Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-05-21
Trouble aboard.

Some years ago ran an old schoon-
er out of Mobile. She was a small craft
not more than l30 tons burden-and
had originally come from some North
ern port. / called her the Eutaw. and
Z made many profitable runs along the
coasts of the guilt; and two or three
times l doubled the cspes Of Florida.
While We lay at Mobile taking in a
load for New Orleans. Two Of the mos
desperate villains in Alabama were
apprehended. Their names we're Adolph
Leroy and Matt Vickers, and they had
committed a good many robberies aud
more than one murder in The country
between the big rivers. They we're
lodged In the Jail at Mobile, aud as
soon as they were thus sucure the evil
dence came in against Them fast and
strong, the number Of burglaries apd
highway robberies they bad committed
was almost beyond compute, and at
least FIVE murders were fastened upon
them. But obe morning it was found
that the prisoners bad escaped, and
those who bad beer so free 10 testify
against them turned pale when they
received tie information, and turned
away in mortal terror. A reward oil
s4.0GV was offered for their recapture.
or s2, 900 for one Of Them. But the,
were not TO be found. No one bad
seen them, and no traces OF them could
be discovered.
/ On the second day after the escape
Of these rascals l WAS ready TO sail,
and got under weigh about O'Clock
in the afte moon. My crew consisted
Of only myself and my two sons, Steph.
en- and John. Stephen was twenty
years old and Jack eighteen, and they
were both Of them stout, rugged boys.
Our runs were so short that l found
.his 10 be crew enough; though very
frequently took one or more hands
But on this occasion we had promise
Of quick, fair passage, and we three
concluded 10 run her through. We had
. sair wind for start. and run down
the bay at a good rate, opening the
passage between the DauphIn and Mo-
bile Point little after 6. We were
just passing the lighthouse, and | had
the helm, when sung out 10 the boys
to stand by The sheets. Stephen went
TO The main sheet, but | didn't see
Jack. / waited a few minutes. and
then sang out again. Presently the
boy came up from the fore-peak, but
instead Of gong 10 the sheet be came
aft, and l was just going to tell him
to 20 back 10 the fore sheet when dis
covered that he looked kind o. startled
and fearful.
What Is II p says I, forgetting the
sheets; for l knew that when ole Of ~iy
boys showed a quiverinp up there
was something more ti'An ordinary 70
pay.
He nut BE fingers 10 his lips, aad
told me TO speak low. For said he
we've got passengers aboard
'Ha-lunaway negroes z says /.
Not quite so simple returned Jack,
with dubious shake of the head
we've got two Villains sboafd.' -
What two7'
Leroy and Vlckers!'
Get outp said 1. thinking he must
be joking. % st.5 i ~. 81.
Father said he--and when he spoke
father in, that way knew there was
nothing bn, sober seriousness 10 what
was to come after il itch 700 thsy'rt
aboard this schooner! They're ia the
hold, chock for'id; and, what's more,
they mean to come out when we get
well outside I've heard it all y
/ steer.d straight out and lisiened to
JACK, for 1 knew it must be as be said.
We bad 40 forecastle parted of from
the hold, as all Of US that ever wanted
passage had plenty of room in The cab
10: but we had . fore.pesk parted of
ebock in between the bows, where We
stowed all rigging and ter buckets aud
sueh kind OF stuff. While we we're run
ming down, Jack bad gone inc
lbis place to pick out some rope yarn,
land As be found an easy seal upon au
old sail, be sat down there, with bis
back against the bulkhead, aud beRst
| to unlaY a piece ofrope for the yarns.
fHe bad not been at work a great while
before be heard a noise Among the
boxes in the hold, and after listening .
| few naatitss he knew dat somebody
was Ia there. He knew At coold not b.
either 4 or stephen, Ior he had hehr.
us both on deck, 80 he thought II mus
be D negro. Presently be heard = yolc.
snS tbsh an ans rer. There wsss two