The Republican journal., 1888-10-11
Beating the Pirates,

MARITIME HISTORY.
In the year 1913 my father was a carpenter
of an English ship called the Golden Rule.
chartered from Liverpool to the West Indies
and return. says New York sun writer. She
were Il small hut snug ship, carrying about II
men. and she had two guns mounted Oh her
decks as Il protection against pirates. There
| Were plenty of suspicious craft hanging about
the Caribbean sea in those days, and all mer-
chant vessels had to be prepared to defend
themselves. One of the guns was big fellow.
presented to the owner of the ship hy a club Of
gentlemen. and after it mounted he was
warned that ii would rack the ship TO piece, if
ever discharged.
The Golden Rule made a fine run of il until
almost down to the islands, when one morning,
at about o'clock, she came up with brig fly
Ing English color. and q flag of distress. The
captain ordered the ship TO lie to. and the mate
to pull off to the stranger in the yawl. The
distance between them was only a quarter OF 4
mile, and the yaWl was soon alongside The
mate went up first. and the two men soon fol
lowed. and in a few minutes the stranger
showed a signal which read: more help. or
we >ink.' 1t was beautiful day, with light
wind and 10 sea- and the captain at sent
off the second mate with four men This made
eight out of the twelve
Neither Of the guns was loaded but when
the second boat left us my father went at It
and loaded both pieces. having the help of one
of the sailors. Into the smaller thev crammcd
anything to answer for grape and canister, and
into the larger solid shot When the crew Of
the second boat reached the brig and went over
the rail, they were received with cheer, hut
in few minutes both boats, crammea full of
| men, left the brig for the ship. Seeing this my
father made bold to tell the captain that he be-
lievcd the stranger a pirate. and that the boats
should be fired upon. Capt. Davis laughed at
the idea. as his glass revealed the faces OF his
own men in the boats. or 50 he thought. 1t
turned out they had been forced to yield up
jackets and caps. but not one of them had left
the brig. The boats pulled right alongside,
and when it was too ate it was discovered that
they were heavily armed. and We're no doubt
pirates They were aboard in Il jitly, meeting
no opposition whatever.
1t may perhaps be called cowarlice in my
father for slipping into the cabin as the pirates
tumbled aboard. He found a hling-piace
under a lounge. and he heard all that Went OH.
The pirates didn't seem to he such Il murder
Gus lot. They towed their brig alongside.
broke out such of the cargo aS suited their
fancy and cleaned the lockers of every dollar
in cash. They were full Of horse play and
| rude tests, but no ole was hurt. About noon
they We're ready TO depart The wind was now
blowing from the west. and they put all the
ships crew into the yawl without food. water.
sail, or oars, and turned the boat adrift. The
idea was to get rid OF them without hlood-hcd,
and 1t was Il pretty sure way. She drove off.
broad side on, and the slightest increase IN the
size Of the waves must swamp her. II the
weather held fine, it was death from thirst aud
starvation. When the crew had been disposed
of the pirates descended into the hold and
bored several auger holes through her bottom.
They laughed and jested a> if it were good
joke, and all Were pretty drunk when the brig
was ready to depart.
My father now removed the imputation Of
cowardice by performing a nervy act. lie
didn't know how many holes had been bored
or how soon the ship would 20 down, but
thought from the actions Of the pirates that
she would not swim another half hour. He
felt that he was doomed man, and he wanted
revenge. As soon as he heard the pirates cast
ing OIL he rrept up the companion, and saw HAT
the big gun which was on that side Of the ship,
had not been mcdGled with lie g"t a horn Of
powder from the arms chest, crcpt along the
deck TO the cooks house unseen, and there
found the iron poker in the stove red hot. a if
one Of the pirates had meant TO use It to carry
out some dcsi IN. The two vessels had locked
yards, and the brig had some trouble in getting
clear. When she finally drew away she fell of
a>crn. but as she made sail she came up a-ra!n.
She was not more than pistol shot away. and
was just even with the big -un. when father
kicked the port open, took Il hasty sight, and
primed and discharged the cannon. He was
knocked down and temporarily deafcncl hy the
loud report. and when lie reached bis feet
again three mangled bodies We're living on The
deck, together with 4 great laifi" Of >puter>.
blocks. boards and stuff. The sen around Wa
covered with wreckag". while the br- wa,
nowhere to be seen.
What had happened: Wcll sir The ball
from the big cannon had smashed into the brig
powder magazine and blown her up. 1t was
entirely chance shot. but it Went straight to
the mark Not one single man Of the 60 Or
| more making up the pirates crew escaped with
his life As soon as my father could realize hi~
good fortune he ran for some plugs and mai
LET , and urOppeI into the hold. Not more than