The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04


aboard consultation was held in the
cabin as to what should be done. ~ de-
cision was reached very quickly. She
could sail two feet to our one, and it was
plain that she could board us whether
we consented or not. There was some
talk of getting up the arms, but this
was only among the men forward. The
head of the brig was brought to the
wind, and as darkness came stealing
down over the sea the dhow came glid-
ing toward us like serpent approach
ing its prey.
From the first appea rance OF the dhow
/ had no doubt that she meant Is evil.
l was ready to do my full share toward
beating her off, but when was told that
there would be no resistance, and when
in pistolshot of us, l entered the fore
castle, and from thence by means of a
sliding door in the bulkhead, passed in
to the hold. We were -ballasted,
and in the hold were score or more Of
empty crates and boxes. l selected one
of these as place of refuge, having a
plenty of matches to enable me to see
my way through the darkness, but
waited while to see what would hap
pen above. heard hail from the
dhow, another from above, and then a
shock as the stranger came alongside.
In moment, as l knew by the tramp
ing overhead, we had been boarded by
large gang. Two or thee pistols were
fired, there was shouting and running,
and after few minutes l made certain
that the Algerine had taken possession.
Men began to rummage the brig, and
as one of the matches was pulled off l
retreated to the hiding place l had
selected. Three or four men came down
with lantern to examine the hold, and
l heard them cursing away in the
Moorish tongue because they found no
cargo.
1t was now evening, and the wind
had died entirely out. l crept out OF
the box and stood under the main
hatch, and as the cover was partly off l
could plainly hear what was going on,
although 1 could not understand what
was said. AS heard nothing from any
of our crew, l concluded that they were
either prisoners in the cabin or had
been transferred to the dhow. Up to
midnight the vessels lay side by side,
the flap of their sails proving a dead
calm, but soon after that breeze sprang
up and we were soon forging slowly
ahead. | heard them hailing from one
craft to another, and I would have
given a great deal to have been able to
understand the tongue. 1t was my idea
that they were going to run the brig
over to the Moorish coast as prize, and
that the crew would be sent into the in
terror as captives and slaves. This had
been the fate of more than one crew
shipwrecked on that inhospitable shore,
and at the very time France had man
of-war on the coast and was demanding
the release of fifteen sailors known to
be held in captivity.
The wind not only held light during
the remainder of the night, but came
from the east and thus headed us off.
sat on the hard ballast under the hatch,
wondering and planning, but arriving
at no conclusion. It was fair to presume
that had not been missed, as no search
was made for me; but this was little
comfort. If the brig was taken into
some bay on the coast she would be thor.
Oughly searched and 1 would be dragged
out. 1t would be only two or three days
at the longest before hunger and thirst
would drive me out.
Daylight was not half an hour old be-
fore l heard an alarm on deck, and il
might have been another thirty minutes
when the boom of cannon proved that
we had signal to heave to. The brig
was brought head to the wind, amid g
great clamor of voices on deck, and ther
every thing was quiet. 1 now made my
way across the ballast to the sliding
door, opened it little to find the fore
castle deserted, and 1 at once passed
through. Not hearing any one imme.
diately above me, l assembled the ladder
and got a look along the decks just as
French naval officer came over the rail
l sprang up the ladder and rushed af
with such speed that no one saw me
until l was at the officers side
Lying off to windward was a bis
French frigate, and alongside was one
of her boats. Hanging in the wind
half mile distant, was the dhow, will
another of the frigate's boats just board
ing. On our decks were thirteen Moor!
-swarthy, ragged, and sh owing the vii
lain in every movement. The fellow il
command was just opening his mouth tx
make explanations to the officer when
came upon the scene and shouted:
Lieutenant, that dhow yonder is ;
cursed pirate, and she captured us a
dark last nightr'
"Explain!' he replied, as he looked
me over with curious eye.
briefly told him who and what W.
were, and the actions of the Moors cor
roborated my story. He called four ma
rines aboard and sent the boat back will
a message. The frigate had drifte(
down little near, and some of her gun.
had been cast loose. This was lucky
as all of a sudden the dhow spread he
wings to sail away. We saw the frigate'
boat sent adrift, and afterward learned
that the boarding officer was cast necl
and heels over the rail to take care O
himself. 1t was desperate resolve
with the dhow, and it might have sue
ceeded at longer range. As it was she
had not moved hundred yards whe1
boom! boom! went the guns, and W.
saw the splinters fly. She at once
luffed up and let every thing go, ant
another boats crew IS soon alongside
Every thing was soon made plain t,
the Frenchman. vhen the dhoy
boarded us her hc4 loaded crew wer,
ripe for killing, nd without tn,
slightest provocatio Shields was sho
through the head. Harper protested,
and shared the same fate, while one OF
the villains slashed our captain across
| the face and gave him a wound which