twO. Once or twice
lie was upon the very point of giving
the order to let drive, but hesitated and
sighted again, the man with the mattel
all the while standing with arm out
stretched and the bright coal glowing
Now little higher, and again little
lower, was brought the muZZle of the
huge cannon, as thelieutenant squinted
along the iron, till the lookers-on be.
came inpatient for the flash and roar
-, never mind the first shot," saiC
The captain; you'll have to try goOt
many times before you hit the fellowl
know it," said Mr.. Gale, still
squirting intently and never looking
up; but | want to come as near as
ah, there! little lowerl / want t
come as near as-Fire::''
Down came the burning match, ant
the Whole vessel shook at the roar o
tie foTty-two. For moment tn.
smoke was blindiIfg-and what smell
OF bHrnt powder there was about th'
Qeckl
Il saw gray streak" says the cap
tam; and a mighty straight one, too