Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-12-05
FREEBOOTERS AT SEA.

On the morning of Sept. 16, 1873,
with the sun half way TO the zenith,
the trim schooner Dolphin forged
southwark. A gentle southerly breeze
rippled the smooth Caribbean waters,
and st. Thomas, her port, lay only
twenty-four hours sail away. Here
she was to discharge and load cargo,
and thence shape her homeward course
toward Boston.
Captain Archibald Knowlton walked
his quarter deck briskly, for he was
beginning to enjoy the relief from anxi-
ETY. felt on nearing port safe from dlsas-
ter by storm or pirate. Tornadoes and
hurricanes were less to be dreaded than
the fierce outlaws that In those days
haunted the seas wherever merchant
vessels sailed. Dead men tell no
tales, was their maxim with prisoners,
and every merchant captain knew well
that the capture of his ship by pirates
meant that those OF his company taken
alive would be made to walk the
plank"
The Yankee skipper whistled cheer
fully as he looked to windward, where
long, sharp rugged schooner which the
morning had brought into view was
sailing in the same direction as the Dol
phin. From her course and appearance
he took her to be a trader from some
American port. The stranger was
larger and faster than his own craft,
and slowly crept up on her weather
quarter,
Another more distant sail was In view,
brig off the port bow, coming on with
a fair breeze.
the starboard tack, and the strange
schooner was now nearly abeam OF the
Dolphin. Five or six sailors and an
officer In plain clothes were In view
upon her decks,
what do you make her out to be,
Abeli" said Captain Knowlton.
He spoke 20 his first mate, with
whom he had sailed since they were
boys.
"A SLAYER maxim for the west coast,
more'n likely" answered Abel Forbes.
shes good one; pulls ahead of ui
on the wind, and not many craft car
do that"
The breeze, which came and weni
fltfully, was dying wholly away, and
the stranger, which had come very near
now fell OIL little, keeping on tn,
same tack, as II trying 10 make the
most OF what wind was left.
"lf that fellow doesn't mind whai
he's a-doln he'll run afoul OF us, said
Captain Knowlton. "rll hail him.
Lifting his speaking trumpet, he shout
ed Schooner ahoyl What's YOU
name and where are you boundr
''rhe Plroqua, OF Havana" calleC
back the officer; then gave command
In Spanish TO his helmsman, who sud
denly threw up the wheel; the strange
shot ahead and laid her port bow oil
the starboard quarter Of the Dolphin.
! AS the vessels pitched and groun(
together, the piroQua's men, pretend
ing 20 help In clearing them, passed 1
! hawser about the Dolphln's mali
shrouds. fastening the sohooners 10
gether A gorgeously dressed man ap
peared. sword Ia hand, ON the stran
gers quarter deck, shouting commands
! About her lee rail rose a crowd OF des
, perate looking fellows who In a mo
ment more. with flashing weapons ans
feroclons yells were swarining upol
the Dolphlns decks. Before an attaol
so sudden the merchantmans com
! pRny were easily overpowered and mad
prisoners.
The pirates we're Of many nations an'
oolors Ia motley dress and armed 4
the teeth, They ransaoked the cabin
and forecastle, knocking their captive
about and compelling them 30 assist Il
the plundering; then gathered witt
their booty and prisoners In the Dol
phln's waist Upon the poop stoo,
their captain. tail, black beardes
man, with fierce eye and resolute
cruel, thin llpa He wore a eookes
hat, and over his shoulder was slung
wide, crimson sash Ia which were siucl
/ .a.,ar.I haass. r,l.fnIn ana hle ham