Connecticut western news., 1886-08-25
CAPTAIN JOE.
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
 Joe Duncan commanded the schooner Dolphin. She was built for him, for he had shown himself to be seaman. A native of Cape Cod, he had followed the sea from boyhood, and was worthy man every way. He had made many success full voyages, and when he left port Tn January, 176s, for the West Indies and a market, he expected to make Nabby Mar tin his wife on his return. She was the only daughter of Capt. Ike Martin, fore man of Thurston's distillery. Martin was also native of Cape Cod, where he had his home, though his wife and daughter spent much of their time Tn Newport. It was at Cape Cod that Joe and Nabby be- came acquainted-in fact they had grown up together-and when Joe, who was much the older, went to sea, they prom ised to love on and in time marry each other. The Dolphin, owned by Metcalf, Bowler and others, brought molasses to Thurston's distillery, and frequently when she was expected, Nabby came round in some coasting vessel, ostensibly to sec her father. When Joe sailed the last time, she returned to Cape Cod to get ready for the wedding.
 All went we'll with the Dolphin till she neared her destination, when she was taken by Spaniards, carried into Havana and COT demncd. Almost immediately Capt. Joe was stricken with yellow fever, from which, strange to say, he recovered; for without a friend at hand he could have had but little attention, and, be- sides, every one was ken up with the danger of bombardment the English having gathered their forces, under Ad- mirals Pocock ard Rodney, for that pur- pose.
 Once able to be out, Joe set his mind on making his escape, hoping, under cover of night and the excitement that prevailed, to get on board one of the frigates or transports off the harbor. The demonstration against the city was draw Ing to head. Watson, the English engineer, had said that he could breach the walls of Morro Castle in eight and forty hours. There was evidence that the attempt would he made, and al- Enough the Sraaiards were saneuine about holding out, they were nervous and excited. In this stir, at night, Joe g;ided away in small boat Fearing the sentinels high up on the Moro might catch sight of his boat, he kept as near to the oppos te shore as he dared to go, and was rounding the Punta when there came challenge and shot from the sentine, Foolishly he discharged the pistol he had secreted, more in defiance than for anything else, when heavy thud on the shore and the rattling fall of musket told that he had killed his man. There was no time to lose now, for as he struck out there came the quick, heavy stroke of a guard-boat near at hand. Jce was again prisoner, and this time in the hands of infuriate1 men, who would have killed him upon the spot but for the officer in command. He ordered them to lift the dead sentinel into tho prisoners boat, and lash the living and the dead together, back to back. This done, they secured the boat to the shore, intending to toe her in when they had gone their rounds.
 When the guard boat was gone and all was still, Joe, thus hampered, witt almost superhuman strength, drew him self and burden near enough to the bow of the boat to reach and loose the painter which allowed her to drift away. St tied, he could not have used an oar had one been at hand; there is no tide of any moment in those waters, but .the lano breeze swept him from the shore, and ht clung to the hope that some one of the ships or transports would pick him uI and relieve him from his dreadful posi- tion.. Just then heavy blow struck tho boat, another, and still another, and in moment he knew that he was surrounded by sharks that had scented blood, ant were eager for their prey. For yard =-6round there was blaz, of phosphores cent light; here it bubbled up like fer, cauldron; there it was fiery serpent as shark rushed along, or fell in
 sh wer of fiery stars, as monster struc
 the surface with his tail. The bail c the sentinel had pierced the bottom c the boat, and the water, steadily gain
 ing On her, sank her lower and lower
 bringing the gunwale nearer to the SUI Sa4ace of the sea-nearcr to the snappin
 jaws It was too much for the poor fe
 low. who saw bcfcre hir, :: terrible dcatf
 s1a which there was no escape, an