Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-08-18
CAPTAIN JOE.


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 worthyman
every way. He had made many success
full voyages, and when he LEFT port IN
January, 1862, for the West Indies and n
market, he expected to make Nabby Mar
tin his wife on his return. She "as the
only daughter Of Capt. Ike Martin, fore
man of Thurston's disti!cry. Martin was
also a native OF Cape Cod, where he had
his home, though his wife and daughter
spent much of their time IN Newport 1t
was at Cape Cod that Joe and Nabby be-.
came acquainted-in fact they had grown
up togethcr-and when Joe, who was
much the older, went to sea, they prom
ised to love on md in time marry each
other. The Dolphin, owned by Metcalf,
Bowler and others, brought molasscs to
Thurston's distillcry, and frequently
when she was expected, Nabby came
round in some coastiug vessel, ostensbly
to see her father When Joe sailed the
last time, she returned to Cape Cod to
get ready for the wedding.
All went well with the Dolphin till she
ncarcd her destination, when she was
taken by spaniords, carried into Havana
and col dcmncd Almost Immediately
Capt. Joe was stricken with yellow fever,
from which, strange to say, he recovered;
for without q friend at hand he could
have had but little attention, and, be-
sides, every on was t ken up with the
danger of bombardmcnt, 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
frigatcs or transports off the harbor. The
demonstration against the city was draw
Ing to a head. Watson, the English
engineer, had said that he could breach
the walls of Moro Castle in eight and
forty hours. There was evidence that
the attempt would be made, aud al
though the Sraniards were sanguine
about holding out, they were nervous
and excited. In this stir, at night, Joe
g,idcd away in small boat. Fearing
the sentincs high up on the Moro might
catch sight of his boat, he kept as near
to the oppos tie shore as he dared to go,
and was rounding the Punta when there
came a challenge and shot from the
sentinel. Fooli,hly he discharged the
pistol he had sccretcd, more in defiance
than for anything els, when a heavy
lHul Oh tlc suOIc ulI tuc iuNtbnS iuIl VI
a musket told that he had killed his man.
There was no time to lose now, for rs he
struck out there came the quick, h,ayy
stroke of guard boat near at hand.
Joe was agaiua prisoner, and this time
in the hands of inluriatcl men, who
would have killed him upon the spot but
for the officer in command. lie ordered
them to lift the dead sentinel into the
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 hal
gore their rounds.
When the guard-boat was gone and
NIL was still, Joe, thus hampered, with
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 So
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 land
breeze swept him from the shore, and he
clung to the hope that some ono OF the
ships or transports would pick him up
aud relieve him from his dreadful posi-
tion. Just then ah,avy blow struck the
boat another, and still another, and in
moment he knew that he was surrounded
by sharks that had scented blool, and
were eager for their prey. For yards
around there was blaz! of phosphorcs-
cent light; here it bubbled up like n fiery
cauldron; there it was fiery serpent,
as u shark rushed along, or fell in n
shower Of fiery stars, as monster struck
the surface with his tail. The bail of
the sentinel had pierced the bottom of
the boat, and the water, steadily gain
ing on her. sank her lower and lower,
bringing the gunwalc nearer to the sur
face of the Sea nearer to the swapping
jaws. 1t was too much for the poor fcl-
low, who saw before him aterriblc death,
fro,,, y,k;,t th,,a ,,aa nn oenoNa and