The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-01-27
Astorx oflals.

Years ago, when Richmond VILLAGE
was known as Whites Landing, Cap.
tain IL was one of the prominent
men in the place.
During the embargo OF 1912, his
ship being in Boston, lie took passage
on II COASTER THAT being the "Flyins-
Yankee" route in those days. for u
visit to his home.
Shortly after leaving Boston, and
when the schooner was well out OF the
bay. u vessel was sighted in the oiing
steering straight tor them. The
stranger was made out to be an En-.
glish cruiser, and, rs sho was gaining
last OH them, it was evident that the
coaster was doomed.
Seeing how matters stood, Captain
L. went below and dressed himself
us q fullfledged countlyman, blue
stockings. cowhide shoes. pants half
mast high, and other rig to match.
Soon the Englishman fired q shot
across the schooner's bow. and, hav-
ing compelled her to heave to, sent IN
armed boat alongside.
Captain L., when he saw the
Britishers coming over the rail, pre-
tended to be terribly frightened, aud
believing out at the top OF his voice,
Don't kill me! Don't shoot" jump.
ed down into the cabin and into his
berth, "all standing" as the phrase
is, and pulled the quilt over his head.
1t wasn't long before q British OF.
ficer had him by the heels pulling him
out OF his bunk, Captain L. mean.
while numbering and loudly
begging them not to kill him.
saying he "hadn't done no.hin',"
and all he wanted was to "git back to
the farm and see marin and theCals
This amused the officer, who, proba.
bly, thinking he had caught q regular
Jonathan, who could do no harm,
but afford considerable sport, retain.
ed him OH the schooner instead of
sending him with part of the coasters
crew abroad the cruiser.
The prize crew consisted OF the off.
Ger and two men, with orders to take
the captured schooner to Halifax.
After the cruiser was we'll out of the
way Captain L. told the officer he
had some grog in the cabin, which he
was "tnkin' home to dad for hayin',"
and asked him down to have some,
an invitation readily accepted. Cap.
tain L. was very free with the
liquor, insisting upon mixing it
himself, as he was sure he could
suit the Englishman's taste,
which was proved by the latter quick
~ draining the proifered drains. Cap
tain Ii during this time managed TO
turn the most OF his grog down inside
his shirt-collar, until he had got the
officer well "corned." and then he be-
gan to brag about his craftsmanship,
telling how he had "shot more bars
than any livin' Iniin," and he'd "be
gol.darned if he couldn't outshoot any
Britisher that ever wore arcd jacket,"
and finally offered to bet "bottle OF
dads old Jamaica" lie could beat the
officer shooting at mark, o. WAGER
quickly taken.
The officer, leaving his sword on the
cabin table. went on deck, followed by
Captain L., who kept up appear.
ances by tumbling over the hatch
combings. and sprawling on to the
deck. They took the cooks galley
for a mark. but the Englishman, who
had the first shot, was so drunk that
he could not hit it. Captain
Il now said: "Let me have t'other
pistol m I'll show We haow shoot
bars down tn Stark's." No sooner
had he got hold OF the weapon than
he leaped into the air, cracked his
heels together, and roared out in his
hurricane voice: "I'm Captain--and
l command this schooner" Then he
ordered the Englishman to 90 below,
and, suiting the action to the word,
seized him by the collar and pitched
him headlong into thehold. He then,
with his pistol, drove the two English
sailors down after the officer, and
having securely fastened the matches
over them, with the aid OF a man and
boy of the coasters crew, who had
been left on board, put the vessel
about and took her back to Boston,
not thinking it safe to run for the
kennebec, as the mastheads of the
English man.o'-war were still visible
above the horizon Mel
journal.