Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-24


me its penalty aboard this ship
death at the yardarm!'' sounded from
the deep, gutteral voices of the crew. who
shrank beneath the piercing eye of their
captain
1T is my duty, said he to watch over
your interests and my own with jealous
eye. never deceive you, my men. The
traitor shall receive his punishment though
pursue him to the foot of the throne
Enough, to your duty.
The hours passed on The busy crew
had landed the cargo, and in the hands Of
the confidential agent it was soon hidden
from the most careful search of the revenue
officers.
The greatest danger was yet to be en-
cOuntered. The cargo landed, the lugger
must again sail for the sheltered protec-
ton of island, but the rising moon now
threw its mellow and unwelcome light
unwelcome at least to those on board the
Dolphin across the heaving swells of the
Irish sea.
Hardly had the lugger got under way
before the cruiser was again discovered
lying midway between the English coast
and the island. The course the Dolphin
steered and in fact, the only route she
could take, would bring her within full
view of the cruiser and within range of
her guns. The captain of the lugger view
ed the dilemma with calm countenance,
giving his orders in a tone that inspired
| those about him with fresh courage. The
| two vessels were now fast approaching
each other, when coarse hail came down
across the water from the sloop: ''What
vessel Is that?''
The captain of the lugger, knowing that
every moment he could gain In delay was
| of the utmost importance in the further
ance Of his purpose to run the gauntlet of
the cruisers broadside, made mumbling
and inaudible reply through lis trumpet,
| so that the query from the sloop was put:
what answer do you make?'
The breeze, still freshening, drove the
| lugger, with her widespread canvas, swift
| ly through the water. She was already
nearly abrest of the cruiser, which, hav-
ing tackled, now stood ON the same course
as her adversary.
"What vessel is that?" was the question
sloop, to which he added: Answer, or |
shall fire into you"
No reply being made to this hail, the
| captain Oe the York, for SO the cruiser was
called, ordered shot fired into the lugger,
'to wake her up, as he observed, and
passing through the white field of the
mainsail, struck the water far to the wind
ward. The compliment was Immediately
returned from a heavy gun amidships of
! the luG9er, the ball Of which aimed by the
hands of the captain himself, shot away
the foretopmast of the York, which fell
with al its hamper to the deck. A fierce
broadslGe from the cruiser followed this
discharge, making sad havoc among the
symmetrical rig of the Dolphin.
The armament of the lugger consisted of
four small pieces Of ordnance and one gun
amldships, revolving upon pivot, which
was of superior metal t thai Of any gun on
! board the York. For %he instrument Of
death the missiles of destruction were so
faithfully aimed that already had the
foremost of the cruiser come numbering up
on the deck, confounding the crew and
greatly retarding the means of defense.
The York carried sixteen guns with a COM
plement of about 100 men, She was I'M
able for several moments to return the
constant and destructive fire Of the lIgger,
the wreck of the foremost having fallen
along the starboard battery, being the side
nearest the Dolphin. Both vessels were so
cut 10 in their rigging as to make but
little Roadway. ard were now rising and
falling on sWells OF the sea within a few
yalGs o. each Other
Several OF tie heavy shots from the lug
ger Lad penetrated the York side at the
water line. and a large number Of tie crew
of the latter vessel were piped to the
pumps, as the craft was fast making large
quantities of water. At this moment the
eye of the smuggler captain rested upon
the person of one of his own foremost men
4l,No =
a moment across his mind; the treachery
was accounted for, and there stood the
! traitor In an instant the grapnel irons
were ordered TO be thrown and the board
ers were piped to duty. A few hasty words
! from the commander of the Dolphin suffic-
ed to inform his followers that the traitor
of the crew was on board the York, and,
| headed by their brave and daring captain,
the lugger' men leaped on the cruiser S
| deck
Secure the traitor and back with you
all, cried the captain, pointing with one
hand to the trembling villain who had be-
trayed them, while with his other he kept
a score of men at bay with his flashing
sword.
After securing their treacherous comrade
the Dolrhin's crew retreated swiftly to
their own vessel amid the astonishment
of the crew of the York, who had been
taken completely by surprise, the deed
being accomplished in far less time than
is required to relate the particulars
Regaining his own deck the captain of
the lugger now backed his topsails, while
those that remained to the York continued
full thus the two vessels parted The
Dolphin as she fell astern of her antago-
mist, gave her one ratking shot, which did
fearful havoc upon her deck. The captain
of the cruiser was forced to make all speed
for the shore, when the the York was run
aground In a sinking condition. Thus
ended the fight between the lugger and the
man-of-war, showing what cool courage
and skill can accomplish against superior
force.
The Dolphin sailed for the cove on the
eastern side of the island. sorely shattered
in hull and rigging by the severe contest
with the kings cruiser.
The lugger is again anchored in the
quiet cove and all hands a1e piped to wit
ness punishment. The traitor who had
betrayed the ship had confessed his guilt,
and the price of his treachery was found on
his person. The crew were at their sta
tions, all save six seamen, chosen by lot,
who stood apart from their companions
with downcast eyes and trembling forms,
for they were the agents through whom
fellow creature was to be launched, in cold
blood, into eternity. The hearts of oak
that few hours since stood fearlessly at
their guns dealing death and destruction
around, and with blood flowing like water
at their feet now uembled.
A strange quiet reioned throughout the