St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-24

fall OIL and run dead to the west. We
all looked TO see her head into the wind
and wait to be boarded, but the rascal
had not thought of il. She suddenly
shifted her course to the west, and hop
ing TO cut her off, we shifted ours north
Each was now the leg of a triangle. 1t
was plain from the start that we should
be within Il cables length of her at the
meeting point, even if we did not cut
her off. She would have shore on one
side and us on the other.
Each Craft Had All Sail Set.
When within three miles of tie bark
we fired gun for her to heave to, but
not the slightest notice was taken of it.
Our two pieces of ordnance was then
shifted over 10 the Starboard side and
loaded with solid shot. Ii the rascalS
refused 10 surrender they must take
the consequences. Each craft held dead
to its course, but again the bark proved
her better sailing qualities. Instead
of cutting her off as we hoped for
we were still a quarter of mile
away when she passed the point.
The threePortugueSe were shouting and
cheering, While the white man was at
the wheel. Orders were given 10 fire,
and two solid shots went whizZing at
her, but to pass over her without dam
could not bring 4 gun TO bear, 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 pirates
a sood refuge and beautiful climate.
We approached it from the west, ran
in to within two miles of tie beach
and then worked slowly along the
southern shore. 1 he charts showed no
haven of refuge on either the south or
west shore, but located bay OH the
north. We hoped t. trap them If they
were there by making Il circuit of
the island and coming upon them from
Il different direction unexpected. As
the breeze was light, we were all day
working down the south coast, and as
the sun went down we anchored in
forty feet of water off the reef.
Next day we had to work up the west
shore against head wind, and night
came on 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 Cum
,ningS and his men that they set off in
their whalebOat to explore the coast i'll
advance. Ten miles to the east they
found the boat anchored in the bay
laid down on the chart. She was with
in 200 feet of the beach, her sails furled
and slowed, and was heard of before
she was seen. The Portuguese were
drunk, as they were singing an shout
ing so they could be heard half q mile
away.
The mate should have returned and
reported the case, but he did not. He
believed his party strong enough to re-
capture 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
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 cain, and two boats.
each containing eight armed men, were
dispatched 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 il structions were TO
board at any sacrifice, but to spare the
pirates for the gallowS if possible.
After a row of two hours we came to
the entrance of the bay, and there was
the bark before us. She had snug an
chOrage, and everything aIOft was as
tidy as you please. She wasn't over
half mile away, as 1t was not a deep
bay, and we were no sooner in sight
than we heard cheer from her decks,
followed by the boom of cannon and
the sound of a round shot over our
heads. In rummaging the vessel the
men had discovered an old siX-pOund
cannon which had laid in the hold for
many years. This they had hoisted out.
loaded with a shot intended for the feet
of dead man a"d fired from a carriage
SO poorly constructed that the gun dis
mounted itsti. me ozark lay stern to-
ward US, as the tide was running out,
and we pulled to board her on either
bow.
Captain and mate had both EFT re-
volvprs aboard, and these were now
used by two Of the pirates. While we
were sweeping up they killed two men
and wounded a third, and fourth man
was wounded as we boarded. The
Portuguese ran to the cabin for shelter,
and we found the white sailor dead at
the foot of the mainmast, they having
dubbed him TO death the night before.
While we were planning TO attack them
in the cabin, they dropped from the
windows to swim ashore. Luckily the
alarm was raised in time for the boats
to overhaul them, but one resisted so
desperately that he had to be killed.
! he other two were brought aboard
and made secure, and about noon the
brig came down. They were trans
ferred to her. and that evening, while
in the cabin to be questioned, one of
them attacked the captain and was shot
by the second mate, who had them IN
charge. A week later the other COM
mitted suicide. and thus the villains
were got rid of without trial or expense
We aided the bark to navigate down to
Samoa, and there the British consul
took her in charge and planned her
future movements.