Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-05-22
BY A PIRATE.
Thrilling Adventure at Sea in
Olden Times.

re we're sitting one sunny morning
the esplanadc at Weymouth, my
r old fl end Colonel Ramsay and 1,
tching with interest the movements
an unusually large vessel at some
kance from the land. Accustomed
ice vessels OF all sizes and builds, 1
" at once that she was no mere
rchantman; aud for some time. as
approached little by little, and
weda loityside and forest of spars.
h the Colonel and I were inclined to
Dix her y large iron-clad, probably
achcd from the Channel Fleet. But
yer distance lcssencd, and we saw
her lofty sides were painted white
were scored along their whole
9Th with small square ports, we
w that she was one of those great
IAN rroorships employed by the Adj
Falty for the special purpose of car
be- our soldiers in safety and COM
10 or from our Eastern depend
:. Presently she rounded the
kakwater. headed for the anchorage
Portland. and in doing so, passed
ind the Nothe Fort and out of our
All, my dear madam" said the
onel, as he removed and wiped his
>ses, they take more care of the
fish subaltern nowadays than they
when l joined the service. Nobody
ever heard of a troopship Of those
$; We just took a passage in any
SCI that vas available, no matter if
Was fit for the work or not; and
ere these ships take weeks. we used
take months, and regard it as a mat
Of course"
Yes" said I; x have often read of
iculties, aud even dangers, incurred
Cur troops on their Indian voyage;
! used to think them probably
Fatl.y exaggcrated."
n; aggggerated, MADAME quoth the
onal, hotly. Say, rather, not a
Ill part was told. I once, on my
t voyage, encountered perhaps the
St b!oodthirsty pirate that then
led tie seas"
low te'riblc!." l cried. "a pirate!
fought a vessel carrying troops
AN Ie certainly safe from such an
EeAS.h
Say" interrupted the Colonel. II
not said that the ship was full of
ls' troops; though even in that case
night be unequal to the task of
ns oil q determined pirate. But
sase | am speaking of was very diff
Nv mo If you care to hear it, will
it to YOU"
y should like it very MUCH" I said;
/ attraction of q story of real life is
great to be resisted"
very we'll" said the old Colonel;
IN you shallhavc it, whether worthy
ssour interest or not. You must
he continued. ..that when /
leu the army-more than fifty years
was gazetted to a regiment
u chartered in the West Indies; and
r uaAlng inquiries Us to my passage,
r Is informed that a vessel would
,,y sal for that station, and that
on,e other officers. belonging to
oSh and other regiments. would
d passage her. She was a barque
'm DIul seven hundred tons, called the
nv, AMI | joined her at Gravesend.
u S' Trim, little craft she was; and
uap'a n prided himself on her APP
Ea 49, fa and inspired his men with the
y .ee!ing. l found two or three
l.aIows going out like myself to
AZ. regiments; a married Major
as VINO and child and his sister.
inir aaa the two other ladies going
,I'n Their husbands abroad. As
ar1' W. We're shorthanded enough as
rd es inc crew, who barely mum.
~ twenty all told.
"' before l went down to ioin the
bianh 'errlblc tale OF outrage upon
ill., IL seas seas had occupied the minds
Of Ihglant. for the papers were
cry ~ NC horrible story vi the dis
Ec!y y th 'at Morning Star, und of the
annv ,nat was revealed when that
TT ycssel was boarded as a dcre.
tc to,d remember Alright, they who
sc ronu OFT to board and examine The
deserted ship found, on en-.