Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-01-04
PIRACY FRUSTRATED.


A number of ladies aud gentle
men wers seated on the hurricane
deck of a fine steamer running be-
tween New Orleans and Havana.
The sun had disappeared beneath
the deep blue waters, leaving a
broad track of dancing reddish
light that tinged the water with
q beautiful effect. The light
breeze swept gently over the wa
ter, and the passengers, Judging
from the many exclamations of de-
light, appeared to fully enjoy the
scene.
The attention of some was di.
rected towards a long, low object,
that rested like a cloud on the
distant horizon, and as the genial,
gray.halred captain came busting
aft, with pleasant smile illuminat-
ing his weather beaten features, a
young lady inquired OF him what it
was. For an instant the old sea
dog glanced in the direction indi-
Gated by the fair hand, then with
an attempt to modulate his voice
into its sweetest tones, replied:
"That cloud, as you call it, young
lady, is perhaps better known as
the Tortugas bank, and it is in
this vicinity that l once had an
exciting adventure in fact, it was
a fight for my life"
ooh, do tell us all about it, cap
tain; we should so much like to
hear one of your sailor stories,"
and a general chorus from the bevy
of fair ones finally decided the
skipper to surrender at discretion,
and in his matter of fact way the
seaman commenced his yarn with
out further preface:
"It was about the year 1928, that
| had command of the brig Maria.
She was one of a regular line OF
packets running from New Orleans
to Havana, and as general thing
| used to be crowded with passen-
gers.
"Bot navigation in those days
was not so pleasant as the present
time, aud the Gulf of Mexico, in
GLIDING the waters around Cuba,
swarmed with piratlcal craft
whose blood. thirsty deeds terrified
the whole merchant marine, and
the United States was forced to
keep large squadron actively
cruising, that finally had the de-
sired effect. and in time they clear
ed the waters of the freebOoters.
~ left Havana with the hold full
of merchandise, and in the cabin !
had one passenger, fine looking
young fellow belonging to Commo'
dore Porter's fleet, then stationed
in West India waters for the pur-
pose OF exterminating the black
hearted villains. He was a mid
shipman and had been wounded in
cutting out expedition against
the pirates. He was now bound
to New Orleans, where he resided,
having b zen granted sick leave for
the purpose of recuperatlon.
ain the forward salOOn-sort oi
Intern ediate passengers-w ere
nine Spaniards, black whiskered'
swartby- looking fellows, and one
Spanish maiden, about 20 years
old, completed the passenger list.
''The young lady occupied the
best state-roOm in the after cabin
and | must confess that her beautl'
fnl hair, black, luxuriant and CLOS
sy her eyes, expressive, soft aDc
melting as a gazelle's; her pretty
form, coQuettish airs and swee'
glances were sufficient to turn th'
hearts and heads of the whole
ships company. She did not ap
pear 10 have anything to say t
her countrymen IN the forward
cabin, and was disposed to trea
them with silent contempt.
81 pitled the young lady, TO
neither the muddy nor myself coul'
speak a word of Spanish but |
did not appear TO have any effec
on the officer, for he made love t
the senOrita in the most approves
fashion and whenever opportunit
offered, while she, nothing lott
laughed and chatted in pure Gas
tilian, and her soft, musical yoic
could be heard singing throug