Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-07-30

Job to get the brig about. smart as we
were. The bark was about FIVE miles
of as we headed for her. She couldn't
20 to the west; nor were there men
enough aboard to turn her on her heel
and beat her back to the northeast.
Her only recourse was to stand to the
southwest, 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 rascal
had not thought of it. She suddenly
shifted her course to the west, and hop
ing to cut her off we shifted ours north
west. Each was now the leg of tri-
angle. 1t was plain from the start that
we should be within a 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 the bark we fred
gun for her to heave to, but not the
slightest notice was taken Of it. Our
two pieces of ordnance were then shifted
to the starboard side and loaded with
solid shot If the rascals refused to sur
render'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 three Portuguese were shouting and
cheering, while the white man was at
the wheel. Orders were given to fire;
and two solid shots went whizzing at
her, but to pass over her without dam
age. We then fell into her wake and
could not bring 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 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 eastermost island oi
the Phoenix group. The wind had beer
fair for the bark to lay this course, an6
this group also offered the pirates good
refuge and a beautiful climate. We az
preached it from the west, ran intC
within two miles of the beach, and ther
worked slowly along the southern shore
The charts showed no haven of refuge
on either the south or west shore, but 10
Gated bay on the north. We hoped te
trap them, if they were there, by making
circuit Of the island and coming upol
them from a different direction unex
| pectedly.
Next day we had to work up the ives
shore against head wind, and nigh
came again before we had fairly turne'
the corner and headed to the east. w,
came to anchor again, but such was tn
impatience of Mate Cummings and hi
men that they set off in their whaleboa
to explore the coast in advance. TIE
miles to the east they found the bar
anchored in the bay laid down on tn
chart. She was within two hundre
feet of the beach, her sails furled an
slowed, and was heard of before she wa
seen. The Portuguese were drunk, q
they were singing and shouting SO the
could be heard half mile away.
The mate should have returned and II
ported the case, but he did not. He b.
ieved his party strong enough to recal
} ture his craft, and he therefore pulle
down to make the attempt. He did nj
surprise the pirates, as he hoped to, an
when he tried to board her was drive
; back to his boatin great disorder, near
J every man being hurt by blows of ca
} stan bars. It was nearly daylight befol
the boat returned to the brig, and as
; was a perfect calm we decided to wa
, until daylight before making any furth'
= move. As day dawned there was ever
prospect of a continuance of the cal1
and two boats, each containing eigl
3 armed men, were dispatched to get pc
l session of the bark. Our first mate hs
charge of one and Cummings of Il
. other, and I was in the first boat. Or
+ instructions were to board at any sac1
, fee, but to spare the pirates for the Ga
8 lows if possible.
: After row Of two hours we came
8 the entrance of the bay, and there w
8 the bark before us. She had snug a
: chorage and everything aloft was as til
= as you please. She wasn't over half
o mile away, as it was not deep bay, al
= we were ne sooner in sight than \
n heard cheer from her decks, follow
Q by the boom of cannon and the soul
q of a round shot over our heads.
= rummaging the vessel the men had d
}. covered an old 6-pound cannon whi
= had lain in the hold for many yea
This they had hoisted out, loaded wi
Q shot intended for the feet Of de
s man, and fred from carriage so POI
II ly constructed that the gun dismount
Q itself. The bark lay astern toward I
n as the tide was running out, and
& pulled to board her on either bow.
k Captain and mate had both left
II volvers aboard, and these were now us
70 by two of the pirates. While we we
6 sweeping up they killed two men a
It wounded a third, and fourth man "
h wounded as we boarded. The Port
r. guese ran to the cabin for shelter, a
d we found the white sailor dead at
10 foot of the mainmast they havi
h clubbed him to death the night befo
II While we were planning to attack th'
s, in the cabin, they dropped from the W
d dows to swim ashore. The alarm v