Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-05-25

dong we'll, my good fellows; YOU arc
doing we'll -
Suddenly we found that the brig
was close aboard of us She looked
drcadfullv cut mp: her iibboom was
gone and her main topmast also, but
her savage crew had filled her away
before the wind in order to lay us ON
board.
In another moment her bow struck
the Eagles side. The black villains
were swarming upon the bowsplit Of
their vessel, ready to leap down upon
our deck, but our good captain had
provided against this. Two of the
nine-pounders on the opposite side of
the ship had been turned around in
their tackles. so that by firing across
the deck they could sweep all before
them.
"Now," he cried, take good aim,
men be sure of them. There let EN-
have it,"
Both the big cannons roarcd together,
and the effect was terrible. The pi-
rates bowsprit was entirely cleared of
men. They fell from it as blackbirds
fall from tree where they have clus-
tered when the sportsman sweeps them
with full charge of fine shot.
And now it was hand hand fight.
terrible beyond description. The ri.
rates had their clmeters and our men
their bayonetS. But the black faces
and bare black arms were beaten back.
Although five to one, they could not
overcome the determined resistance of
the Yankee crew
In the dreadful struggle our helms
man had left the wheel and joined in the
melee, when the help of every man WAS
needed to rep2l the frantic tends who
were striving to obtain foothold on
our decks.
1t was a most fortunate circumstance
that he did so, for with no one at the
helm, the ship swung around in such
a manner that the pirate was brought
to the lecward, and made to swing
straight off from us, so that our whole
broadside could be brought to bear.
while he could not use a single gun.
His bowsprit had become entangled
in our rigging, and he lay helpless,
without the power either to get away
or to return our fire with effect. The
moment man appeared upon the briggs
head, with the desperate intent of
boarding us, he was swept away.
oh, how our men worked at the
nine-pounders! Bang, bang, bang"
went the heavy reports, and every shot
made clean hole through the bows Of
the brig.
We saw that she settled. The water
must be rushing into her in torrents.
Still ther" was no cry tor quarter. and
| don't know that We would have heed
ed it had such cry been heard.
Bang, bang, baug, Crash, crash,
crash" Every shot told, now
Give il to the devils" said our
noble old captain; we've go them
sure" And how our men sprang to the
work. They did not require any urging.
Lower and lower sank the pirate.
till her forecaStle was almost on level
with the water. Then, all ut once she
gave plunge as il to dive right under
our ship. She rushed forward, her bow
spirit crashing against the Eagles side
and breaking short off.
Then she seemed to stand almost on
end, her stern uppermost. There was
sort of struggle as of some diving ami
mal-and the next moment down she
went
The Eagle rolled fcarfully in the
deep chasm made by the sinking hull,
but in few minutes she sat upon the
ordinary swell, triumphant and safe,
the good old New lorker that she was.
At first all the black faces were car
ried down with their sinking vessel,
but presently We saw three or four
heads bobbing above water, and our
hNat WIS lowered 10 nicL mn ihn nnnr