The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-12-11

NONtTeu tndt tne D0rK was FASTER baller
than tho brig. 1t was 4 o'clock In the
afternoon when we sighted her. and as
darkness fell she gained couple OF
miles on us. Having got the alarm 1t
was hard to tell what they would now
do, but after long consultation our
captain decided to round Christmas Is
land on the north and west and lay a
course for Jarvis Island. The bark was
headed directly south when we last saw
her
Next day at noon we were to the west
of Christmas and running down on our
course, when we suddenly discovered
the bark ON our starboard quarter,
standing out from the southeast end Of
the island, where she had been in hiding
to let US pass. She had not seen us on
account OF a wooded peninsula making
out for several miles, and we felt sure
we had her in a box. The wind was from
TIE west, and 1t was bit OF job to get
the brig about, smart as we We're. The
bark was about five miles off as we
headed for her. She couldn't go to the
west; nor were there men enough
aboard Of her to turn her on her heel
and beat her back to the northeast, Her
only course was to stand to the south
west, heading directly for us. or to fall
off and run dead to the west. We all
looked to see her head into the wind and
wait to be boarded, but the rascals had
no thought OF it. She suddenly shifted
Ter course to the west, and hoping to
cut her off we shifted ours northwest.
Each was now the leg of triangle. 1t
was plain from the start that We should
be within q cables length OF her at the
meeting point, even if we did not cut
her off. She would have the shore on
one side and us on the other.
Each craft had all sail set. When with
in three miles Of the bark we fired gun
for her to heave to, but not the slightest
notice was taken of it. Our two pieces
of ordinance were then shifted over 10
the starboard side and loaded with solid
shot. II the rascals refused to surrender
they must take the consequences. Each
craft held dead to it's course, but again
the bark proved her better sailing quail.
ties. Instead OF cutting her off as we
hoped for we were still quarter Of a
mile away when she passed the point.
The three Portuguese were shouting
and cheering, while the white man was
at the wheel Orders were given to fire,
and two solid shot went whizzing at her,
but to pass over her without damage.
We then fell into her wake and could
not bring gun to hear, and we had the
further modification to see her walking
away from us. The Portuguese ran up
the American flag and dipped it three
times, and our crew fairly danced in
their indignation. The only thing we
could do was to follow her. but we lost
her early that evening and were all at
sea again as to where we should set
eyes on her again.
Three days Later, having had only light
breezes, we raised Enderbury Island,
which is the easternmost island of the
Phoenix group. The wind had been fair
for the bark to lay this course, and this
group also. offered the pirlles good ref
uge and beautiful climate. We APP
preached it from the west ran in to
within two miles Of the. beach, and then
worked slowly along the southern shore.
| The charts showed no haven OF refuge on
either the south or west shore, but To-
Gated bay on the north. We hoped to
| trap them, II they were there, by making
| circuit OF the island and coming upon
| them from direction unexpected, As
the breeze was light, we were all day
| working down the south coast, and as
| feet of water off the reef Next day we
had to work up the west shore against a
| head wind, and night came again before
we had fairly turned the corner and
| headed to the east. We came to anchor
again, but such was the Impotence Of
| Mate Cummings and his r,en that they
| set off in their whaleboat to explore the
coast in advance. Ten miles to the east
| they found the bark anchored in the bay
| laid down on the chart. She was within
| 800 feet of the beach, her sails fured and
| slowed, and was heard of before she was
| seen. The Portuguese were drunk, as
| they were singing and shouting SO they
could BE- heard half I; mile away.
The mate should have returned and re-
| ported the case, but he did not. He be-
| eyed his party strong enough to recap
| ture his craft, and he therefore pulled
| down to make the attempt. He did not
| surprise the pirates, as he hoped to, and
| when he attempted to board was driven
| back to his boat in great disorder, nearly
! every man being badly hurt by blows OF
capstan bars. 1t was nearly daylight
before the boat returned to the brig, and
| as It was perfect calm we decided to
wait until daylight before making any
| further move. AS day dawned there was
| every prospect of continuance of the
calm, and two boats, each containing
| eight armed men, were despatched to
| get possession OF the bark. Our first
| mate had charge OF one and Cummings OF
| the other, and was in the first boat.
| Our instructions were to board at any
| sacrifice, but to spare the pirates for the
gallows if possible.
| After row of two hours we came to
| the entrance OF the bay, and there was
the bark before us. She had a snug
anchorage, and everything aloft was as
tidy as you please. She wasn't over hall
n mile away, as it was not a deep bay
and we were no sooner in sight than we
heard cheer from her decks, followed
by the boom of a cannon and the soune
of q round shot over our heads. In rum
maging the vessel the men had discov
cred an old six-pound cannon which hac
lain in the hold for many years. This
they had hoisted out, loade with sho
intended for the feet of dead man, an(
fired from a carriage 50 poorly con
structed that the gun disncunted il self
The bark lay stern toward us, as th,
tide was running out, and we pulled tt
board her on either bow. Captain ant
mate had both left reviewers aboard
| and these were now uSeu Dy Two OF tu'
pirates. While we were sweeping vi
they killed two men and wounded
third and fourth man was wounded a
we boarded The Portuguese ran to tn
cabin for shelter, and we found the whit
sailor dead at the foot Of the main-mast
they having dubbed him to death tn
night before. While we were plannin
to attack them in the cabin, they droppe,
from the windows to swim ashore
Luckily the alarm was RAISED in time 70
the boats to overhaul them, but one re
sisted so desperately that lie lad 10 b
killed The other two were brougll
aboard and made secure, and abou moo
the brig came down. They We're trans
ferred to her, and that evening, lie Il
the cabin to be questioned, one of ther
attacked the Captain and was shot b
the second mate, who lad them 1
charge. A week later the other commute
suicide, and thus the villains were got ri
OF without trial or expense. We aided tn
bark to navigate down TO Samoa, an
there the British Consul took her l
charge and Planned her future mov'
ments.-N. Y. Sun.