News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-07-24
Twice Taken.
IRWIN RUSSELL.
A STORY OF THE TROUBLES IN 1S12-15

A STORY OF THE TROUBLES IN 1S12-13.
In the year of 1913, while the British
fleet was blockading the Chesapeake
Bay, the schooner Ruby, laden with
-four and bound for Boston, was lying
in the Rappahannock river, waiting for
q chance to run the blockade and get to
sea. Captain Handy, a native of the
State of Maine, was a shrewd, practical
man, full of energy and pluck, and equal
to any emergency. At this time he was
right in the prime of life, being about
40 years of age.
One stormy night the ''Ruby,"
shrouded in nnistnnd almost impenetrable |
darkness, passed unheard and unseen
the vigilant blockading feet, and the
morning found her well out to sea, ]
veiled in thick, but friendly fog. For
four days she had light southerly winds
and foggy weather. On the morning of
the fifth day, Captain Handy judged
himself in the vicinity of Montauk
Point, and induIged the hope of reaching
the Vineyard Sound in safety. But he
was doomed TO disappointment, for as
the gray dawn began to appear, the fog
settled down on the water, disclosing
above the mist the looming spars and
rigging of an English seventy-four, not
eco yards distant.
Too late to escape. The loss of his
vessel and introduction of himself and
Il, l, g IOy,E
seemed inevitable. As if to dispel the
last hope of escape, a thirty-two pound
ball with a frightful and unearthly
scream shot across the bow. Interpret
ng the FIRE as a command to heave to,
the topsail was promptly thrown back
and the flying jib hauled down to await
the coming of the ship, which very soon
ranged up short distance to windward,
hauled up her course and backed her
main topsail.
The schooner was Immediately boarded
by a boat from the ship in charge of
the first lieutenant. All of the Ruby's
crew, with the exception OF Capt. H.,
were conveyed to the ship, while two
midshipmen and four seamen were trans
ferred from tine schooner, with orders to
proceed at once to Halifax. The two
vessels soon separated, the Ruby sailing
toward Halifax, and the ship to continue
her cruise off New York.
Capt. Handy soon began to task his
brain to devise some plan to retake the
schooner, of which he was large owner.
The captains pleasing address, inimita-
bIe manner in which he related his STIR
ring personal adventure as pioneer on
shore, and as a seaman along the coast,
and the Difference he paid to the young
officers in command, resulted in quickly
gaining for him the confidence and good
will of all on board; and last, but not
least. as Teconciler of hostile feelings,
Jug of Jamaica rum did very much to
wash out from the British hearts the
bitter national prejudice which was at
first entertained against the Yankee
prisoner.
The morning following the capture,
the Ruby passed the south shore of
Nantucket. At this time it was blow
ing hard from the southwark, the vessel
was put under short sail, the appetite OF
the midshipmeu for Jamaica rum in
creased with the gale, and after numer-
ous unsuccessful attempts to quench
their thirst, they became very drowsy,
and when Capt. III. very generously
offered to stand their watch, they made
no opposition. As soon as the officers
were asleep, the crew were invited to &C
and do likewise; an invitation which al
cold salt" never hesitates to accept.
Capt. II. on taking command
changed the course of the vessel from
east northeast to north northeast. which
was continued till late next morning
As the vessel was running at least tel
knots an hour, the captain went far Oh
his way literally rejoicing. at eight
bells when they came on deck the mex
morning, the Ruby was running agai1
east northeast, and so continued during
the day.
As the following night closed in the
wind was still blowing hard, now from
the south southeast heavy sea was
running and the thick fog rendered i
impossible to discern any objects half &
cable length distant. In view of these
facts, and knowing his close proximity
to the shores of Maine, Capt. H. adj
vised heaving the schooner to under &
double reefed foresail, giving as rea'